The SLUDGE Monster!!

A

ajitaw

New member
Ok guys... I thought I would make my first post a good one...

I just bought a nice looking 97 Toyota 4Runner last week... 3 days later it blew a spark plug out, destroyed the coil and ruined the threads on the head. I re-tapped and threaded a new spark plug in and it seemed to work out. Now in the process of fixing this problem I decided to take of one of the valve covers... HOLY @%#&!!! I have never seen anything like it... it was PACKED with dark fudge looking stuff. I mean PACKED...
sludge1.jpg

sludge2.jpg

sludge3.jpg


When I put it all back together there is a really bad knocking coming from that side of the engine. And it spurts out this chocolate milk oil out from under the cam gears. Awesome!!
blowout1.jpg

blowout2.jpg


I really don't want to fork out another $2500 for an engine swap... I have my first child on the way and this was so we would have a safe car to drive...

Thanks in advance for any tips or insight!!
 
Register to hide this ad
Wow, don't know what to say.... Looks like the original owner(s) failed to change the oil on a regular basis.

Imagine how bad other areas of the engine must look!

If I were you, here's what I would do:

Call a few of your local Toyota dealers and ask if they have an engine flush machine. This machine basically pumps a combination of mineral oil and a safe detergent through the entire engine using air pressure. Each time the machine is used, the tech installs a new filter (similar to a pall filter, if you've ever seen one) and it catches much of the sludge/contaminents instead of recirculating them back into the engine.

You might want to have them do it twice, just for good measure. Good luck.
 
The thing is, this problem with the sparkplug blowing out and now a horrible knocking may be something unrelated to the sludge.... I'm having a mechanic firend look at it tomorrow.
 
Another reason I run synthetic since it does fight turning into sludge.

Mine looked like gapboi's when I pulled mine off at 130k.
 
ajitaw said:
The thing is, this problem with the sparkplug blowing out and now a horrible knocking may be something unrelated to the sludge.... I'm having a mechanic firend look at it tomorrow.
Click to expand...

Holy Crap!!:awais:

I have never seen an engine that sludged up in my life! Judging from what the head looks like, the knocking and the spark plug probably are from the sludge. The excess sludge on the top of the piston would cause less clearance between the plug and the piston, causing the plug to blow out and take the coil out with it. The knocking could be from the engine not getting much oil because of the oil pump and the oil pickup in the pan being so sludged up that they aren't letting oil through.

That really sucks bro.:( Keep us updated on the truck.

Edit: also, that "chocolate milk" oil is probably from a blown head gasket and coolant being in the oil.
 
Last edited:
RonMAIDEN said:
Another reason I run synthetic since it does fight turning into sludge.

Mine looked like gapboi's when I pulled mine off at 130k.
Click to expand...

I don't think the type of oil would have helped in the case of his 4Runner. It was obviously abused and not maintained at all.
 
How many miles were on the 4Runner?


Also, where did you buy it? Can you try to get your money back? You only had it for 3 days, right? Maybe you can document everything and take pictures if you end up in court trying to get your money back.
 
It's got 158,000 miles... It drove fine when I test drove it and then POW! I bought it private party and now they are out of state... I'm trying to get them to help me out a bit... it looks like I'll have to do an engine swap. But thats another $2500 at least... man my luck has been the worst lately :(

But hey maybe I can convert it to 4x4 while I'm in there!
 
ajitaw said:
It's got 158,000 miles... It drove fine when I test drove it and then POW! I bought it private party and now they are out of state... I'm trying to get them to help me out a bit... it looks like I'll have to do an engine swap. But thats another $2500 at least... man my luck has been the worst lately :(

But hey maybe I can convert it to 4x4 while I'm in there!
Click to expand...

That is ridiculous. I bet they knew the engine was crap in that thing and was just trying to unload it before they moved. That's BS.:mad:
 
Even Steven said:
I don't think the type of oil would have helped in the case of his 4Runner. It was obviously abused and not maintained at all.
Click to expand...

I can guarantee that even if they had been running synthetic from day one, it'd still look like that. :bash: Can't believe some people that lazy or careless...
 
Sorry man. How much did the 4runner set you back? Depending on the price it might be best to just unload it to somebody who is good with these things.

Is there anyway to know if you have engine sludge without actually pulling the engine apart?? Would the oil still be jet black after an oil change?
 
I got an ookkayyy deal on it... at least I thought at the time!

I bought it for $5000 cash on the spot... I really like it though! This mechanic I just met might have an engine, but it's gonna cost me bigtime.

And I tell ya... it takes about 15 minutes to pull that one valve cover, if I was going to buy another one I would pull it and check. A half hour of work or $3000 in damage control... you do the math. :(
 
Wow - the second thread I have seen today with similar pics. Someone on Miata.net had a similar sludge issue
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

Total: 416 (members: 3, guests: 413)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,309
Messages
3,554,068
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top