Honda Accord, slight varnish

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I just changed Oil, went with P Ultra, just completed 1000 miles in 3 days, looking in the oil fill hole it didn't clean not 1 bit. 155,000 on car, the side of the valve cover still has the slight brown tint of varnish to it and so far the Ultra hasnt cleaned any of it.
 
I think it's not so much mileage as time in contact with the parts that helps loosen up the crud. Check it after 7500 miles on the oil, preferably about 6 months down the road, and see if it's made any difference.
 
If any product cleaned out engine varnish in 72 hours, I'd be real worried about what else it's eating through or knocking loose.
 
Three days and it's not clean yet?
Actually i saw with my own eyes pennzoil platinum clean up a 3.1 Oldsmobile to almost new condition it took over a year but it did it...
 
So far I think it is pretty good, I did not notice any change in the sound or smothness of the engine but The Oil was very clear on the stick at the beginning and after a 6 hour drive 1 way and then back the oil is still clear. I used Val Synpower last time and it was brown at the 3,000 mark and fairly dark by 5,000 folks here say color does not mean anything but If this stays clear i would feel better about going 7,500. I will definately go further than 5,000 with this long trip eating up so much so soon.
 
I didn't think it would clean it up in 3 days but with a very attenative eye i see no change, I also used a pint of MMO the last 500 miles before changing to the Ultra and I didn't see a change with that either. Someone here mentioned a point to consider that these Honda's have a solid aluminum valve cover that gets extremely hot not sure if that has anything to do with it but it might have when on 3 of my oil changes 7500, 9000, and 9000 using conventional oil, a major overlook on my part. On all 3 of these changes there was not more than 5 months time but I am sure it was pushing conventional to the limit if not a little over.
 
I would say 9000 is probably pushing it on Dino in most cases. As long as you don't have sludge, you're good! I'm guessing the PU will do some cleaning over time.
 
Originally Posted By: crazyoildude

Actually i saw with my own eyes pennzoil platinum clean up a 3.1 Oldsmobile to almost new condition it took over a year but it did it...


Do you have any before and after photos or at least a description of the 'before' condition of the Oldsmobile?
I haven't had the opportunity to see anything like that first hand and I just think it's really cool that these modern formulations make such things possible.
 
I think it'll be awhile before the cleaning would be noticeable. I also think where you are looking in through the fill hole won't show much, if any cleaning. If it's a spot that isn't always covered in oil and is just splashed I wouldn't expect it to get cleaned. Critical places that get constant oil flow is where the cleaning will take place.
 
That is a good thought as the oil does not get on the side or the bottom of the oil plug very much or at least it isn't covered in oil. The valvetrain that I can see look as clean as a whistle always has, I was just thinking oil cleans when it is at operating temp and running 6 hours non stop, and 6 hours back that is a awefully lot of time at full operating temp.
It might not never clean these areas if not no big deal.
 
I will take some soon but i did not take before pictures but you can see what it cleaned and still cleaning i was supprised myself unfortunatly the engine leaks ?seepage with the synthetic it did not with high mileage pennzoil 5w30
 
Says it cleans sludge...not varnish.

Not enough time on oil yet

Maybe not enough splash/contact with oil.
 
Originally Posted By: Gator
I just changed Oil, went with P Ultra, just completed 1000 miles in 3 days, looking in the oil fill hole it didn't clean not 1 bit. 155,000 on car, the side of the valve cover still has the slight brown tint of varnish to it and so far the Ultra hasnt cleaned any of it.


Why do you feel the inside of an engine MUST be absolutely, squeeky clean? Do you feel that is will make the engine perform better? Get better MPG? What is with this obsession? I've seen dozens of engines that have reached 200,000 miles with mild oil varnish and it has no effect on the performance of the engine at all.

Engines are not hospital operating rooms, or aerospace clean rooms, but hot, dirty, chaotic environments that are not expected to be absolutely-perfectly clean. Oil should keep sludge to a minimum and slight discoloration or varnish of the parts is normal and to be expected in high mileage engines. You are putting way too much effort into something that has no measurable effect on the engine performance or longevity.

If you want to eat off the inside of your engine, change the oil every 100 miles and steam clean the inside of your engine weekly, otherwise change the oil according to reasonable OCIs and enjoy driving it.

There is no Cleanest Inside the Engine Awards in life.

Goodness..........Bob is the Oil Cleanliness Obsession Guy.....BITOCOG
 
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Zedhed, I thought that was the reason for this site to post stuff, for people to comment on, and lately the major topic is Ultra, which I just used and posted what my expierment has been. People that come to a public forum should expect not everyone to be up on your level. Just put my name on your avoid list and avoid my post please.
 
You AIN'T gonna clean that varnish with ANY oil or ANY oil additive. imo.

I had a heavily varnished 88 Mazda 323 - owned it for about 15 years. I blasted it over the last few years with all the usual suspects (MMO, 30 minute Amsoil flushes, long runs on M1 HM, etc) - that varnish ain't going anywhere.
 
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