Yes! And the valves should be adjusted at appropriate intervals. 30,000 miles per valve adjustment.Change the PCV every 30K or sooner on these engines and 3-4K OCI with synthetic oil with these or you end up like the one the OP is working on or worse.
I can only report what I was told. Guy is the original owner, has cases of Amsoil Signature Series in his garage (that I saw) and there was an Amsoil Ea oil filter on the car when I worked on it. Unfortunately the oil was already drained when I got there, so no oil sample will be available.I don't actually believe this. There is NO WAY this was just Amsoil Signature Series and only 15K/yearly changes. Now it is possible they skipped a year or they drove a heck of a lot more than "15K" in a year the last few years. Amsoil Sig does not "chunk" like that in 15K. Sorry no offense to you Mike, and I know VCM is hard on oil, but did you collect an oil sample? I am guessing it was a different oil changed in perhaps.
High maintenance engine. The valves must be adjusted regularly. The oil needs to be changed at 5,000 miles and the PCV valve needs changing at 24,000 to 30,000 miles. There are also likely metallurgy problems with the camshafts.part of the problem could be using 0W20. Long oci plus more heat producing engine (if the case), requires a thicker oil.
There is also a significant coating of sludge on the underside of the front valve cover - probably a golf ball sized amount if you were to scrape all of it off.Pablo IMO you can believe this! The first time I posted the mess under the covers of one of these engines and the full synthetic OCI people were calling me out with comments like that is not possible, the guy lied to you. Fact is it was my brothers and I did or was with him every OC so I know what went in and how long it was in there. I have seen more than a dozen like this and worse and know their history.
5K in these is a long OCI 10K is asking for trouble 15K forget it, it is having deposit/varnish issues at a min.
The camshaft issue is probably more metallurgy related.I can't quote just the first picture, but zoom in on the tip of the cam lobe. This is not a lubricant, OCI issue. Most likely a metallurgy issue.
Zoom in on the hard chunks, not sure if metal or carbon.
The valve clearance does not need to be adjusted at 30K intervals. It is a 3-4 hr job (book time) for a valve adjustment. The exhaust valve clearance does get tight overtime on these engines, but 30K intervals is not necessary.Yes! And the valves should be adjusted at appropriate intervals. 30,000 miles per valve adjustment.
Thanks. The grit in the 1st and I think 3 or 4th pics...........how hard is it? Metal or carbon?I can only report what I was told. Guy is the original owner, has cases of Amsoil Signature Series in his garage (that I saw) and there was an Amsoil Ea oil filter on the car when I worked on it. Unfortunately the oil was already drained when I got there, so no oil sample will be available.
Soft goop. If you zoom into the valvetrain picture, you will see the amount of soft sludge on the 12-pt head bolts. I had to use a screwdriver and a blow nozzle to dig out/remove all of the sludge before I was able to fit the socket onto the head bolts.Thanks. The grit in the 1st and I think 3 or 4th pics...........how hard is it? Metal or carbon?
How did the oil drain out? First sure all looks nasty, but there was oil, flowing oil. Would love to know the fuel %, viscosity.I can only report what I was told. Guy is the original owner, has cases of Amsoil Signature Series in his garage (that I saw) and there was an Amsoil Ea oil filter on the car when I worked on it. Unfortunately the oil was already drained when I got there, so no oil sample will be available.
He drained the oil, not me.How did the oil drain out? First sure all looks nasty, but there was oil, flowing oil. Would love to know the fuel %, viscosity.
The little shiny bits and flakes are soft?
OK Thanks again - want to be clear that I am not doubting anything you report. And I do agree, this VCM version NOT for extended OCI's. The normal 3.5L V6 in our old 2006 had no issues 15-20K OCI's.He drained the oil, not me.
Are you referring to the bits in the picture with the scored cam lobe? If so, those are all soft gooey bits.
I agree, if this is a known issue on these engines than i think it could not be prevented with any extreme short oci or oil.The camshaft issue is probably more metallurgy related.
Why is this engine hard on oil in general? Do they run hot or produce excessive amount of heat?
iirc, @OVERKILL had a chart showing varnish needs lots of heat to develop.
I agree, if this is a known issue on these engines than i think it could not be prevented with any extreme short oci or oil.
I guess that even when only very small pitting starts it allows a cavity where the oil can seep in and so it will not maintain an oil film and ruin it from there.
Honda are one of the few manufacturers that still use the valve train type where you have to adjust them and no hydraulic lifters. Due to their tight tolerances and generally good materials adjustment rarely has to be done according to schedule.
This has the least drag so fuel efficient and also more power, this can also maintain verry high rpms up to 9000 10000 rpm.
But isnt it possible that the follower/valve clearance was wrongly adjusted so the the follower/roller keeps constant pressure on the lobe?
This probably wipes away the oil film/cause premature wear and heat which can also cause pitting.
Agreed. Valve covers have never been removed on this car until now.If the exhaust valve had moved so far up as to ride on the base circle and that much heat were present the valve would have burned.
I think this is bad heat treating or a bad batch of metal.
True but iam not sure if it was exhaust valve?If the exhaust valve had moved so far up as to ride on the base circle and that much heat were present the valve would have burned.
I think this is bad heat treating or a bad batch of metal.
a few people feel the way you do... but IMO, a guy who would bother paying for amsoil oil and filter, stock up on it, probably cares about his car enough to change it out at least once a year.I don't believe the owner either.
More like every 25k..
True but iam not sure if it was exhaust valve?
How about only a slight too small clearance.