Annoyed said:
The only debate I have in my mind at this time is the wisdom of using some sort of cleaning product shortly before the next oil change, to remove accumulated sludge, etc. Since this 4Runner was purchased used @ 58K miles, I have to expect there is some build up. The questions are which if any product to use, and the risk of dislodging some piece of sludge from it's currently harmless location and it migrates to someplace where it blocks oil flow & does damage.
I am a little bit in the same boat. I purchased my 04 4Runner in Nov. with 41,000 miles. I changed the oil right away to Mobil 1 and at 2,500 miles the oil is darker than the oil that needs changing after 5,000 miles of use in my 01 4Runner.
I don't think the car has been abused, but lets face it, a lot of people tend to not change the oil often. I think changing oil more often is one of the best things you can do to a engine. I have had mechanics tell me my old cars look quite clean inside, even though I use dino (non-synthetic) oil in my older cars. By brother in-law snapped up my Honda Accord wagon when I sold it in Nov. It had 225,000 miles. He knew it was taken care of.
I have asked about products to use to clean the engine and some people I have talked to say to use these products:
http://www.barsproducts.com/100QR.htm
You use this product when you change the oil and it is supposed to clean your engine slowly.
http://www.auto-rx.com/
This kind of reminds me of snake oil, somewhat a magic potion. You do not use this with good synthetic oil, this is supposed to clean the engine over a short period of time.
For me, I usually change Mobil 1 every 5,000 miles. I think I will change the oil in the 04 after 3,500 miles then go around 4,000 miles in the next change and then go back to 5,000 miles. Hopefully, that should help the engine a bit, not that it was bad, just not what I am used to. Let me know what you decide to do, as I am not really sure what is the best thing to do.
