For more than a year now, I have been the spokesperson for hundreds of networking owners on the internet. These owners have not been shown any actual test results by Toyota which confirm that the recent sludge problem is caused by owner neglect rather than an engine design flaw.
If what Toyota says is true, then why have some owners with proof of proper oil change intervals been flatly denied warranty coverage, even in corporate-sponsored arbitration, when sludge has occurred in their engines? If this is so, then why are Toyota delearships recommending every 3,000 mile oil change intervals rather than the interval specified in the owner's manual?
If this is so, why are only specific Toyota vehicles involved in this new SPA program? If this is so, why does the NHTSA database show more sludge complaints filed on the Sienna minivan than the more popular Camry model?
Is the owner to blame or is this merely a smokescreen behind which the automaker can hide? If this is only a matter of owner neglect, why is the PCV system being modified? Why is a new engine cam cover which has larger holes to improve the flow of oil being used on the V6 engines?
Why has the engine block been changed on the Camry 4-cylinder model beginning in 2002? Why have some auto experts stated that sludge occurrence in Toyotas is "not all that uncommon?" Why have some lubrication specialists cited that the Toyota engine has special gears which cause breakdown of the engine oil beyond 4,000 miles?
These questions remain unanswered. Without these answers, I hardly think that Toyota can make a blanket statement incriminating the owners of these vehicles. I am far from alone in this sentiment. Is this a exclusively a matter of maintenance, or is it more as some experts claim? I strongly
believe it is the latter.
Charlene
Vienna, Virginia
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