ZZT86

Interesting but I'm sorry to hear of your problems. I guess any engine can sludge if neglected, regular oil changes are paramount as is a good drive from time to time. I'm hoping that this car I'm getting isn't a sludge monster although it wouldn't surprise me if it has some - I'm still waiting to hear from their mechanic :| Have you attacked your sludge issue with many very low km OCI's plus filter and/or have you done some preliminary cleaning before this ?

You got sludge in your Aurion ? Surprising, perhaps a previous owners neglect? From experience on my previous gen7 Celica an OCI of 5K kms using helix HX7 10W30 oil, engine flush every 10K with oil filter yields a very clean engine even after 300K plus kms ! Cheers :)

@campbeam - Sorry I misunderstood - you meant a GR5 oil Ester like 300V with a matching price tag ? What sort for the MCV20R ? Just quickly looking at the first PDF - nice write up/info from Penrite

Cheers @KAA - yeah I will drive it the way it was meant to be driven - fairly sedately & b/w 15-19K kms/yr. I can't see much difference between a 5W & a 10W weight oil except that the 5W will flow best when cold. Lighter means improved fuel economy as well as more hp if the engine was designed to use it. Any particular branding of oil for this car recommended ? I'd be inclined to change the oil out every 5K kms if with a semi-synthetic or perhaps longer like 7.5-10K kms if full synthetic in the pursuit of keeping the engine clean. I would also use an engine flush as I'm accustomed in doing. @campbeam - yep the latest spec is SN/GF5 which is best all round - cheers ;)

Howdy all ! Keen to resurrect this thread as I am about to become the proud owner (hopefully) of a 2001 MCV20R Camry Azura V6 with that silky 1MZ-FE motor for a daily. The car currently belongs to my late godfather who recently passed away (god bless his soul) & it's done stuff all kms (76K!) and appears to be in pretty good order. Cam covers are leaking rear in particular, their mechanic has suggested they're going to replace the gaskets so I will know within days if any sludge - I suspect not as it's had semi-sythetic all it's life. I'm curious to know what weight engine oil owners of these cars are using - the Toyota owners guide calls for 5W30 or a 10W30 yet this car has always been fed Helix 10W40 and most recently HPR10 which is a full synth 10W50 which seems outrageously heavy considering the manufacturers suggestion of a lighter oil. Personally I'm inclined to follow Toyota's recommendation so I'm keen to hear of them suggestions ! Cheers :)