Toyota

Just purchased a used Lexus ES300 with 1MZ-FE 3.0l 24 valve 6 banger. 83k
miles. When I test drove the vehicle, I did not see any smoke from the
exhaust but the next morning when I started the car the grayish oily
smelling smoke rolled out. It gets better after the car runs awhile until it
darn near is non-existent. The engine runs strong and smooth. Not sure how
well this car was maintained ( it was a leased vehicle). I'm thinking that
maybe it could be valve seals or (*gasp* ) rings, but I'm told by a friend
that it could also be sludge build-up. Any help you could provide is greatly
appreciated.

Are you sure it's not just running abit rich when you first start it up,
then as the engine reaches operating temprature the ECU leans out the
mixture and your smokey exaust disapears? I believe my toyota supra is the
same.

burnt oil smoke is usually blue-white in color.
--
Regards,
Chris
"mnm" <> wrote in message
news:
> Just purchased a used Lexus ES300 with 1MZ-FE 3.0l 24 valve 6 banger. 83k
> miles. When I test drove the vehicle, I did not see any smoke from the
> exhaust but the next morning when I started the car the grayish oily
> smelling smoke rolled out. It gets better after the car runs awhile until
it
> darn near is non-existent. The engine runs strong and smooth. Not sure how
> well this car was maintained ( it was a leased vehicle). I'm thinking that
> maybe it could be valve seals or (*gasp* ) rings, but I'm told by a friend
> that it could also be sludge build-up. Any help you could provide is
greatly
> appreciated.
>
>

Return it immediately. This is a problem with the six cylinder engine.
It will require a major rebuild or a new engine. At least, that's
what I was told when it happened to my Avalon.

Fred

"mnm" <> wrote in message
news:
> Just purchased a used Lexus ES300 with 1MZ-FE 3.0l 24 valve 6 banger. 83k
> miles. When I test drove the vehicle, I did not see any smoke from the
> exhaust but the next morning when I started the car the grayish oily
> smelling smoke rolled out. It gets better after the car runs awhile until
it
> darn near is non-existent. The engine runs strong and smooth. Not sure how
> well this car was maintained ( it was a leased vehicle). I'm thinking that
> maybe it could be valve seals or (*gasp* ) rings, but I'm told by a friend
> that it could also be sludge build-up. Any help you could provide is
greatly
> appreciated.
>
>

Why guess? Take the vehicle to a dealer or other competent
shop with the proper equipment and competent techs and have
the problem analysed before you do damage. If it were me I would
go to a dealer since Toyota has extended the warranty on engines
with any gelling problems


mike hunt



cd wrote:
>
> Are you sure it's not just running abit rich when you first start it up,
> then as the engine reaches operating temprature the ECU leans out the
> mixture and your smokey exaust disapears? I believe my toyota supra is the
> same.
>
> burnt oil smoke is usually blue-white in color.
> --
> Regards,
> Chris
> "mnm" <> wrote in message
> news:
> > Just purchased a used Lexus ES300 with 1MZ-FE 3.0l 24 valve 6 banger. 83k
> > miles. When I test drove the vehicle, I did not see any smoke from the
> > exhaust but the next morning when I started the car the grayish oily
> > smelling smoke rolled out. It gets better after the car runs awhile until
> it
> > darn near is non-existent. The engine runs strong and smooth. Not sure how
> > well this car was maintained ( it was a leased vehicle). I'm thinking that
> > maybe it could be valve seals or (*gasp* ) rings, but I'm told by a friend
> > that it could also be sludge build-up. Any help you could provide is
> greatly
> > appreciated.
> >
> >

In news:,
mnm <> being of bellicose mind posted:
> Just purchased a used Lexus ES300 with 1MZ-FE 3.0l 24 valve 6
> banger. 83k miles. When I test drove the vehicle, I did not see
> any smoke from the exhaust but the next morning when I started the
> car the grayish oily smelling smoke rolled out. It gets better
> after the car runs awhile until it darn near is non-existent. The
> engine runs strong and smooth. Not sure how well this car was
> maintained ( it was a leased vehicle). I'm thinking that maybe it
> could be valve seals or (*gasp* ) rings, but I'm told by a friend
> that it could also be sludge build-up. Any help you could provide
> is greatly appreciated.

