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Tags: Used cars, Sludge

Tag Links: Used cars, Sludge

Does that used car you're thinking of buying have a sludge problem? You'd better read this!
For people buying a used car, there is a very important but rarely checked factor to consider that goes beyond kicking the tires: original sin.

Some best-selling models appear to have an increased risk of serious mechanical problems, particularly if scheduled oil changes were not made during the vehicle's formative years. The threat is the buildup of sludge -- gooey tarlike deposits -- that reduces or shuts off oil circulation and can mean thousands of dollars to repair or replace an engine that has seized. Read Article
Does that used car you're thinking of buying have a sludge problem? You'd better read this!



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TheSailorTheSailor - 3/9/2007 5:57:01 PMView My AgentSpace
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Yearh, hmm... I learned a neat little trick while going to the marine academy I attended: If you are affraid of deposits in the engine, drain off all the oil, remove the spark plugs, replace the lube oil with some clean diesel oil and turn the engine on the starter for some seconds, but not too long (that will damage the engine). Then drain off the diesel and you'll be surprised how much gung comes out! I've done it on life boat engines several times...

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DiamondJimDiamondJim - 3/10/2007 9:44:08 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
is there a video of this somewhere so we can do it ourselves?


TheSailorTheSailor - 3/11/2007 7:21:48 AMView My AgentSpace
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Hmm... I don't know... But it's very simple... If you've ever done an oil change, you can do this... It's simply draining off all the oil, pooring in some diesel instead. You remove the spark plugs to prevent the compression and any risk of sparks which might ignite the diesel. Then you just hit neutral and turn the engine over for a few seconds (10-20 sec) to distribute the diesel. Afterwards you drain off the diesel and flush the engine through with diesel a few times. Fill in the regular oil, reattach the spark plugs and you're ready to go...

The trick is that the diesel is a quite powerful cleaning agent and dissolves the deposits. In theory, you could use paint thinner or gasoline, but they have a tendancy to ignite quite easily, so don't! ;)


DiamondJimDiamondJim - 3/11/2007 7:29:36 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
this project sounds like fun and i am currently doing my own oil changes because i think it's fun, but doing this diesel thing scares me honestly. if you're on the east coast i wouldn't mind you showing me in person.

i switched to synthetic last fall, the 0-w30 German Castrol, the one that says "Made in Germany" on the back and only sold at Autozone. right before i did the change, i put half a can of Seafoam in the oil and drove for about 500 miles, then i drained oil, and since i already assumed it was flushed because of the Seafoam, i simply poured in the new TRUE synthetic oil, and OMG the car FLEW down the highway! don't konw if that had the same effect, but i hope it did.


TheSailorTheSailor - 3/12/2007 4:49:56 PMView My AgentSpace
+2 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Hmm... I'm european, so that might be a problem ;) I don't know what that "Seafoam" is, but it does sound like some sort of deposit dissolver. Then it shouldn't be necessary to do anything else!
I didn't read the article, but the problem with deposits is only if the engine is used very rarely or you use cheap crappy oil and that oil you use isn't! We use SAE 100 oil onboard our ships (the really cheap stuff that only works well at a specific temperature).
But it is always a good idea to use some cleaning agents on your engine once in a while. When I help some of my friends with their cars (changing the oil and servicing the engine), we always clean the injectors and the pistons with a special fuel additive and clean the oily parts with a special cleaning agent (I guess it is kind of like "seafoam"). I don't use the diesel cleaning trick myself on car engines, but if you are looking to save a few bucks (those cleaning agents can be quite expensive), it is completely safe... As long as you remember to remove the spark plugs!


DiamondJimDiamondJim - 3/14/2007 3:38:23 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
thanks for the help, i think im just gonna use the seafoam then a few hundred miles before i do an oil change since im already using a true synthetic. that german castrol is one fantastic oil!


2JZSoarer2JZSoarer - 3/10/2007 12:34:28 AM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Must be the oil companies,and not the automakers!!!

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