Re: Engines that are prone to sludge

"Mike hunt" <mikehunt22@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message 
news:CdCdnf5mMJEy2BbVnZ2dnUVZ_uidnZ2d@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> The only Toyota engines "prone" to "gelling," as Toyota referred to 
> their sludge problem when they extended the warranty, was with 
> engines build with a "new" head designed to improve emissions.  The 
> head was basically changed back to the previous head design for 
> engines built starting in October of 3003.   Engines built after 
> that date have not shown to be problematic.  In addition Toyota now 
> recommends synthetic oil

I've seen this theory before, but it makes no sense since the heads 
were not changed as you claim. Go check out the Toyota parts catalog 
sometime and you'll see it is a bogus theory.

Toyota does not specifically "recommend" synthetic oil, at least in 
the owner's guides for new cars (just looked at the OG for my Sister's 
08 RAV4). They did stop saying not to use it however (one of the old 
Toyota FAQs recommended against using synthetic oil - I have no idea 
why). And since they do recommend 0W20 oil, I guess they are defacto 
recommending synthetic oil, since as far as I know all 0W20 is 
synthetic.

Ed