2004 toyota camry engine sludge?

[k. b]

I have 2004 camry that has started tapping badly and the way its nursed is with an oil change and some additive. When calling toyota last year they had nothing to say other than those engines with same problems in early model were no longer made and these newer models have different yet i have similar problems. Had a test run on engine and it reported oil plugs/ports....were clogged. Report also mentioned positioning sensor or timing jumped. Are you saying toyota is acknowledge defective engines now?
Actually its a 4 cyc 2.4
oh well...i m doomed...it has 130,000....ok...bump toyota....what has to be done to fix the aftermath....the tapping...a faint knock when engine rpm's r reduced to 1000
i have changed oil every 3000-3500 mis since car had 70,000...not sure what the previous owners records are.....i have owned many cars...including toyota...and i will honestly say i have driven with oil change 1 or twice a year...never had such an issue...i think its a bunch of crock..i guess i need i better car if the big one hits and i have to flee.
u work for there people alex w...u sound like maybe ur dad owns toyota

 

[Alex W]

Toyota issued a Customer Support Program for older engines. The 2004 is not within the support program. Basically, the support program stemmed from customer who did not change the oil based on Toyota's recommendations. If you didn't follow the recommendations, oil would lose its viscosity, be prone to build up in the oil return lines, starving the engine of oil and eventually causing its failure.

If your dealer or independent shop has determined that your engine has sludge, which can happen in any engine, not just Toyotas, you'll just need to have the vehicle inspected by a certified Toyota dealer and show proof (receipts or repair orders) that you have performed oil changes. Your car must be within the 5 year / 60000 mile powertrain warranty. If you meet those requirements, then there should not be an issue.

If you don't have anything resembling a maintenance history like Toyota recommends (which is an oil change every 5,000 miles or 6 months, whichever occurs first), you will have a lot harder time to get Toyota to repair the engine under warranty.