I'm looking at a pretty clean car but the sludge problem looks big for this '98 engine -- and it scares me !

I've checked the dipstick and the oil looked ...nasty. Maybe just overdue a change but isn't the sludge about not regular changes? How would one know ahead that there is a problem with sludge ?

The car/engine has 90k. I guess the timing belt and water pump are next needing change. That doesn't sound ez or cheap.

Any advice ? captmarklp

 

If worried about sludge remove the valve cover (an easy job). If sludge it will show up here also.

The water pump can last 150K plus, most owners change it at the second belt change.

See private message for more inspection notes.

 

Any hint on how often the prior owner changed the oil and what kind of driving he/she did? There are stories of sludged cars turning up at dealers with 20,000 miles on them and the factory installed "break in" oil filter still in place, despite which Toyota paid to have them repaired.