My 1988 GM 5.0 V8 has about 155k on the clock. I've been pretty good about changing the oil on schedule (I'm the original owner), and it's not sludged, but it is pretty well varnished. What kind of flush/cleaner will remove some of that brown film?
What cleans up varnish?
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Auto-RX and Exxon/Esso System Cleaner are two products available from site sponsors.
There is also strong evidence to suggest that running a high-detergency diesel-engine rated (ie: CI-4) oil will provide some cleaning effect at minimal incremental cost over normal oil. Of course, the usual suspects apply here, ie: Shell Rotella, Esso/Exxon XD-3, Chevron Delo, Mobil Delvac, Petro Canada Duron, etc.
There is also strong evidence to suggest that running a high-detergency diesel-engine rated (ie: CI-4) oil will provide some cleaning effect at minimal incremental cost over normal oil. Of course, the usual suspects apply here, ie: Shell Rotella, Esso/Exxon XD-3, Chevron Delo, Mobil Delvac, Petro Canada Duron, etc.
I get "free" oil at work being a mechanic. We use Pennzoil LL 15w40 fleet oil. I put a new valve cover gasket on my 92 Ford Escort 1.9 this summer and was amazed how bright the allumium head was. I use 10-30 in the winter but switch to 15-40 when it warms up a bit. The engine has 125,000 miles on it and if I pull the valve cover off you would swear it was brand new. My cars get 2,500 mile oil changes. My 93 190 2.3 Mercedes gets Castrol gtx with 2,500 mile changes and 7,500 mile filter changes and when I look inside the oil filler cap it's absolutly spotless at 155,000 miles. I'm set up at home for easy oil changes and I work at a petroleum contractor with a 1,000 gallon waste oil tank.
Slow methodical high flash solvency. Auto-RX periodically ( annually ) is the safest way.
LC used with your favorite oil is another to clean and keep the varnish at bay.
Analyze the oil and we may be able to correct the causals to abate the varnish generation before it happens.
Some EP add chemistries look like varnish when they hold carbon deposits and that may be more of what you see as a glaze or varnish coating.
Terry
LC used with your favorite oil is another to clean and keep the varnish at bay.
Analyze the oil and we may be able to correct the causals to abate the varnish generation before it happens.
Some EP add chemistries look like varnish when they hold carbon deposits and that may be more of what you see as a glaze or varnish coating.
Terry
I really like Lube COntrol for cleaning carbon and sludge. I like lube control for preventing sludge,varnish,lacquer, carbacious build up etc... My experince has not been very positive for removeing varnish with either of these products.
Acetone and Kerosine will work but are not good on the seals and only work on the surface. It has been my experince that the best way to get rid of varnish is to take off the valve cover and use a solvent brush and harsh solvents in limited amounts to scrub it off. Their is no varnish that a solvent brush and some B-12 chemtool can not remove. This will limit the amount of solvents getting into your engine!
Useing a good HDEO will also go along way in reduceing the occurance of varnish in a gasser.
Acetone and Kerosine will work but are not good on the seals and only work on the surface. It has been my experince that the best way to get rid of varnish is to take off the valve cover and use a solvent brush and harsh solvents in limited amounts to scrub it off. Their is no varnish that a solvent brush and some B-12 chemtool can not remove. This will limit the amount of solvents getting into your engine!
Useing a good HDEO will also go along way in reduceing the occurance of varnish in a gasser.
The first sentence of my post should have had Auto-RX in place of Lube Control. I mis-typed the sentence!
Thanks for all the responses. I think the original source for the varnish was I used to use Pennzoil or Castrol conventional oils before I got clued-in and started using Mobil 1. For the first 10 years of it's life, the car ran on conventional oils and Frams (ugh!). Since I got wise, it's been a steady diet of Mobil 1 5w30 and K&N filters. I was hoping the Mobil 1 would clean off some of the brown film, but no-go. Maybe I should switch to Delvac 1?
I can get a 5-quart jug of regular Mobil 1 at the local Wally's for about $20, so it's hard to turn that down. I want to basically stay with Mobil 1, but would be willing to use something else for a couple changes if it would clean better. I can stick my finger down in the oil fill hole on the valve cover and rub one of the rocker arms, and the brown film comes off onto my finger, so its not hardened or anything like that. I also see absolutely no evidence of sludge or other thick goop accumulations when looking in there. I have to think the engine is basically pretty clean inside, other than everything is coated with the brown film, which i would like to clean off.
I can get a 5-quart jug of regular Mobil 1 at the local Wally's for about $20, so it's hard to turn that down. I want to basically stay with Mobil 1, but would be willing to use something else for a couple changes if it would clean better. I can stick my finger down in the oil fill hole on the valve cover and rub one of the rocker arms, and the brown film comes off onto my finger, so its not hardened or anything like that. I also see absolutely no evidence of sludge or other thick goop accumulations when looking in there. I have to think the engine is basically pretty clean inside, other than everything is coated with the brown film, which i would like to clean off.
Ugh...that's bad!
Given it's a 305, and the climate you operate in, I'd pick Rotella 5w-40 or one of the 15w40 HDEO's.
"I can stick my finger down in the...hole...and the brown film comes off onto my finger, so its not hardened or anything like that. I also see absolutely no evidence of...thick goop accumulations when looking in there."
Hey, you pulled those lines straight from the Paris Hilton video, didn't you?!!! If not, then even Paris would know what you're doing wrong: Don't go around stickin' your fingers into holes! Mom said it best -- you'll go blind doin' stuff like that.
Hey, you pulled those lines straight from the Paris Hilton video, didn't you?!!! If not, then even Paris would know what you're doing wrong: Don't go around stickin' your fingers into holes! Mom said it best -- you'll go blind doin' stuff like that.
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