Best Way to Clean Sludge from engine ??????

[mike48]

I have a 2004 4cyl base engine that has sludge under the valve cover and thruout the engine I wanted to take the valve cover off and clean the area where the valves are and take the oil pan off and clean it out also.i removed the VVT Valve and it was loaded with thick muck,it cleaned up great and works like new.(actually feels better running at high speeds)I was told it is normal for these engines to sludge up and to just keep doing oil changes once a month and that would clean it out.I was told NOT to use flushes or cleaners like sea foam.I come to GenVibe for your wisdom and experience.I was going to take the valve cover off and scrape out what I could then kinda wash it down with some light engine oil and try to suck some of the rest out with a pump.All input is appreciated ,I thank you in Advance,,Mike

[star_deceiver]

Quote, originally posted by mike48 »I was told it is normal for these engines to sludge up more oil changes and filter too w/ less interval!!! ...Even in the worst engines, sludge can be prevented by diligent maintenance!!!Quote, originally posted by mike48 »I was told NOT to use flushes or cleaners like sea foam.BAH!!! Scrape out the worst, maybe drop the oil pan and scrape there as well. Buy the cheapest oil and filter the store has to put in the engine, add the appropirate amount of seafoam (read the can), drive all day and then change it. Refill with the cheap stuff w/ seafoam again, drive a while and let it sit overnight, drive a lot the next day. Drain and refill with your favorite brand!

[Cougar Vibe]

The Toyota 1ZZFE is not a known "sludger" engine. The engines in question, which resulted in the threat of a class action suit, were the 2.2l (Camary/Solara/Celica) and the 3.0l (Camry/Highlander/Sienna/Avalon/Lexus ES/Lexus RX) manufactured between '97 & '02.That said, can you tell us a bit more about your situation? Are you the original owner? If so, what sort of OCI (oil change interval) did you use? What brands of oil and viscosity/weight did you use? Filters brands? If you bought it used, was there any maintenance paperwork/receipts that came w/it? As for cleaners, I've used "Auto RX" before as part of a 100K maintenance routine on my '98 Ranger 4cyl. The Auto RX regiment has a "cleaning phase" and then a "rinse phase" that lasts like ~5K miles total (I can't remember for sure). You pretty much add a bottle of the stuff during an oil change, while using the cheapest name-brand oil and filter you can find, and run it for 1250 miles. Then you replace the filter, add make-up oil and continue 1250 miles. That's the "cleaning phase"; next is the "rinse phase" where you do a regular 3K oil change. I might sound like I'm shilling for the product, but I'm not; I've just read enough posts/testimonials on BITOG about Auto RX & sludge removal to believe it actually works. YMMV. If I were you, I'd post over to there in their additives forum and see if anyone could give you first hand info about their experiences...Good luck!