Pull off the front valve cover and do a sludge check. If there's
nothing more serious than typical mild varnish, then you can probably
assume hardened valve guide seals. For the occasional puff of
morning smoke, don't get too exercised about it unless you just want
to spend money chasing perfection. Your overall oil consumption is
the important consideration. Don't walk ... RUN from any repair
facilty that wants to charge you for overhauling the engine as a
remedy for this condition, especially if you find no sludge (a sign
of neglect).
--

- Philip @ Maximum Torque RPM

On Sun, 7 Mar 2004 08:57:43 -0500, "Fred Smith" <>
wrote:

>Return it immediately. This is a problem with the six cylinder engine.
>It will require a major rebuild or a new engine. At least, that's
>what I was told when it happened to my Avalon.
>
>Fred

Ok Fred.

Let's here how you serviced your Avalon?


Scott in Florida

On Sun, 07 Mar 2004 15:54:05 GMT, Scott in Florida
<'t> wrote:

>On Sun, 7 Mar 2004 08:57:43 -0500, "Fred Smith" <>
>wrote:
>
>>Return it immediately. This is a problem with the six cylinder engine.
>>It will require a major rebuild or a new engine. At least, that's
>>what I was told when it happened to my Avalon.
>>
>>Fred
>
>Ok Fred.
>
>Let's here how you serviced your Avalon?
>
>
>Scott in Florida

hear too... <g>

Scott in Florida

"Philip®" <> wrote in message
news:myH2c.26284$ hlink.net...
> In news:,
> mnm <> being of bellicose mind posted:
> > Just purchased a used Lexus ES300 with 1MZ-FE 3.0l 24 valve 6
> > banger. 83k miles. When I test drove the vehicle, I did not see
> > any smoke from the exhaust but the next morning when I started the
> > car the grayish oily smelling smoke rolled out. It gets better
> > after the car runs awhile until it darn near is non-existent. The
> > engine runs strong and smooth. Not sure how well this car was
> > maintained ( it was a leased vehicle). I'm thinking that maybe it
> > could be valve seals or (*gasp* ) rings, but I'm told by a friend
> > that it could also be sludge build-up. Any help you could provide
> > is greatly appreciated.
>
> Pull off the front valve cover and do a sludge check. If there's
> nothing more serious than typical mild varnish, then you can probably
> assume hardened valve guide seals. For the occasional puff of
> morning smoke, don't get too exercised about it unless you just want
> to spend money chasing perfection. Your overall oil consumption is
> the important consideration. Don't walk ... RUN from any repair
> facilty that wants to charge you for overhauling the engine as a
> remedy for this condition, especially if you find no sludge (a sign
> of neglect).
> --
>
> - Philip @ Maximum Torque RPM
>
>
Thanks for the reply... I was going to pull the front valve cover today &
then I thought maybe I should wait for the dealer to send it to his shop
first. I have a 50/50 warranty on engine problems for the 1st 1000 miles. If
there is considerable amount of sludge what is the next step....Bilstein
flush?

Why pay even half the cost of the repair? Take it to a Toyota
dealership, Toyota has extended the warranty on those engines
that have been subject to what Toyota calls 'gelling.' Some in
this NG will say the problem is only caused by not changing oil
as prescribed. Toyota has found that NOT to be the case because
gelling has been discovered in engines serviced properly by
dealerships. They will repair or replace engines under that
warranty, for up to eight years from the date of first service,
regardless of the current mileage. Take your vehicle to a Toyota
dealer, WBMA.


