Changing oil after valve cover was removed?

[Spetz]

Hi guys,

I removed my valve covers to change my valve stem seals.
This was done in a garage with open windows.
When not working on the car (ie, overnight) I wrapped the openings with saran wrap.

Now certainly external contaminants still went in (dust settled etc) though nothing visible to the eye.

Do I need to change the oil after running the engine or will the oil filter take care of everything?

 

[Farmer]

Mileage on oil?

 

[Spetz]

Well, I dropped a retainer collet down the engine sadly so I need to remove the sump and fill it with new oil.

So I am wondering whether I should fill with a cheaper oil to use as a flush or whether I can fill with the proper oil that will stay there?

 

[DoubleWasp]

I've never done a flush cycle just because an engine had been opened. Fill it with what you would normally use.

 

[demarpaint]

I removed the lifter cover on a Ford 4.9L to replace the gasket and didn't change the oil. I don't recall dropping any gasket material or anything else into the engine. I sent an oil sample out for analysis. I'll know shortly if it impacted anything.

 

[Trav]

I would just run a normal OCI also.

 

[Ohle_Manezzini]

It isn't brain surgery.

 

[Artem]

Originally Posted By: Ohle_Manezzini
It isn't brain surgery.


Some would consider what the OP did as heart surgery though.

I say it all depends on the car and how much you Love it. If it's a regular daily driver with a bunch of miles, you could leave it as is and let the oil filter catch the tiny particles (hopefully)

If it's a prized possession, I'd pour a small amount of oil all over the exposed engine internals, let it idle for a minute, maybe take it around the block, just to insure enough oil pressure was built up to splash the top of the head clean and change the oil.

Really anal car collectors might flush after changing the oil to insure that super clean oil is in the sump and then finally pour in the oil that will remain in there for the next OCI.

Just my $0.02 cents on the matter. Like I said, it depends on the car. If it's a Honda Civic, don't waste your time. If it's a Ferrari, change the oil, pour in new oil, run the engine for 30 seconds, change the oil again, run the engine around the block, change the oil again, run the engine for 100 miles and finally change the oil again. LOL.

Oh and don't forget to install Brand New oil filters with each flush too. Hahaha

 

[bigt61]

It's fine, do your normal OCI.

 

[bluestream]

How many shops in the world are doing this every day...Just fill and go.

 

[Bud]

Change when you normally do. Is nice to read opinions on this board, but do what makes you comfortable. It is after all, your car.

 

[Ohle_Manezzini]

Originally Posted By: Artem
Originally Posted By: Ohle_Manezzini
It isn't brain surgery.


Some would consider what the OP did as heart surgery though.

I say it all depends on the car and how much you Love it. If it's a regular daily driver with a bunch of miles, you could leave it as is and let the oil filter catch the tiny particles (hopefully)

If it's a prized possession, I'd pour a small amount of oil all over the exposed engine internals, let it idle for a minute, maybe take it around the block, just to insure enough oil pressure was built up to splash the top of the head clean and change the oil.

Really anal car collectors might flush after changing the oil to insure that super clean oil is in the sump and then finally pour in the oil that will remain in there for the next OCI.

Just my $0.02 cents on the matter. Like I said, it depends on the car. If it's a Honda Civic, don't waste your time. If it's a Ferrari, change the oil, pour in new oil, run the engine for 30 seconds, change the oil again, run the engine around the block, change the oil again, run the engine for 100 miles and finally change the oil again. LOL.

Oh and don't forget to install Brand New oil filters with each flush too. Hahaha


I agree if it was a brand new Ferrari that got the engine opened for 2 weeks, it could get a little dust, but a stem seal job doesn't take more than 1 hour with the valve over off. Nothing measurable settled there.