After two years of involvement in the Toyota Engine Sludge Debacle, it is noteworthy that the "spin doctors" are personally and professionally attacking me once again. This is all the more ironic considering the fact that a Toyota executive thanked me for helping other consumers become informed in the sludge matter. Which is it... Condemn me for helping consumers organize OR thank me for helping Toyota see to it that their complaints are addressed? It doesn't matter. It isn't important.
The fact is, I will feel no guilt for helping anyone. None. I haven't done anything wrong. There isn't any reason that owners of a particular vehicle cannot band together to speak out and ask for what they rightfully deserve... No reason whatsoever.
I have posted information from other owners with consent. My contact with owners is both respectful and professional. I wouldn't have it any other way. Conversely, I have received unrequested personal e-mail from Larry Stanford, a.K.A. Jack Wexler, and others who have read my posts. Many of these e-mails have been accusatory in nature and subsequent postings have been threatening in nature.
This begs the question, why would anyone do this for a "non-issue?" The answer is clearly that there is more to the matter of sludge than what the owners are hearing from Toyota.
Below is a list of reasons for sludge according to one poster above:
"Without exception they were a result of badly treated engines, seriously overheated engines, coolant leaks into the internals, not changing oil often enough, or plugged PCV systems. The first two reasons are by far the most common of all."
In the case of the Toyota sludge, there is much more here than simply oil change intervals. My own engine oil has had fuel-contamination which Toyota has refused to acknowledge. It would far prefer to give me a buyback for the vehicle rather than accept that there is a real problem with the engine's oil system. It is abnormal for excessive fuel to enter the crankcase, is it not? Afterall, engine fires are popping up. Connection? You be the judge. I cannot get Toyota to acknowledge the matter; to be sure, it is trying desperately to say there is no fuel system problem nor does it believe there is any fuel contamination in my engine's oil. I hate to disappoint Toyota, but there is a problem and it is not fair for this company to ignore the significant problem.
In many cases, the crankshaft has broken into two pieces in the sludged vehicles. Vehicles have presented with no oil on the dipstick even a few days after an oil change. Coolant has leaked out (not sure where it is going in some cases) mysteriously and some engine oil has been contaminated with this coolant at the time of engine seizing. Vehicles are overheating as a result of the sudden coolant loss. Vehicles are overheating because of the inherent engine design.
Don't tell me or the other owners that this matter is one of owner maintenance. It isn't going to fly. It is Toyota who has hidden this problem for three years now. It is its own misfortune that in some cases it may be difficult to separate maintenance from the natural (and defective) development of sludge in these affected engines. Had it come forward early on, perhaps more could have been done in its own favor. Now that the issue has been hidden for so long, Toyota must necessarily face the owners who have been lied to and mistreated by the dealerships.
Rest assured, many owners have been denied warranty claims with maintenance records even in corporate-sponsored arbitration proceedings. Before this, the dealerships pointed the finger at these folks in an accusatory manner claiming that sludge can only occur with bad maintenance. Toyota now knows this was a bad move, insulting for its owners, and downright fraud in many cases. This is the truth. Two years of research and contact with hundreds and hundreds of owners proves the similarities in the cases and the contempt of the Toyota affiliates toward its valued (not) customers.
I have one interest in mind and it is the preservation of consumer rights. The "spin doctors" think this is a bad thing. Why? Most likely, it will cut into Toyota's profit margin and there is no toleration for this. I am sorry that Toyota feels that it is necessary to monitor this site and lambast me and others for the sole purpose of confusing new readers. Do you think we as auto owners have a right to band together to preserve our rights (is our bottom dollar not any more important than Toyota's?)? Why is it that we are a big, bad entity when we work in concert? Why do we suddenly get labeled and called all sorts of unbecoming names? Worse, why are a few harassing us and following us around for the express purpose of frightening us away?
Are those benevolent Toyota executives anywhere around now that those who are doing what is right by owners? OR, are they avoiding the limelight in hopes that the "spin doctors" can drive the matter underground once again? I resent the stand that Toyota is now taking. The formerly (but very briefly) helpful executives are nowhere to be found and not responding to e-mail contact. Are we surprised? We have been told that there is help for eight years? Can we trust this when all forwarded e-mail has been abandoned? Can we trust this when owners have been turned away from receiving help from this so-called Executive Response Team?
I am sorry, but I don't get it. I don't get why owners are now left empty-handed and newbies are not being told about the real issue when it occurs. Something is gravely amiss here. I hope Toyota will explain. This is just not right.
Charlene Blake
P.S. My door latches are sticking again. My power steering is making a horrible sound. My brakes clunk in reverse. My ABS pump is running too often. I have had two complete brake failures to date in light snow at extremely low speeds. My coolant is decreasing mysteriously. My engine oil is still contaminated. The exhaust smoke is thicker and more voluminous now. The transmission shifts abruptly at times. The vehicle pulls strongly to the left (Toyota claims I don't balance my tires when offered!). Stay-tuned...
Charlene
Vienna, Virginia
U.S.A.
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