Meh, wait until you need to replace the timing belt again after several OCIs on Ultra THAT will be interesting.
I need to visit a friend with a torque wrench to re-do those valve cover bolts. I'm a learning mech, not a real one as of now!
Don't wanna strip those things! I do want to get one, especially for that + for the adjustments on the valve lash, which according to the manual needs to be done every 15,000 miles for the VX model!!!
As for the pics, I'm not expecting anything too 'great', since I just started owning the car about 30,000 miles ago. Did about 10,000 on Valvoline MaxLife(divided into 3 OCIs from 3,000-3,750), with a few idle flushes. Mobil 1 AFE 0w-30 for 4,000. Then Amsoil SSO 0w-30 for 5,000; shorter for cleanup purpoes. Then MMO + T6 for 3,000 miles as another 'method of cleansing'.
My insols went up slightly on the MMO/T6 combo, so I was happy to see that crud was actually being suspended. Now, the VX just finished 8,000+ miles on Amsoil AZO 0w-30 with some Val MaxLife as top-up for the last 1,000(ran out of Amsoil). Going to sample Ultra at 7,500 and see where I stand compared to the Amsoil at 5,000 miles tests I've done so far(3 UOAs in total).
I lose about 1 quart every 3,000-4,000 miles. Just had the rear main replaced with clutch job, though, yet to see how that changes consumption rate.
Anyway, I suppose I've taken 'moderate' cleanup attempts. Everything short of a piston soak and Kreen use(might do that anyway, lol).
I did another 'idle before oil change' flush before I dropped that last fill of Amsoil. I used Lubro Moly's Pro Line Engine Flush. No deposits or granny crud in the drain old oil, nice/fast drain + no crud while pouring up for disposal = about as clean as I can get without manual cleaning.
