Leaks after PYB?

[asand1]

We all have heard the anecdotal evidence of synthetics cleaning away varnish and crud, allowing hardened gaskets to start leaking.
Has anyone experienced leaks after running Pennzoil conventional through a high mileage engine? I just wonder if this would be a valid concern on my Maxima after 286K Miles.
Also how well do High Mileage oils really work. I have a leak at my RMS or the upper oil pan just below the RMS. The VQ uses RTV rather than gaskets in most places. Will High Mileage oil have a positive affect on RTV?

 

[SwampSurvivor]

At 286K miles ... I'd continue to do whatever got it to 286K miles.

As for the leaks ... is the engine's seals and rings comprised of sludge and crud? Or are they still functional? Synthetic might clean the crud out and cause problems ... .but that's just unmasking problems that you already have

 

[asand1]

Originally Posted By: Miller88
At 286K miles ... I'd continue to do whatever got it to 286K miles.

ST 5w30 @3K OCI, and 230 miles a week highway.

Originally Posted By: Miller88
As for the leaks ... is the engine's seals and rings comprised of sludge and crud? Or are they still functional?


There was light varnish under the valve covers when I replaced the gaskets, but no sludge. I always have a drop dangling from the bell housing, but have never seen a drop on the ground.

Originally Posted By: Miller88
Synthetic might clean the crud out and cause problems ... .but that's just unmasking problems that you already have


I know that was in my first line.

Originally Posted By: asand1
We all have heard the anecdotal evidence of synthetics cleaning away varnish and crud, allowing hardened gaskets to start leaking.

 

[KitaCam]

Originally Posted By: asand1
We all have heard the anecdotal evidence of synthetics cleaning away varnish and crud, allowing hardened gaskets to start leaking.
Has anyone experienced leaks after running Pennzoil Conventional through a high mileage engine? I just wonder if this would be a valid concern on my Maxima after 286K Miles.
Also how well do High Mileage oils really work. I have a leak at my RMS or the upper oil pan just below the RMS. The VQ uses RTV rather than gaskets in most places. Will High Mileage oil have a positive affect on RTV?


@ 100k miles, Kitacam had a cardboardcrumblybrittlehard valve cover gasket for 3k miles of Pennzoil Conventional and there was no leakage...I was going to switch to PP at the next OC, so at that time I replaced that almost useless VC gasket with a nice soft pliable rubber one and in the 2k miles since with PP there's no VC leakage (of course), and no more burn off than with Pennzoil Conventional (about a cup's worth).