Can a sludged engine run perfectly fine?

[strombony]

I have a 92 GMC 1500 half ton. I've only looked through the oil fill hole and it is horrible. All I can see is black.

Now mind you, I was not the origanal owner.. And any of us Bitogers know, this engine would be spotless had I owned it first. But yet, this engine runs perfect. smooth at idle, and I've been changing the oil every 3 months even though I only put 1500 miles on it in that time.

 

[addyguy]

Yes, A sludged engine can run perfectly fine. Seen it lots of times.

I'm not going to say the 'solution' that will be repeated in every post after this one.....

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: strombony
I have a 92 GMC 1500 half ton. I've only looked through the oil fill hole and it is horrible. All I can see is black.

Now mind you, I was not the origanal owner.. And any of us Bitogers know, this engine would be spotless had I owned it first. But yet, this engine runs perfect. smooth at idle, and I've been changing the oil every 3 months even though I only put 1500 miles on it in that time.


what is that a 350?

 

[demarpaint]

I've seen mucked up engines that ran fine. It would bother the life out of me, but the people who owned the cars didn't care.

 

[wavinwayne]

I had a 1983 Monte Carlo with a terribly sludged engine that ran fine for the 4 years I owned it. It smoked, but it always started up and ran well.

 

[labman]

I ended up with a terrible mess of sludge in the V-6 in my 81 Phoenix. It still ran as good as anything late in the day of the carburetor.

 

[Steve S]

Sludge really doesn't make a whole lot of difference untill there is enough to clog the oil pump pickup screen, although sludge isn't what I like in my engines.

 

[TheOak]

Originally Posted By: addyguy
Yes, A sludged engine can run perfectly fine. Seen it lots of times.

I'm not going to say the 'solution' that will be repeated in every post after this one.....


Okay ... I'll bite ... what is the solution?

 

[strombony]

Well, I don't like it either...but I'm not about to tear it down. I have my doubts that ARX will clean it up entirely

 

[rshaw125]

I imagine most sludged engines run fine until the last few seconds. check the PCV system / valve and run PP.

 

[ZZman]

Yes. The problem is when might something break free and plug your engine up?

Sludge is like Cancer. You might function a long time and them WHAM!

 

[Bryanccfshr]

If it is running perfectly fine keep doing what you are doing. Might stretch to 6 months and use a HDEO for that engine(not the sludge) and forget about it.

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
I've seen mucked up engines that ran fine. It would bother the life out of me, but the people who owned the cars didn't care.

A neighbor of mine has one..She never goes more then a mile each way and changes the oil about every 2.5 years. It smokes at startup [88 Caddy] but otherwise runs fine.

 

[Johnny248]

run a can of flush through it.

 

[ARB1977]

Its because of the extra layer of protection.

 

[72customdeluxe]

I think it wouldn't do anything unless the rings were sludged up (like mine). I base this on the compression rising on the one lower compression cylinder over time with mmo and mobil hm. So the rings had to be cleaned a little right? Under my v/c's it's clean though and was when I bought it two quarts low with black maple syrup for oil. It can't really do anything unless on the rings I think.

 

[[RT] ProjUltraZ]

Originally Posted By: strombony
I have my doubts that ARX will clean it up entirely


O ye of little faith

 

[AWESOMO4000]

Quote:
I had a 1983 Monte Carlo with a terribly sludged engine that ran fine for the 4 years I owned it. It smoked, but it always started up and ran well.


What's that old adage....a GM car will run longer poorly than most other cars will run at all...

 

[Epic_]

If my engine was sludged up like that I *wouldn't* want to clean it with something that'll do a serious cleaning job.

Run a good oil and let it do it's job.

 

[Geonerd]

Why don't ya pull one of the valve covers?
If you see think layers of goo, I'd suggest dropping the oil pan to check the intake screen.
If it's restricted, your car could have "The Big One" at any time.