18.000 miles no oil change in a '96 Renault and I opened the valve cover

[Saikou]

My gf owns this '96 Renault Megane Diesel (no turbo, 60 HP naturally aspirated).

The last OC was performed before the pandemic (more than 4 years ago and 18.000 miles).

She's been warned multiple times of the importance of OCI's (well, her bf is a BITOGer lol) (edit - MOD)

The car was leaking profusely through the valve cover gasket, so a couple of weeks ago I decided to replace it. Here is what I found:

What do you guys think about it? It's the dirtiest engine I've ever seen in my life no doubt, but bearing in mind the fact it's a diesel engine I must confess that I expected something worse. But yeah, sludge is starting to develop in some parts of the camshaft and baked oil all over the place too.

Also, the car has emptied the oil jar I bought many years ago to top it off, so I'm gonna start to top it off with wasted oil I collect when I change the oil of my beemer... will this old Renault withstand it and if so, for how long? We'll see



NOW SOME PICS OF THE CAR:

 

[OilyOrangutan]

Wow I am no expert, but that is not what I expected to see. I thought it'd be much worse.

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

It's the insides of an internal combustion engine, and a diesel no less. What are you seeing that you think needs to be fixed?

Replace the valve cover gasket, change the oil and move on with your life.

 

[Saikou]

It's the insides of an internal combustion engine, and a diesel no less. What are you seeing that you think needs to be fixed?

Replace the valve cover gasket, change the oil and move on with your life.

Nothing needs to be fixed now. I just changed the valve cover gasket and car is running as always. There's only one issue: valve lifters make a ticking sound for a couple of minutes when cold, but other than that it runs ok so far.

Needless to say that I have not changed the oil, I don't think I should carry with that cost if she thinks it's an ''unnecesary thing''. I just purchased the gasket bc its price was only 2,40 € and I had to buy some parts for my car, so I took the chance

 

[anderson]

looks pretty clean to me. whats the issue. just change the oil and send it down the road

 

[John Galt]

Gf huh? Taking labor payment out in trade I guess or I’d let her deal with the consequences. Best way to learn is to touch the hot stove.

Want someone to touch something? Tell them that you just painted it and the paint is still wet. Look away.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Sorry about your luck but you just bought the cow. No more milk for free. You own the maintenance now.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

It actually doesn't look bad

Just change the oil more frequently from now on

 

[carviewsonic]

It looks not terrible for the OCI mileage. I would just take the car for a couple hours and do the oil change. Easier than nagging your girlfriend to get it done.

I do the oil changes on my two daughters' cars. It would never happen otherwise, no matter how many times I reminded them. Someday I won't be able to do their cars' maintenance, but in the meantime it's something useful to do and peace of mind for me.

 

[wwillson]

I'm gonna start to top it off with wasted oil I collect when I change the oil of my beemer

Why? This engine just needs an oil change, not further abuse. Put new diesel oil in it, change it when it should be changed, and get many more miles out of the engine. Putting used oil in it is like trying to hasten the end.

 

[4strokes]

Why? This engine just needs an oil change, not further abuse. Put new diesel oil in it, change it when it should be changed, and get many more miles out of the engine. Putting used oil in it is like trying to hasten the end.

I would be most worried about the oil pickup screen and clean fresh oil would help clean that up.

 

[eljefino]

What a wonderful, awful car. Reminds me of the Ford Aspire.

OP change the oil for cryin' out loud. Get whatever's on sale that meets spec.

 

[Bailes1992]

These engines are so under stressed I don’t think that it will ever truly fail. The car will fall to bits around it!

The engine that spawned the 1.5 BlueDCi in my 2022 Dacia Duster!

 

[Zee09]

Pay now or pay later.

 

[himemsys]

Why would you go through the trouble of changing the valve cover gasket, then NOT put fresh oil in while you were at it?

 

[atikovi]

Too bad Renault stopped selling vehicles here, they make some nice looking cars.

 

[Sandstorm]

Too bad Renault stopped selling vehicles here, they make some nice looking cars.

My in-laws own bought a new one in Mexico a couple of years ago. Also Peugeot is pretty popular in Mexico

 

[wemay]

OP, thanks for sharing. Your GF is a closet BITOGER who follows @dnewton3 posts/recommendations.

 

[Hall]

My gf owns this '96 Renault Megane Diesel (no turbo, 60 HP naturally aspirated).

The last OC was performed before the pandemic (more than 4 years ago and 18.000 miles).

I thought in Europe, most oil change intervals are substantially longer than people believe need done here in N America ? Plus, don't diesels also go longer on oil changes ? A quick Google search suggests this 18k mile interval is nothing to be concerned about.

 

[KrisZ]

She's been warned multiple times of the importance of OCI's (well, her bf is a BITOGer lol) but she doesn't give a single **** about it.

Time to cut her loose...