Wash, Flush, Rinse, Fill Part 2

[ericthepig]

(Haven't had time to post much lately. Work is petal to the metal. But, I did take some time to process the Mazda 323 this last Saturday)

Wally Super Tech w/ 16oz (not 12) Neutra 131 was run for just under 500 miles (mostly short trips - sadly not many long hot runs). Drained oil (pitch black - paper towell showed it was indeed dirty). Installed new Wally Super Tech w/ 1 bottle Amsoil flush. Ran 25 min. high idle. Drained oil - pitch black - but blotter showed it was less dirty. Installed GTX rinse oil and ran some errands. Drained rinse oil and installed Mobil 1 High Mileage 10w40.

Before the whole process I had deep rich dark (not nesc. in that order

) varnish viewable in the upper valve area. Also had patches of carbon disposits visible. After the whole process (Neutra & Ams. flush) I still have deep rich dark varnish and carbon disposits in the upper valve area. No change. Zip. Nadda. The oil shelf where you pour the oil in did however have a large shinny spot on it (previously varnsished w/ some patches of carbon - carbon is still there).

And now I'm about to join the UFO siting/M1 engine noise crowd. I installed the Mobil 1 High Mileage 10w40 - and now my valve train is just singing to me at idle. I think it's been noticeable in certain situations before - but now it's continuous when idling - even after the engines hot. Perhaps it has something to do with the flush. Meanwhile I really like the feel of the car with the Mobil 1 High Mileage in it. I was previous running (for a short while) Super Tech 20w50 and it noticeably lugged the engine down.

So now Mobil 1 High Mileage gets it's shot at 212k miles of varnish. Unless it develops leaks or has high consumption, it'll be in there a long time. We'll see what it does.

(If anyone thinks I should be worried about a singing valve train, let me know. It's not loud, but I can hear it (even while sitting in the drivers seat)).

My Sienna will soon be at 1k miles with the Schaeffers fill (post Neutra/Ams Flush). Previously it was consuming 1 qt in the first 1k of an OCI w/ M1. I'll let you know in a week or two if the cleaning and/or Schaeffers has slowed that pace any.

Back to work.

 

[ericthepig]

You know. I might just get to the bottom of this and drain the M1 into a clean pan and reinstall my GTX 10w40 rinse oil (which I keep in it's original jug). When I had the GTX in it that day it seemed very smooth and quiet - but I wasn't paying attention to it at idle. That would be a side by side test that would be conclusive as to whether M1 is playing my valve train like a harp. Let you know if I do.

 

[BrianWC]

Ahem, 'bout that Neutra.....

But it still smells good....

Man, I don't know of ANYTHING that knocks out varnish too quick. I've had one cleaning product or another in my car for almost 60 k miles now and while the sludgies got cleaned up pretty good, the varnish is still there.

I've also been away a bit, so don't feel bad. Only, for me, it was in depth research as to which radar detector to buy.

But I'm back!

 

[salesrep]

Glad to have you back!

 

[dargo]

Got to admit, it does smell good (if I smelled it)

 

[BrianWC]

Quote:

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Glad to have you back!

---

A double oil change this weekend was all it took to make the yearing too strong.

 

[ericthepig]

A drop of Neutra can smell up the whole garage. But it does smell good. I plan to drop some in the gas tank (in the Sienna) before long trips (300 miles one way or more).

I just don't know about the lifter noise (Mazda) - perhaps it's always been there, perhaps not. Just don't have time to do my oil chg test any time soon. May in two or three wks. But I do like the feel of Mobil 1 High Mileage. Glad it's in there - if there's not too much consumption and no leaks start - it'll be in there for close to a year. Perhaps only 4k OCI, but it'll be tough on the oil - daily short trips, and probably plenty of blow-by by that old engine. BTW, this engine got 40mpg in it's prime - a couple of months ago I tested it on a hiway trip - 38mpg. Not bad. That car had 25k OCIs and it had plenty of ~15k OCIs (all once/yr). Doing pretty good. I need it to last several more years - in the last year I've put a new radiator in (I broke the goose neck by tightening the clamp too much), a new timing belt, new distributor (whole thing), new clutch, new cv joint, new brake master cylinder. Now it should be good to go

. (Needs tires though.)

 

[JAG]

I watch this thread with interest.

 

[ericthepig]

Me too.

Kicking myself now for not sitting in the car at idle and carefully listening before the OC. Did that with the Sienna but not the Mazda - so I'm going by that subjective hearing/memory stuff.

Meanwhile, two brutal deadlines at work - one this last Friday and the other this coming Friday. I work at home till mid-afternoon (before kids get home) then head to coffee shops (w/ wireless) and shut them down. Been like this for weeks.

Onward.

 

[ericthepig]

Perhaps last update on this thread, since the issue now turns to Mobil 1 High Mileage oils performance (which should go in the oil thread).

I'm struggling with whether it's worth it to put my rinse oil in to test the "noise" issue. In the days after flush the valve noise seemed a bit higher pitched and noticeable - now it seems duller and in day to day driving I would say the car sounds likes it's alway sounded. If I get a wild hair and do the test, I'll revisit this thread.

Meanwhile I wouldn't (130 miles into the OCI) give Mobil 1 High Mileage high marks on it seal conditioning. I would say it's definitely putting out more smoke at start-up (though a liveable amount) than Maxlife, Castrol High Mileage and Super Tech High Mileage - these three almost completely eliminated the issue (rarely noticeable). But I can live with the light smoking of Mobil 1 High Mileage unless there's any other issues. Still very happy to have an oil in their that I trust out to the 1 year mark (minimum

)