Last week i get a call from my father saying his low coolant light is on,i tell him to bring it in for a look. Its a 2000 Venture 3.4 V6 with 100K
He had been driving like this for a week, he said he couldn't get the cap off so he just filled the overflow bottle with Dexcool and kept driving.
I opened the cap and found dex sludge in an almost empty radiator. I decided to swap the heads out because he overheated the top end so bad, good thing one had cracks in the valve pocket, both were warped. No coolant got into the oil but it did get into the cylinders.
So 2 new heads and a good set of gaskets and it should be fine, problem is its a Venture and a real PITA to do this job on.
After almost a whole day of swearing and cussing it is down to the block, but there are some interesting observations I noted on this engine.
He does (I do) change the oil if he remembers every 5k with 5W-30 dino of any major brand he picks up cheap at wallys,he uses AC Delco filters.
He tanks Shell regular since new because its right next to his house and never uses additional additives.
Last year I did 2 full 3k ARX cycles because it looked pretty sad under the valve covers.
Now I have the engines top end in bits, the valve train look no different then before the ARX.Even in high oil flow areas like the lifter valley there is build up.
Strangely the build up is worse on the front head than the rear.
The valve stems, faces and piston heads had zero carbon buildup and were shiny again with just a wipe down of oil.
The cylinder bores are perfect, no ridge and the original pattern can still be seen on the walls.
Because its such a bear to work on I am changing the O2 sensors and replacing the injectors with rebuilt units as well as the thermostat, hoses and whatever else looks
like half the motor has to come out to change.
Will refill with Peak green coolant.
My own conclusions are..
The Dino did its job of controlling wear but dropped the ball in the deposit control area due to his stop and go driving and sometimes neglected OCI.
Maybe synthetic will work better in this app.
Fuel additives are not needed in any way in this engine running the fuel he uses.
ARX was for all intents and purposes was of questionable value.
Top engine cleaning on this engine would be just a waste of time; it never had one since new.
IMO this engine would have been perfect (sans dexcool issue)with no additives of any kind if he had just used a little higher quality oil.
Opinions?
He had been driving like this for a week, he said he couldn't get the cap off so he just filled the overflow bottle with Dexcool and kept driving.
I opened the cap and found dex sludge in an almost empty radiator. I decided to swap the heads out because he overheated the top end so bad, good thing one had cracks in the valve pocket, both were warped. No coolant got into the oil but it did get into the cylinders.
So 2 new heads and a good set of gaskets and it should be fine, problem is its a Venture and a real PITA to do this job on.
After almost a whole day of swearing and cussing it is down to the block, but there are some interesting observations I noted on this engine.
He does (I do) change the oil if he remembers every 5k with 5W-30 dino of any major brand he picks up cheap at wallys,he uses AC Delco filters.
He tanks Shell regular since new because its right next to his house and never uses additional additives.
Last year I did 2 full 3k ARX cycles because it looked pretty sad under the valve covers.
Now I have the engines top end in bits, the valve train look no different then before the ARX.Even in high oil flow areas like the lifter valley there is build up.
Strangely the build up is worse on the front head than the rear.
The valve stems, faces and piston heads had zero carbon buildup and were shiny again with just a wipe down of oil.
The cylinder bores are perfect, no ridge and the original pattern can still be seen on the walls.
Because its such a bear to work on I am changing the O2 sensors and replacing the injectors with rebuilt units as well as the thermostat, hoses and whatever else looks
like half the motor has to come out to change.
Will refill with Peak green coolant.
My own conclusions are..
The Dino did its job of controlling wear but dropped the ball in the deposit control area due to his stop and go driving and sometimes neglected OCI.
Maybe synthetic will work better in this app.
Fuel additives are not needed in any way in this engine running the fuel he uses.
ARX was for all intents and purposes was of questionable value.
Top engine cleaning on this engine would be just a waste of time; it never had one since new.
IMO this engine would have been perfect (sans dexcool issue)with no additives of any kind if he had just used a little higher quality oil.
Opinions?
