Auto-Rx Customers Questions & Answers

Actually in 2007, Toyota quietly settled a lawsuit for sludge build up in engines up to around 2002 (a lot of models). They gave owners of said model 1 year to come in and have their engines replaced *if* they had problems with sludge and they extending the manufacturer's warranty for said vehicles to 8y/84k miles. 

However, many others are citing sludge build up problems with Toyota and Toyota immediately blames the users. My understanding of the detail is that it is a design in the engines that make it more prone to sludge and if there is so much as a hairline flaw anywhere in it you will get sludge and recurring sludge at that. So the thing is a lot of people don't get the sludge but those with a super minor defect will.

There are supposedly new class actions filed against toyota due to sludge for later models and get this... Consumer reports lists the 1997-2005 Sienna as being one of the top vehicles prone to sludge (see second chart).

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/tires-auto-parts/car-maintenance/engine-sludge/overview/index.htm

We just picked up a Certified Pre-Owned Nissan Pathfinder. While it isn't a mini-van it seats 7 and has all the bells and whistles as well. The reports on their reliability is outstanding and they come with a nice default warranty (8 years, 100,000 miles). Their certified pre-owned warranty is also very good.

http://www.nissanusa.com/apps/cpo/

I plan on giving it an auto-rx maintenance treatment when we get our first oil change.

And since we are going to end up replacing the engine in the Toyota, I am going to trade it in after getting it fixed to get myself something. I am thinking of a used SUV or a Pickup. I am liking the '06+ Durango with the Hemi right now but will need to see how comfortable it is. I do a lot more driving than my wife (time and mileage) and I need something a bit roomier than the Pathfinder for the longer rides.

Yeah I am aware of the Chrysler issues over the past which is why I specifically will not go for anything older than an '06 with the Durango and even then it should be the 5.7L Hemi. Although there were 1 or 2 decent years in there, its better to not take the chance. Also my understanding was that the bulk of the Chrysler issues are car related and they are pretty reliable truck wise (except for that dashboard fiasco which was akin to Toyota's sludge issue). In their truck world, I *believe* any engine related issues were with the 4.7L Magnum engine although at this point I forget due to frustration over the van.

The newer Ford trucks appear to be pretty reliable but they had those years with all the tranny problems (99-02/03 I think it was). What I have heard is that their newer models 05/06+ are much better and pretty reliable. The only issue is when something does break it tends to be one of the more expensive items.

For my personal car, while I like the Nissan (which my wife adores and will take once we get rid of the van), I am going to stick with an American Truck. Primarily because while the Japanese currently excel at cars, the status quo still seems to favor American Trucks for reliability and performance. That said any SUV I look at will have to be a truck based SUV and not its own nor a car based SUV. I am not committed to which make/model as of yet but am just leaning towards the Durango.

If I go for a Durango it will definitely be a Hemi and '06 or later due to the MDS on the Hemi from that year on up which gives it the fuel efficiency of a v6 (or better since most of my miles are highway). Yet is still is the more powerful v8 option. What I also like about it is that it is a truck based SUV and it is based on an actual truck. It is also a bit bigger than say an explorer or our Pathfinder (which is pretty sweet by the way) but not as big as an expedition or suburban yet has the power of the suburban if needed.

Now I do like the Chevy Trailblazers (not the blazer trim but the actual Trailblazer) as well, but if I got that my wife will insist on taking it for herself and she knows why too :p

To sway back to the topic though, I am intrigued by your ARX results. I am definitely going to run the Pathfinder through the treatment and whatever I get to replace the van as well. Right now the pathfinder seems to get around 14 MPG city and 20-21 MPG highway. Once we get our first oil change, I am going to add ARX to it but I will take your suggestion and treat the transmission too.

Lastly but the sudden silence from others at the official and untimely passing of our van's engine. I believe it is safe to say it is done and over with. I went by where I stalled out and sure enough I found where all my oil went. It apparently blew out the tailpipe when I started it up again.

The more I think about it, my gut is positive they did a half assed job putting the valves/valve cover back on and that is what caused the ultimate death of the vehicle their carelessness was evidenced by the lack of coolant in the engine after getting it back from them. I just wish there was a way to prove it so I could stick it back to them.



-- Edited by Tombo on Wednesday 13th of January 2010 01:28:13 PM

-- Edited by Frank Miller on Wednesday 13th of January 2010 03:03:11 PM