NHTSA Complaint #10351368 — 2001 TOYOTA SIENNA

I HAVE A SIENNA LE 2001. 118,000 MILES. WE HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNERS SINCE WE BOUGHT IT. WE HAVE NO PERFECT RECORD OF OIL CHANGES BUT WE HAVE DONE IT PERIODICALLY. ABOUT 3-4 MONTHS AGO, IT WAS RUNNING OK, BUT IT BLEW OUT WHITE-ISH/ BLUE-ISH SMOKE OCCASIONALLY (USUALLY WHEN FIRST STARTING, IT DIDN'T SEEM TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF IT WAS HOT OR COLD). IT ALSO HAD LITTLE AND OCCASIONAL POWER LOSS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT IT, AND THEY SAID THEY JUST TOOK OFF THE TOP COVER OF THE ENGINE AND IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS GUMMED UP WITH OIL. I HAVE CHANGED THE PCV VALVE, I TOOK IT TO A PLACE FOR AN OIL AND OIL FILTER CHANGE, I AM CONCERNED THE DAMAGE WILL CONTINUE TO THE ENGINE. THE DEALER SAID I NEED A NEW ENGINE, COSTING AROUND $8000. I ASKED A SECOND OPINION OF THE MECHANIC THAT HAS WORKED ON OUR CARS, AND HE THINKS HE WOULD NEED TO TAKE APART THE ENGINE AND FIGURE OUT HE PROBLEM, COSTING AROUND $2000-$3000, HE ALSO MENTIONED THE POSSIBILITY OF A NEW MOTOR. HONESTLY, I DO NOT RECALL RECEIVING INFORMATION ABOUT THE "SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT" FROM TOYOTA OR DEALER REGARDING CHECK-REPLACE THE ENGINES THAT ARE OR COULD BE DAMAGED FROM SLUDGE. I WILL APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT AND SUPPORT. *TR