Honda J35 V6 (J35Z4) Sludge and Cam Scoring

[The Critic]

The information is the reason people are doubting that is the primary issue. One side of the engine shows no sign of the oil change being overextended and the other appears to have suffered partial oil starvation. It looks a lot like an engine that had inadequate venting and suffered from moisture induced sludge but on one head only (That's an observation on appearance not an opinion on cause).

I am in agreement with your comments. However, the ones that receive more frequent oil changes will only have the thick varnish in the front head....not the sludge that you see here.

 

[tolian21]

More frequent oil changes help with sludge and varnish. I am not planning to convince anyone. Do what you like

 

[OVERKILL]

I am in agreement with your comments. However, the ones that receive more frequent oil changes will only have the thick varnish in the front head....not the sludge that you see here.

Yeah, this is the engine @Trav recommended M1 0w-40 for IIRC, as he found it kept it clean. Regular PCMO's would result in exactly what you've seen here.

 

[The Critic]

Yeah, this is the engine Trav recommended M1 0w-40 for IIRC, as he found it kept it clean. Regular PCMO's would result in exactly what you've seen here.

If I recall correctly, he used Amsoil SS 5W20 at annual intervals.

Annual for him was probably somewhere in the 15-25K range.

 

[OVERKILL]

If I recall correctly, he used Amsoil SS 5W20 at annual intervals.

Annual for him was probably somewhere in the 15-25K range.

He said earlier in the thread that 15K on AMSOIL was way too long for this engine.

On the 0w-40:

Honda 3.5L and 0w20

New owner of a used 2011 Crosstour with 3.5L which specifies 0w20. How important is sticking to this viscosity in my mild climate of North Carolina.

bobistheoilguy.com

2010 Honda Pilot, 3.5, Penn Ultra, 6k on oil

2010 Honda Pilot, 3.5, 36k on unit, 6k on oil. Penn Ultra 5W20, Bosch Dist filter BLACKSTONE: Most metal levels are at reasonable levels, so the only mark we have in the spectral results is for iron. It's still high at 42 ppm since this oil wasn't in use as long as the universal average...

bobistheoilguy.com

How bad is this...

J35a8 engine with about 150k. I think this might be as a result of a faulty pcv system and/or previous owner neglecting oil changes. Is this bad enough to negatively impact anything? The rocker arm closest to the pcv valve is black and not even just varnished. Which motor oil would you proceed...

bobistheoilguy.com

If the PCV was stuck make sure the bottom of the valve cover openings are clear and free flowing to the PCV valve opening, this is common with these Honda engines.
I have had great results with Mobil 1 0w40 at cleaning these up when they are at this point or less, the engines love it.

 

[Kuato]

The dry hard carbon chunks are what makes it completely unbelievable. Something more to this, methinks.

Agree. VCM is very rough on oil.

@ The Critic, is VCM still active, and did they ever perform a UOA?

Extended OCI should never be done without UOA.

 

[The Critic]

He said earlier in the thread that 15K on AMSOIL was way too long for this engine.

On the 0w-40:

Honda 3.5L and 0w20

New owner of a used 2011 Crosstour with 3.5L which specifies 0w20. How important is sticking to this viscosity in my mild climate of North Carolina.

bobistheoilguy.com

2010 Honda Pilot, 3.5, Penn Ultra, 6k on oil

2010 Honda Pilot, 3.5, 36k on unit, 6k on oil. Penn Ultra 5W20, Bosch Dist filter BLACKSTONE: Most metal levels are at reasonable levels, so the only mark we have in the spectral results is for iron. It's still high at 42 ppm since this oil wasn't in use as long as the universal average...

bobistheoilguy.com

How bad is this...

J35a8 engine with about 150k. I think this might be as a result of a faulty pcv system and/or previous owner neglecting oil changes. Is this bad enough to negatively impact anything? The rocker arm closest to the pcv valve is black and not even just varnished. Which motor oil would you proceed...

bobistheoilguy.com

He= owner of this Pilot, not Trav.

Agree. VCM is very rough on oil.

@ The Critic, is VCM still active, and did they ever perform a UOA?

Extended OCI should never be done without UOA.

No UOA, and VCM is still active.

 

[OVERKILL]

He= owner of this Pilot, not Trav.

Ahhh, OK, I thought you were saying that's what Trav was recommending.

No UOA, and VCM is still active.

Yeah, clearly way too long an interval for this engine, UOA or not, it is insanely hard on oil.

 

[Pablo]

15K MAX with Amsoil. Per Amsoil. And that is highway. Just FYI

 

[350Rocket]

Either that’s a bad design, she didn’t ever check the level between yearly intervals or the 15k/year assumption is wrong. No way that’s normal for ANY oil with only 15k/year, IF kept topped up...

I do love seeing the 3/3 folks climbing out from under their rocks for a quick jab, though!

15k would put my olm to zero 3 times on my work truck. I could see that causing sludge under certain conditions. Definitely both the 3k/3 guys and the 10k+ is always fine guys will blindly defend their opinion and call anything that doesn't agree with their opinion a lie.

 

[HowAboutThis]

Looks like the lobes on the K20A3 I used to own on the exhaust cam. About 65k and went to check an awful ticking I thought was a valve adjustment. Nope. Cam galling. I was sad. Put about 200k on the old intake and 150k on the new exhaust cam and didn't have an issue from that point forward. Pretty certain is was bad metallurgy from the factory. But who knows.

 

[Kuato]

No UOA, and VCM is still active.

Probably want to muzzle that beast....and if they're going to continue with extended OCIs, get a couple of analyses done.