Another Reason to Avoid Long OCI.

[Trav]

This is an ecotec PCV the previous owner was a little lax with OCI, not real bad but not enough. This PVC is in the rear of the intake requiring it to be removed to replace it. Junk got all over the little valve membrane and turned it brittle, it broke and caused all sorts of issues.
I have changed these at 2X the miles in well maintained engines that were not this bad.

 

[Just a civilian pilot]

Thanks for sharing that and taking some pictures.

 

[Leo99]

What kind of long OCI are we talking about here?

 

[OilUzer]

Shorter oci is a good advice but I would have thought that the cracks would be due to cheap plastic, age and/or temperature and not the accumulated junk.
Maybe junk blocks proper heat transfer and cooling.

 

[Trav]

What kind of long OCI are we talking about here?

7-8K on this HOT (High Output Turbo) engine. 5K is really the max 3K is better is short tripped going by what I see when I pull them apart.

 

[Trav]

Shorter oci is a good advice but I would have thought that the cracks would be due to cheap plastic, age and/or temperature and not the accumulated junk.
Maybe junk blocks proper heat transfer and cooling.

The plastic did fine the membrane got junk all over it and could no longer function properly, given enough time and heat it hardened and finally cracked. Hard to believe that tiny $12 part can do devastating damage to the engine.

 

[Ursatdx]

IMO that valve appears to be impacted by excessive heat.
Higher temps are just one of the adverse effects of extended OCIs.
Low oil level will certainly increase engine temps. Increased
temps will vaporize the oil. The sludge you see is the result
of vaporized oil.
Those who don't monitor oil levels are more likely to
neglect required oil changes. They go hand in hand.

 

[Trav]

+1 True.

 

[doublebase]

Yeah, that doesn’t look good. I don’t recommend long oil change intervals to anyone.

 

[surfstar]

My 1.8T GDI goes 10k miles *shrug* is 180/180 in a 1.8T high output or not?

Maybe engine design related more so than "long" OCI?

 

[Trav]

So many engines and so many variables, my advise is unless you are 100% sure the engine can handle it stick to severe service intervals at a minimum with turbo engines.
10K OCI on a 4.0T 450 HP and a $10K timing chain job is probably not far away. On a Gen I 230HP ecotec with the 4 qt pan 3K can be too long if you hammer or short trip the thing.

 

[Oillover]

So many engines and so many variables, my advise is unless you are 100% sure the engine can handle it stick to severe service intervals at a minimum with turbo engines.
10K OCI on a 4.0T 450 HP and a $10K timing chain job is probably not far away. On a Gen I 230HP ecotec with the 4 qt pan 3K can be too long if you hammer or short trip the thing.

I think the shorter OCI's shouldn't be reserved only for turbo engines, but DI vehicles as well.
Especially those with smaller oil capacities.

 

[gathermewool]

Are we sure the owner didn’t simply run too low on oil between intervals?

I’m glad the PCV valves in both of my Subies is all metal.

Both were equally gunked up, but still functioning.

I don’t plan to change from the regular interval of 7,500 miles or one year, whichever comes first. With that said, my wife’s driving habits have substantially changed since we moved and due to COVID, so I shortened her interval up a bit this last OCI. The analysis sent to BS came back fine.

 

[AutoMechanic]

This is why I always advise short OCI and people go crazy and get mad at me for saying it but here they see why.

 

[JC1]

This is why I always advise short OCI and people go crazy and get mad at me for saying it but here they see why.

Yes given the facts and evidence, I'm wondering if I'll go back to cheaper oil and change it more frequently.

 

[Just a civilian pilot]

7-8K on this HOT (High Output Turbo) engine. 5K is really the max 3K is better is short tripped going by what I see when I pull them apart

Good advice. I follow my OLM but it’s not a turbo. Same PCV , over 300K and 12000 OCIs.

 

[GMBoy]

Most of the plastics on those ecotecs don't age well - some will just snap off in your hands or disintegrate!

 

[demarpaint]

So many engines and so many variables, my advise is unless you are 100% sure the engine can handle it stick to severe service intervals at a minimum with turbo engines.
10K OCI on a 4.0T 450 HP and a $10K timing chain job is probably not far away. On a Gen I 230HP ecotec with the 4 qt pan 3K can be too long if you hammer or short trip the thing.

I agree. Do you think the money saved on extending the OCI would cover the cost to replace that part? If so and there are no other issues from extending the OCI some people might see value in extending the interval. I'd rather pay up for shorter OCIs and not have to deal with something that could have been avoided. IMO if there is a problem like that from extending an OCI there might be others, wiping out any savings and turning the extended OCI into a major losing proposition in some applications.

 

[Trav]

I have never been a fan of extended OCI especially at the prices of oil in the USA. If there is varnish under the cover the OCI is too long, the oil is lower quality or both, its really that simple.
With modern engines varnish is anything but a cosmetic stain.

 

[Just a civilian pilot]

I have never been a fan of extended OCI especially at the prices of oil in the USA. If there is varnish under the cover the OCI is too long, the oil is lower quality or both, its really that simple.
With modern engines varnish is anything but a cosmetic stain.

Interesting professional observation on varnish not just being cosmetic. First time I have heard of that and will keep in mind if I ever buy a car with a turbo.