Oil Sludge, big time!
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,357
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From: S. Mississippi
Oil Sludge, big time!
Pulled a valve cover off my 400 today and dumped about a half quart of oil on the shop floor, got to looking around on the head and couldn't spot the oil drainbacks in the head, so i picked up a screwdriver and started probing the head to find the oil ports, i cleaned them out so the oil could return to the pan. My question is what would have caused this? The truck is used, a 79 model, and the maintenance record is spot on, but it sat from 94 till last year, in august... any suggestions ??
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Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Lawrenceville USA
Oil Sludge, big time!
I call that operation an "angioplasty". I've done it a few times to bowtie motors. Helps a lot with valve cover and valve guide leaks, that's for sure. I hear that running cool can cause sludge build-up, but have not verified it.
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Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Boise, Idaho
Oil Sludge, big time!
I see that you live in Mississippi. I wonder if the humidity and the lack of use has caused the oil to emulisify. If you're going to be using that vehicle, I'd recommend adding a quart of Marvel Mystery Oil or ATF to help dissolve the sludge. Obviously, you need to change the oil right away.
Also, I'd be using a 195 degree thermostat to help the water boil out of the crankcase.
Best regards,
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: S. Mississippi
Oil Sludge, big time!
The thermo in the truck is factory stock. i'm more suspect of the type of oil used in the engine. while it was maintained flawlessly up until it was parked, the type of oil was pennzoil. im thinking over the time it sat, and because of condensation it caused it to sludge up. any ideas to my theory?
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2002
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Oil Sludge, big time!
>
>I see that you live in Mississippi. I wonder if the humidity
>and the lack of use has caused the oil to emulisify. If
>you're going to be using that vehicle, I'd recommend adding
>a quart of Marvel Mystery Oil or ATF to help dissolve the
>sludge. Obviously, you need to change the oil right away.
>
>Also, I'd be using a 195 degree thermostat to help the water
>boil out of the crankcase.
>
>Best regards,
Mississippi is a VERY HUMID state
the gulf air kills us here in the south
>I see that you live in Mississippi. I wonder if the humidity
>and the lack of use has caused the oil to emulisify. If
>you're going to be using that vehicle, I'd recommend adding
>a quart of Marvel Mystery Oil or ATF to help dissolve the
>sludge. Obviously, you need to change the oil right away.
>
>Also, I'd be using a 195 degree thermostat to help the water
>boil out of the crankcase.
>
>Best regards,
Mississippi is a VERY HUMID state
the gulf air kills us here in the south
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,070
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From: Boise, Idaho
Oil Sludge, big time!
I've heard a lot of stories about Quaker State and Pennzoil having sludge problems. But, yeah, the humidity will be a problem. I remember working on an International 345 in Friday Harbor, WA. Another humid environment. I had changed the oil in the summer. When I went back in the fall and pulled the oil cap off, it was a shock to see how badly the oil emulsified. White gunk covered everything.
You might want to start using synthetic oil. Some WalMarts sell a five quart jug of Mobil 1 for $17.88. That's as cheap as it usually gets. It's a little spendy, but it will hold up better.
You might want to start using synthetic oil. Some WalMarts sell a five quart jug of Mobil 1 for $17.88. That's as cheap as it usually gets. It's a little spendy, but it will hold up better.
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: The Big, Oregon
Oil Sludge, big time!
Living in Florida, I ran castrol, with no probs. Seen lots of bad things from Q-state and Pennz, though. I pulled a pan off a perfectly serviced engine to find a BRIGHT ORANGE crank. He "used Q-state since he first started driving". Per request, it was refilled w/ Castrol.
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Oil Sludge, big time!
Running Havoline 10w-40 in my 400's, pulled the pan off my 79 to do bearings a month ago and it looked like new. Same w/the valve covers no sludge or slime at 75k
Now back in 82 my Dad's 78 Bronco 351m was sludged up bad. Tore it down cleaned, cleaned, and cleaned some more. Oil was changed every 2500-3000 mi. Many of the 351m-400's from 78-79 were like that around here for some reason? Replaced the oil pumps while they were apart and they've been running great since.
Now back in 82 my Dad's 78 Bronco 351m was sludged up bad. Tore it down cleaned, cleaned, and cleaned some more. Oil was changed every 2500-3000 mi. Many of the 351m-400's from 78-79 were like that around here for some reason? Replaced the oil pumps while they were apart and they've been running great since.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 743
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Oil Sludge, big time!
The old penzoil was really bad about that. Seems that some oil guy told me once that it was the type of parrafins that they used in the manufacturing process for penzoil. Sometimes they break down and clump onto things.
Valvoline has never let me down, but some others haven't been so lucky.
Valvoline has never let me down, but some others haven't been so lucky.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 65
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From: USA
Oil Sludge, big time!
The amount of parrin content in the oil formulation has alot to do with sludge build-up. Not changing the oil when it reaches the saturation point and cannot absorb deposits and other corrosives that are a bi-product of internal combustion also contributes to this. The oil while it's mail function is to lubricate and thus reduce friction, also neutralizes acid, oxidation, and acts like a sponge to obsorb engine deposits and carry them out of the crankcase with an oil drain, that is why is is fairly important to drain the crankcase when the engine is at lease modestly warm.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 60
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From: Toronto Ca
Oil Sludge, big time!
I Think I am likely facing this my self.
I have an old 71 with a 400M that hasn't had much use in the last two years. When I got it in Sept, the oil was thin and dark. I did a change with 20W50 and one quart lucas to help the main bearing noises, however when I start it cold, it smokes ALOT. I suspect the oil is sitting in the head and dripping down the valves.
I know I probably should pull the cover and at least scoop out the goo, and clean everything, and maybe even put new valve seals in while I'm there. Until I get to do this do you think I might solve this with a quart of tranny fluid, and then change the oil? The oil in there is quite new, so I don't really want to throw it away, but I can't drive this the way it is, it IS TOO smokey and smelly.
Suggestions?
If I can stop the smoke, I will then put new main bearings in it to fix the noises when it is hot.
I have an old 71 with a 400M that hasn't had much use in the last two years. When I got it in Sept, the oil was thin and dark. I did a change with 20W50 and one quart lucas to help the main bearing noises, however when I start it cold, it smokes ALOT. I suspect the oil is sitting in the head and dripping down the valves.
I know I probably should pull the cover and at least scoop out the goo, and clean everything, and maybe even put new valve seals in while I'm there. Until I get to do this do you think I might solve this with a quart of tranny fluid, and then change the oil? The oil in there is quite new, so I don't really want to throw it away, but I can't drive this the way it is, it IS TOO smokey and smelly.
Suggestions?
If I can stop the smoke, I will then put new main bearings in it to fix the noises when it is hot.