why am i getting carbon in my oil?

[waldo1]

I was wondering the last few times i have changed my oil [both in my 3.1 skylark as well in my girlfriends 3.1 skylark ] i have noticed what at first i thought were shavings from the engine. I took these small particles that were in the bottom of a very clean drain pan to my friend and as he touched then they just crumbled. he said it was carbon from the engine.

first why am i getting carbon in my engine nad secondly why isnt my filter picking this stuff up. also how can i get it to stop producing carbon ? I drive modestly and avoid allot of highways and try to keep the car around 55 to 60mph mainly because i am a very cautious driver as is my girlfriend who i must admit drives way to slow but anyway knowing i am very easy on my car how can this happen? and is it normal

 

[Toy4x4]

What is the history of the car? Are you the only owner? Has the car ever been run with too little oil?

I unknowingly ran my truck with too little oil for a short period and some of the oil coked on the inside. After my ARX cleaning, I had a bunch of flakes in the filter.

 

[JohnBrowning]

Carbon is a natural byproduct of incomplete combustion. I would not worry about! I would make sure that the car is running properly not overly rich and that the ignition system is in good order.

You can use a top cylinder cleaner to try to clean the piston tops and ring pack.

 

[Pablo]

First let me ask, what kind of oil?

I think Mr. Browning may be on to something, especially since you state you both don't drive hard. But you do some highway driving so that should help if it's top end carbon issue.

I say get the car(s) checked out, maybe running a bit rich and a bit cool (thermostat sticking open) - maybe even get the oil analyzed.

 

[waldo1]

The history of my car is as follows:
I bought it used in 2000 [its a 97 ] but it went to a garage that did a diagnostic and i think a compression test [ i believe thats what it is referred to]and i was told that it had a solid well maintained engine. I dont drive it hard as i stated earlier. It has always had fresh oil in it every 3000-3500 miles with a fram filter [ no longer use fram - used valvoline dura blend - but now since i do my own oil i have switched to ST filter and pennzoil high milage oil]

I have prior to the last oil change flushed the enginge then ran it for about 100 miles and did another oil change just to make sure i got anything [ if thats possible] that may still be floating around. I also used a bottle of techron in the fuel system.

I have never ran it low on oil but i have run out of gas 2 times in the past year [if that helps any] I use a fuel additive every other fillup [grease lightning and recently went to techron]

My girlfriends car is a 94 and it has the same care given to it and never has ben low on oil and doesnt smoke either [niether does mine by the way]

Thats about all i can tell you about them other than they never had any major problems other that they bath had alternators replaced and a started on mine once and hers twice.

Although i noticed that my cay by looking at the rpm gauge at idle it moves ever so slightly [like it jumps up very little maybe a centimeter or so i guess like 100 or less rpms once in a while you can feel it very lightly if your paying attention. but it doesnt hessitate at all.

 

[Robbie Alexander]

quote:

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Originally posted by waldo1:
I was wondering the last few times i have changed my oil [both in my 3.1 skylark as well in my girlfriends 3.1 skylark ] *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

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Based on this if I am hearing you correctly, that both cars are doing the same. TO me that SOUNDS like something about either the CAR or the Owner.

Either one, I too think John may have touched something about the issues involved here, I would use some upper cyl. cleaners as well and see if the problem resolves itself... however I'd be careful because you are already getting chunks, use something that will clean over time and I'd find something that you can add to the gas either every tank or every couple tanks to help address this issue.... in the mean time you may want to add a filter change in between your oil changes.

 

[waldo1]

can you recommend an upper cylender cleaner

 

[MolaKule]

Here is a list in no specific nor recommended order:

Neutra (Schaeffer's)
Amsoil PI
Redline SI-1
Fuel Power (Send a PM to Rugerman)

 

[eljefino]

It seems to me like you're going through waaay too much techron-- that's like $7 worth of additives to $35 worth of gas!!

Are you running 87 octane like you're supposed to?