1997 Chevy Z71 350 Vortec 160,000 miles, under the valve cover

ls1mike

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Didn't expect it to be this clean. It has had a steady diet, as far as I can tell of, 5W-30 bulk (dino), no name on receipts every 3000 to 4000 since 58,000 miles. Service at the same place for the last 102,000 miles. Just had to replace the valve cover gaskets. Now it is all ready to go!

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I do 4000 miles on the Malibu with Mobil 1, because DI and LSPI. Seems to work well.
Caprice and the Trans am get 5000 to 6000 miles or yearly on Mobil 1.

My 2017 3500HD gasser get 3000 to 4000 no matter what. I tow a lot and it might be stupid, but I like the piece of mind.

Having said all that, pretty amazed at how clean this is, plus oil pressure cold is 65 psi and hot idle is 40 psi. Driving it is anywhere from 40 to 60 psi. Pretty good for 160,000 miles.
 
It's funny how people post under-the-valve-cover photographs of their own very clean engines, and of other people's horribly sludgy ones, but never vice versa.
Not something I have ever done. Just thought this was pretty clean for 160,000.
 
My 2009 5 . 3 needed a new oil pressure sender around 185,000 miles . I kept reading that the screen under them gets dirty and should be replaced . I bought one and when I swapped the sender, swapped the screen . The old one came out SPOTLESS . I was amazed .
 
Not something I have ever done. Just thought this was pretty clean for 160,000.
That's true. I was referring to posters in general, not just you.
My Mazda engine was as clean after 3 times that mileage, going ~6k per oil change on conventional oil most of the way.
 
About 35 or 40 years ago, my immediate boss, a Chemical Engineer, owned a very small Honda Civic wagon. He firmly believed in and loved Mobil-1. Yes, it’s been around that long. He changed his oil every spring no matter how many miles he put on.
He did change his oil filter every 8000 miles and topped off to make up for the oil lost in the filter change. He would usually average around 24,000 to 25,000 miles a year on that little wagon.
 
Is that the truck you bought for your Son months back? Does not look bad at all under the valve covers -- regular conventional oil has come along way over the years also.
 
Is that the truck you bought for your Son months back? Does not look bad at all under the valve covers -- regular conventional oil has come along way over the years also.
It is, he starts driving next week. Valve cover gaskets were the last minor maintenance item I had to do. I bled the brakes, fixed the door hinge pins, replaced the drives side exterior door handle and replaced the coolant quick disconnect on the intake. It is all ready to go. :) Truck was really well maintained. I have all the service records from 58,000 miles.
 
I do 4000 miles on the Malibu with Mobil 1, because DI and LSPI. Seems to work well.
Caprice and the Trans am get 5000 to 6000 miles or yearly on Mobil 1.

My 2017 3500HD gasser get 3000 to 4000 no matter what. I tow a lot and it might be stupid, but I like the piece of mind.

Having said all that, pretty amazed at how clean this is, plus oil pressure cold is 65 psi and hot idle is 40 psi. Driving it is anywhere from 40 to 60 psi. Pretty good for 160,000 miles.


Dam good! Looks great, whatever oil it was it is doing a good job keeping things clean.
 
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