2004 TOYOTA MATRIX Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

THE ENGINE HAD "SLUDGED" AT ABOUT 70,000 MILES (2004 TOYOTA MATRIX). THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP HAD DONE THE OIL CHANGES ROUTINELY SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR CERTIFIED. THE ENGINE WAS REBUILT USING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY I HAD PURCHASED FROM A PRIVATE COMPANY (NOT TOYOTA). THE CAR WAS KNOCKING WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM MICHIGAN TO FLORIDA. I CHECKED THE OIL, IT WAS DRY, SO I BOUGHT MORE OIL AND FILLED IT (2 QUARTS). BY THE TIME I GOT HOME, THE OIL STICK AGAIN READ EMPTY, SO I AGAIN FILLED IT. I DID NOT SEE ANY OIL BURNING (THE SMOKE CLOUD). ANOTHER DAY PASSED AND THE OIL WAS EMPTY AGAIN, SO I TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP AND THEY DETERMINED THE OIL HAD BEEN CLOGGED. *TR

I HAVE NEVER HAD MECHANICAL ISSUES WITH MY 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX. LAST WEEKEND WHILE TRYING TO MERGE ONTO INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 10 IN AZ FOR A WEEKEND CAMPING TRIP WITHOUT WARNING MY ENGINE SEIZED WHILE I WAS TRYING TO MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE STOPPED AND THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER BEFORE THE SEMI BEHIND ME REAR ENDED ME. I AM THANKFUL TO BE ALIVE AS WELL AS THE INFANT I HAD WITH ME IN THE CAR. WHEN WE TOWED THE CAR TO A MECHANIC HE ACCUSED ME OF DRIVING THE CAR WITHOUT OIL BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS FULL OF SLUDGE. THANKFULLY MY FATHER WAS WITH ME AND HE EXPLAINED TO THE MECHANIC THAT I REGULARLY HAVE MY CAR SERVICED AND WE HAD OIL IN THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. AFTER SOME SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS...

AFTER LAST OIL CHANGE, OIL WAS GEL-LIKE, ENGINE MADE TAPPING NOISE...TOOK TO DEALER WITH A LIST OF OTHER PROBLEMS, AC NOT COLD, HEATER NOT BLOWING HOT, WINDOW JUMPING WHEN ROLLING DOWN, AND TIRES MAKING FUNNY NOISE. WAS TOLD ENGINE NOISE WAS NORMAL, FIXED AC AGAIN, 3RD TIME, HEATER HAD LOOSE PART TIGHTEN, WINDOW PART ORDERED, TIRE HAD FLAT SPOT, LAST TIME WAS WATER IN WHEEL. CRASH DID NOT DAMAGE ENGINE, OR WINDOWS, OR TIRES. *JB