valvecover removed pics

[Ferb]

This seems the first good "reality check" we have with GC. We've all been in awe of this mystery-meat, and now we have a problem. Hopefully it is something like blowby/PCV problem on Boyd's machine and not an inherent problem with the SLX/GC.

Question for Terry, at what level is insolubles high? From memory, Blackstone flags >0.6, but is that itself too high?

ferb!

 

[Yuk]

quote:

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I would have recommended dropping the insolubles and ways to do it.

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I'll bite... How does one drop the insolubles?

 

[Terry]

ferb, depends......thats my favorite and honest answer.

Yuk, stop/slow/control reactions that engender insolubles development.

I like to see less than 0.4% in any engine but that varies.

Burn cleaner, control oxidation, reduce excessive heat, control operating temp, use a good filter, adapt the oil for the application, periodically clean the engine , Adjust fuel octane and adds, treat fuel, repair mechanical problems, control contamination from dirt, road films, change air filtration,On and on.

 

[Ferb]

Hey, i can buy that. I know nothing in the engineering realm is cut-and-dry.

This thread has made me want to pop my valve covers and see what lurks. I'm only 2k into a GC run (after 25k on M1), but i guess i'm a little worried this is going on with me. I know i'm a paranoid type.

ferb!

 

[Drew99GT]

I concur on the vale cover breather. Get rid of it if you have one because it basically is a vacuum leak if you did not render the PCV/oil separator inactive. Under high vacuum, you'll be sucking air through the valve cover breather, down the oil retrun ports in the head, through the crankcase, through the PCV/oil seperator, and into the intake manifold. That scenario is very bad if you have a MAF sensor, which you obviously don't. Your car is obviously a hybrid; have you thoroughly checked EGR connections and such from when you did the swap?

That's just weird; I've seen B-series run with 5w-30 dino that were cleaner than that.

 

[therion]

I wanted to take off the covers on my 351, do you have to replace the gasket if you remove the covers??

 

[Ferb]

quote:

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Originally posted by therion:
I wanted to take off the covers on my 351, do you have to replace the gasket if you remove the covers??

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If you do it nice and clean-like, and don't run into problems, you can squeek by with the used gasket. But for piece of mind, just use a new one. no sense in doing the job twice down the road.

ferb!

 

[quadrun1]

Well perhaps "insolubles" is not an adequate measure for detecting this--maybe it's better to see the specific nitration/oxidation numbers? Can we get this from Blackstone?

Tons of UOAs are reported as "normal" with insolubles at 0.4, including this Civic's recent GC UOA with 5,279 miles on it!

The insolubles for this BMW (15K on BMW/Castrol A3 5W-30 synth) always came in at 0.4 but look how grungy the underside of the oil cap is:

[ January 28, 2004, 08:45 PM: Message edited by: quadrun1 ]

 

[Terry]

Remember that insolubles is but one reading and that 0.4% is a guide . You must look at that WHOLE analysis result.

The analyst must have the time to correlate the data to the engine and issues associated specifically with the it, and possibly interaction with the customer to fine tune the reading.

NO BKLabs does not offer a FTIR battery of tests like our in-house kit does. I find alternating these test regimes gives a good cross section of a the oil and engine condition.

I must say that I have been really satisfied with our co-op package with BKlabs, I just don't think they have the time to give a indepth "read" or interpretation with automotive applications like Dyson Analysis can.


I like the insolubles reading and find it very accurate.

[ January 28, 2004, 08:24 PM: Message edited by: Terry ]

 

[quadrun1]

Thanks, Terry. I like Blackstone too.

Oilcanboyd's most recent analysis showed insolubles at 0.6%, perhaps he should add some LC?

 

[Alex D]

Looks like you should do an ARX run now with the dino in there and then do a rinse to see if ARX will take these soft,recent deposits out of the engine.

 

[oilcanboyd]

i checked the PCV valve and it wasnt working at all. the bottom portion of the PCV valve had oil all over it. also, there was oil on the inside of the PCV valve. when i would shake it, it doesnt make any clicking sound like the brand new fram one i just bought. there was a fair amount of oil in the oil seperator tank. do you think that there a lot of oily residue on the throttle body and intake manifold? how often should PCV valves be replaced since i purchased my last one about 15k-20k ago?

i dont have a valve cover breather. i have a rubber hose connecting the valve cover opening to the intake tube like it should be.

 

[Cutehumor]

wow, your UOA with GC was great. I guess you can't pick this up with a UOA. It sounds like excessive blow by like others suggested. I would repair and auto-rx to clean this smudge off and in case there is any of this floating around the oil as well.

 

[Drew99GT]

Yea, take your intake manifold off and you will be shocked at how much crud is in there, and on the backside of the throttle plate. If your PCV is clogging up that fast, then something is wrong. If your doing regular oil changes and the system is functioning, the PCV valve should remain clog free for ever. Maybe there's something wrong with the oil separator and it's sucking in too much oil

 

[sprintman]

GC was removed from shelves here for 'varnishing' etc, that sounds suspiciously like the picture shown here. Doug Hillary knows all about this in detail. Don't think I want GC in my engine thanks.

 

[Terry]

Oilcanboyd,

1) This is a good example of solvency depletions and how a motor oil can provide excellent wear protection , still allow nitration and oxidation byproducts to coat the interior of the engine.

MOTOR oils CAN'T clean effectively and lubricate without sacrificing one for the other.

2) You recieved 2 oil analysis reports that gave you no indication of the build up aside from the insolubles comments on the last test. I would have recommended dropping the insolubles and ways to do it.

These tests are useless folks unless you get a accurate "read". No lab has time to follow up properly to do that.

Terry

 

[Bobert]

Humm this thread is starting to worry me.

I bought GC a few weeks ago to try in my VR6, and I'm beginning to have some doubts about using it (haven't changed yet). Sprintman and Doug Hillary's comments aren't helping either.

Has anyone else who has been running GC pulled their valve cover to take a peek to see if there is any varnish build up?

 

[sprintman]

I wrote that poorly now I reread it. GC wasnt pulled for varnishing but it was reported as doing such my many. Who knows what Castrol had in mind but 0W40 Formula R appeared re GC. Doug knows far more than I do about GC. I must be more careful posting when tired...sorry for any misunderstanding.

 

[haley10]

I was wanting to try GC, but my Autozone doesn't have it.

I was going to ask them to order for me, but not now.

I'll let you guys try GC for a year or so.

 

[Terry]

WARNING TO ALL CHICKEN LITTLES AND DRAWING INCORRECT CONCLUSIONS..


This site was set up to help clear the air on marketing obfuscation about lubes etc. Lets try to keep it that way.

Please don't jump back and forth in your posts about this or any other product until we see solid evidence condemning the engine or oil or whatever. Give the guy a chance to figure out what happened.

Those that do post remember that a newer reader or visitor may take your post as gospel so please keep the write ups factual.


Post what you know and leave the chicken little "crap" off the board.

Drives me

nuts.