Need Guidance re (hopefully) Non-Synthetic Motor Oil for a '99 Camry L4 (5SFE) Sludge-Prone Engine

[SubieRubyRoo]

this sounds like an excellent use case for Valvoline R&P. supposed to dissolve the sludge/deposits very slowly not to release “chunks”.

At the OP’s usage rate the engine will be cleaned up just in time to send the car to the crusher, which is likely the same date it was headed there when this thread started…

 

[GMFan]

Keep running the Castrol GTX. Why fix what isn’t broken?

 

[BrendanC]

At the OP’s usage rate the engine will be cleaned up just in time to send the car to the crusher, which is likely the same date it was headed there when this thread started…

OP wanted a slow method of dissolving sludge…

 

[TiGeo]

At the OP’s usage rate the engine will be cleaned up just in time to send the car to the crusher, which is likely the same date it was headed there when this thread started…

If go 10k with ST personally on this badboy.

 

[Ride_Red]

I think this is a case of "oil is oil". Just change the oil every 5K miles and move on with life.

 

[kschachn]

"Non-Synthetic Motor Oil for a '99 Camry L4 (5SFE) Sludge-Prone Engine" is somewhat of a non-sequitur.

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

OP wanted a slow method of dissolving sludge…

OP’s not even sure if he’s got sludge. My point was, using VRP and four OCIs to cleaning, that’s going to be darn near 2029, and the Camry will be 30 years old. If he keeps clean oil in it now, there’s no reason to assume bad things will happen.

My question is, what changed for the OP that now, all of a sudden, this is a huge concern after so many years of what appears to be indifference? I agree even the yearly changes at 3k should have been sufficient to keep things reasonably clean.

I think there’s more smoke than fire here without proof of sludge, and I say that for the OP’s benefit. Maybe do 6-month changes for the next two years if it feels safer.

 

[BrendanC]

OP’s not even sure if he’s got sludge. My point was, using VRP and four OCIs to cleaning, that’s going to be darn near 2029, and the Camry will be 30 years old. If he keeps clean oil in it now, there’s no reason to assume bad things will happen.

My question is, what changed for the OP that now, all of a sudden, this is a huge concern after so many years of what appears to be indifference? I agree even the yearly changes at 3k should have been sufficient to keep things reasonably clean.

I think there’s more smoke than fire here without proof of sludge, and I say that for the OP’s benefit. Maybe do 6-month changes for the next two years if it feels safer.

regardless if OP makes it to the 4x OCI’s, the oil will still be cleaning anytime it is run. that is all i’m getting at. the marketing is that it will dissolve stuff slowly and entrain it in the oil as to not plug up the oil filter. perfect move for someone who believes they have a sludge issue IMO.

 

[cheesepuffs2]

Keep running the Castrol GTX. Why fix what isn’t broken?

I 100% agree with this. Sometimes on this forum we crave change for change's sake.

 

[TiGeo]

I 100% agree with this. Sometimes on this forum we crave change for change's sake.

Plus this. Man I loved me some GTX when I was in HS/college b/c of this commerical...

 

[Bill7]

You should think positive and think about taking this Camry to the 1 million mile mark.

Clean up the engine with HPL EC30, some solvent based engine flushes, and lastly 4 OCI of Valvoline Restore and Protect.
If any gaskets start to leak, replace them.

 

[Cdn17Sport6MT]

i) Your thoughts on synthetics are outdated and were probably never true.

ii) I think you are acting in a knowledge vacuum. You need to determine if your engine is sludgy. Remove the valve covers, or maybe get your hands on a borescope. If there is an issue, maybe you can improve it with something like Liqui Moly’s excellent flush. Short oil change intervals are great, but unlikely to rectify a serious sludge issue alone. None of the oils you have offer any kind of betterment to your situation, although might not make things worse.

iii) I feel my own intelligence ebbing away reading your highly irrelevant Moto Guzzi story.

My numbering, for folks' reference.

i) see 3, below;

ii) I agree; I need to lift the VC, or somehow else det. if it's sludged; and

iii) my story about my Guzzi may be irrelevant to a sludged engine, but it is my lived experience and it is relevant to the synthetic oil I tried. The rear main seal leaked and then it didn't, like an on/off switch... with Mobil1(10W-50???) versus with conventional Castol of 1993 vintage, 20W50 or 10W-40. That was on a brand-new-in-the-box, zero mileage '85 Guzzi ... in Oct 1993. And the factory fill was Agip Sint 2000, a semi-synthetic of the day.

 

[Cdn17Sport6MT]

What did you end up choosing?

If memory serves it was the Cdn Tire branded oil.

 

[Cdn17Sport6MT]

If go 10k with ST personally on this badboy.

ST?

 

[TiGeo]

ST?

SuperTech.

 

[Rock_Hound]

That was on a brand-new-in-the-box, zero mileage '85 Guzzi ... in Oct 1993. And the factory fill was Agip Sint 2000, a semi-synthetic of the day.

I would expect any 7 year old engine with 0 miles to leak like a sieve.

 

[hemitom]

Run the motomaster brand !
Still produced by shell i think ? And likely the same oil as the first jug of pennzoil in your pics.

 

[53' Stude]

Rotella T5 10w30 blend or Rotella T4 10w30. Maybe Delvac 1300 15w40

 

[Cdn17Sport6MT]

I would expect any 7 year old engine with 0 miles to leak like a sieve.

And then totally seal-up with Castrol of the day (conventional)?

 

[kschachn]

And then totally seal-up with Castrol of the day (conventional)?

Why would it do that?