Oh my. What is a passionate rose lover like you doing in that glacial hell hole? Reading about your endeavors has exhausted me and I haven't even lifted a shovel. I admire your grit and determination, but would love to see you rewarded with thousands of blooms on your rose bushes for all your hard work. I bet they could use engineers in zones 7 to 10!

If the shop reported that the oxygen sensors are shuting down, this can affect performance, but I not certain just how much. Usually, when an out-of-range reading is sensed from the oxygen sensors, the system automatically reverts to default settings which normally results in increased fuel consumption. Replacing the oxygen sensors should correct this situation (if that is all that is the matter). How many miles do you have on your oxygen sensors? These are supposed to be changed about every 80,000 miles or so. But these can fail before this. So, for example, if you have 50,000 miles on them, they could fail. Could you possibly be experiencing "pinging". The knock sensor, when triggered, retards the timing and that will cause momentary reduction in power. However, as soon as the ping goes away, the system will recover in a short period unless another ping is heard. You may have a temperature related sensor failure. The cam position sensor, or crank position sensor may be failing when hot, but returns to normal upon cooling. Suspect these items if the car starts ok when cold and operates well until fully warmed or under load such as crusing at 65 mph. These parts can heat soak while waiting at a stop light, or in slow traffic. One more unusual thing is faulty plug wires (leads). These are not metallic wires these days, but carbon like resistor materials. The plug leads should measure no more than about 3000 ohms per foot of length. (Consult your repair manual for the recommended ohmic value.) I've had these fail in this manner: Starts ok when cold. Runs ok until the engine get hot, maybe 10 miles of cruising at 50 mph over country roads with stops every 2 miles or so. Then, suddently, on an uphill or when pulling away from a stop, the engine misfires and stumbles and does not run well until the load is reduced (back the foot off the gas pedal). The diagnostic for this condition is that the plug leads will measure too high in resistance particularily when these are hot. This item may not show a trouble diagnostic code. One more item that can cause the problem you descibed is the throttle position sensor. This is a key item for setting the fuel mixture and spark timing.

To those searching for more on the Toyota engine oil sludge or gel matter, please see the following links: http://www.toyotaoilgel.com http://www.uc2.blogspot.com http://www.autosafety.org Follow "toyotasludge" on Twitter.com Watch the Toyota Sludge video on YouTube.com at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fs7WI2s-CVw If you have blue/white smoke from the exhaust, especially on start up; check engine light on; excess oil consumption or sudden disappearance of engine oil; failed emissions control components such as the oxygen sensor or catalytic converter; a thrown engine piston rod; or complete engine failure, then be on alert! Notify Toyota via CERTIFED letter with return receipt requested about your problem and ask for full repair coverage under Toyotas Customer Support Program for Engine Oil Gelation. Speak up loudly online if Toyota refuses to honor this program or continues to blame you in the wake of proper vehicle maintenance. If Toyota is totally unresponsive in the wake of a failed engine due to engine oil sludge build up, consider going to the following web sites to voice your concern: http://www.ConsumerAffairs.com http://www.RipOffReport.com Regardless of the Toyota response, be sure to file online vehicle owner complaints at: http://www.autosafety.org The Center for Auto Safety http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/ The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Just to make it clear, the Toyota engine oil sludge problemthe one that has attracted so many defamers to follow me around the internetis STILL a problem. There are many later model Toyota models showing signs of the same problem. What is worse, Toyota owners are reporting continued deception at Toyota and Toyota dealerships. Far too many Toyota owners are being told they do not qualify for the CSP repair cost coverage for one reason or another. Still other Toyota model owners who have sludged engines are being asked to pay thousands in repair costs despite proper vehicle maintenance. This is wrong! Toyota Owners Unite for Resolution Charlene Blake cblake@erols.com charleneblake@cox.net

FWIW. A very pertinent article from The Car Connection's Daily Edition: "Detroit Needs More Than Healthcare Cuts? General Motors, Ford and even the Chrysler Group need to look beyond cuts in healthcare benefits as they restructure if they plan to regain strength in the automotive industry, says one of the industry's top observers. Laurie Harbour-Felax, a consultant and analyst who studies the domestic industry extensively, said that domestic carmakers still have a long way to go to catch their top Japanese competitors. During the first part of the 2005, Nissan made $1,826 per vehicle sold while GM lost $1,227, a gap of $3,300. Even the profitable Chrysler Group made only a fraction of Nissan's per-vehicle profit, at $186 per vehicle, said Harbour-Felax, who was a principal in Harbour & Associates for many year before setting up her own firm this year. To keep pace with Asian competitors, domestic carmakers must figure out ways to use more common parts and vehicle architectures and limit warranty expenses and recall costs, which are still too high now despite the substantial improvements in quality. American companies score much better in initial quality surveys but the longer-term quality that shapes public perception of a vehicle and a company still seems to lag behind. Domestic carmakers spend between $200 to $300 more per vehicle on recalls and that has to be eliminated, she said. Harbour-Felax suggested domestic automakers have to learn to work more closely with their suppliers and treat them as part of the solution, not the problem." TJ Here is a link that might be useful: TheCarConnection.com / Daily Edition Dec 19 2005