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Home » Consumer Information » Automobile Tips

Oil Sludge

Much like humans can develop clogged arteries, your car's engine can develop oil sludge. This is a condition where the motor oil used to lubricate the engine's parts and keep your car running smoothly thickens and collects in the various channels. As fresh oil tries to navigate these passageways, the sludge creates quite an obstruction. Eventually, enough blockage prevents proper circulation of the oil. In essence, the vehicle's engine has the equivalent of a heart attack, and it may require replacement.

If the problem is not addressed, oil sludge can cause serious harm to an engine over a brief time span. Unbelievably, some vehicles have been reported to encounter oil sludge as early as 20,000 miles into the car's life, and engine replacement is inevitable. Oil sludge can develop in automobiles from all manufacturers--economy and luxury. Cost does not really play a role in whether a vehicle is going to accommodate sludge, but there are some brands that are more likely to show signs of sludge than others.

Toyota has admitted to more than 3,400 consumer reports of their vehicles developing oil sludge. Six years ago, the Japanese automaker expanded its limited warranty on 3.3 million vehicles prone to developing oil sludge. Although this appears to be a great move for public relations, Toyota drivers have still reported numerous run-ins with customer service and the company's noncompliance with the terms of the newly revised contract.

Likewise, Saab also extended its lifetime warranty to eight years for at-risk vehicles. Chrysler, despite consumer frustration with oil sludge buildup in their products, has not given in with a more lenient warranty thus far. Volkswagen and Lexus have also bulked up their warranties amidst signs that their vehicles are not immune to oil sludge either.

Some manufacturers, like Chrysler, have been exceedingly stubborn in regards to consumer requests for engine replacement under warranty as a result of sludge damage. These companies have been known to be so stringent that they will cite a consumer's failure to bring their vehicle in for an oil change at the suggested interval, even if they surpassed it by a mere 36 miles. Some manufacturers have accused consumers of pouring debris into their engines to purposely cause sludge in hopes of exploiting the conditions of the warranty. Some consumers feel that the automakers have left them no choice but to pass their hardships onto others by selling their vehicles with engine problems in tow.

Recently, manufacturers have discovered that a $10 device could help prevent the accumulation of engine sludge. The inexpensive oil monitor is able to constantly check oil life and notify the consumer when an oil change is imminent. Car companies have begun adding these mechanisms to some of their higher quality vehicles, but there are still many who refuse to budge.

If you own a vehicle with oil sludge that could prematurely end the life of your car's engine, it is a good idea to contact an attorney. Thousands of other people in your shoes have consulted a legal expert and received the compensation they deserved in the end.