mike hunt



mnm wrote:
>
> "Philip®" <> wrote in message
> news:myH2c.26284$ hlink.net...
> > In news:,
> > mnm <> being of bellicose mind posted:
> > > Just purchased a used Lexus ES300 with 1MZ-FE 3.0l 24 valve 6
> > > banger. 83k miles. When I test drove the vehicle, I did not see
> > > any smoke from the exhaust but the next morning when I started the
> > > car the grayish oily smelling smoke rolled out. It gets better
> > > after the car runs awhile until it darn near is non-existent. The
> > > engine runs strong and smooth. Not sure how well this car was
> > > maintained ( it was a leased vehicle). I'm thinking that maybe it
> > > could be valve seals or (*gasp* ) rings, but I'm told by a friend
> > > that it could also be sludge build-up. Any help you could provide
> > > is greatly appreciated.
> >
> > Pull off the front valve cover and do a sludge check. If there's
> > nothing more serious than typical mild varnish, then you can probably
> > assume hardened valve guide seals. For the occasional puff of
> > morning smoke, don't get too exercised about it unless you just want
> > to spend money chasing perfection. Your overall oil consumption is
> > the important consideration. Don't walk ... RUN from any repair
> > facilty that wants to charge you for overhauling the engine as a
> > remedy for this condition, especially if you find no sludge (a sign
> > of neglect).
> > --
> >
> > - Philip @ Maximum Torque RPM
> >
> >
> Thanks for the reply... I was going to pull the front valve cover today &
> then I thought maybe I should wait for the dealer to send it to his shop
> first. I have a 50/50 warranty on engine problems for the 1st 1000 miles. If
> there is considerable amount of sludge what is the next step....Bilstein
> flush?

Does that go for 96 models? I thought I saw in this NG that it was just for
97 & up models...

<> wrote in message
news:
> Why pay even half the cost of the repair? Take it to a Toyota
> dealership, Toyota has extended the warranty on those engines
> that have been subject to what Toyota calls 'gelling.' Some in
> this NG will say the problem is only caused by not changing oil
> as prescribed. Toyota has found that NOT to be the case because
> gelling has been discovered in engines serviced properly by
> dealerships. They will repair or replace engines under that
> warranty, for up to eight years from the date of first service,
> regardless of the current mileage. Take your vehicle to a Toyota
> dealer, WBMA.
>
>
> mike hunt
>
>
>
> mnm wrote:
> >
> > "Philip®" <> wrote in message
> > news:myH2c.26284$ hlink.net...
> > > In news:,
> > > mnm <> being of bellicose mind posted:
> > > > Just purchased a used Lexus ES300 with 1MZ-FE 3.0l 24 valve 6
> > > > banger. 83k miles. When I test drove the vehicle, I did not see
> > > > any smoke from the exhaust but the next morning when I started the
> > > > car the grayish oily smelling smoke rolled out. It gets better
> > > > after the car runs awhile until it darn near is non-existent. The
> > > > engine runs strong and smooth. Not sure how well this car was
> > > > maintained ( it was a leased vehicle). I'm thinking that maybe it
> > > > could be valve seals or (*gasp* ) rings, but I'm told by a friend
> > > > that it could also be sludge build-up. Any help you could provide
> > > > is greatly appreciated.
> > >
> > > Pull off the front valve cover and do a sludge check. If there's
> > > nothing more serious than typical mild varnish, then you can probably
> > > assume hardened valve guide seals. For the occasional puff of
> > > morning smoke, don't get too exercised about it unless you just want
> > > to spend money chasing perfection. Your overall oil consumption is
> > > the important consideration. Don't walk ... RUN from any repair
> > > facilty that wants to charge you for overhauling the engine as a
> > > remedy for this condition, especially if you find no sludge (a sign
> > > of neglect).
> > > --
> > >
> > > - Philip @ Maximum Torque RPM
> > >
> > >
> > Thanks for the reply... I was going to pull the front valve cover today
&
> > then I thought maybe I should wait for the dealer to send it to his shop
> > first. I have a 50/50 warranty on engine problems for the 1st 1000
miles. If
> > there is considerable amount of sludge what is the next step....Bilstein
> > flush?