Tons of carbon and engine sludge
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 32,017
Likes: 256
From: Midwest. Aiming about mid-chest
Rep Power: 518 
Re: Tons of carbon and engine sludge
Got pics of what you are talking about?
I'm trying to picture how there could be a bunch of carbon buildup but not sludge. And where each one is.
I'm trying to picture how there could be a bunch of carbon buildup but not sludge. And where each one is.
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 32,017
Likes: 256
From: Midwest. Aiming about mid-chest
Rep Power: 518 Re: Tons of carbon and engine sludge
Doesn't look horrible, but does look blurry.
I can't tell that there is any thick tar-like buildup.
By "carbon" do you mean the cake crumb-like layer sitting on top of the flat surfaces?
I do see this sort of thing on engines, usually with no complaints.
Looks like a lifetime of lower quality oil and maybe some extended life oil changes. That's just a guess though.
Example: 10w30 is some of the cheapest oil on the market.....Cheap to make (lower quality base stocks), and generates the most profit so it is the most heavily pushed and advertised. Fast Oil Change places use a lot of it. So do many ordinary shops. (No matter what your window sticker says, you don't really know what is in there.)
Back to the picture...
I probably wouldn't touch it unless the head has to come off. (Hot tank the head if it ever has to come off.)
I'd worry about disturbing anything and having it end up in the oil pan clogging the oil sump screen, causing $evere problem$ to the bottom end.
Switch to a 5w20 GF-5 oil and keep driving?
A better quality oil will probably slowly work on cleaning up the mess without resorting to actual physical labor.
I can't tell that there is any thick tar-like buildup.
By "carbon" do you mean the cake crumb-like layer sitting on top of the flat surfaces?
I do see this sort of thing on engines, usually with no complaints.
Looks like a lifetime of lower quality oil and maybe some extended life oil changes. That's just a guess though.
Example: 10w30 is some of the cheapest oil on the market.....Cheap to make (lower quality base stocks), and generates the most profit so it is the most heavily pushed and advertised. Fast Oil Change places use a lot of it. So do many ordinary shops. (No matter what your window sticker says, you don't really know what is in there.)
Back to the picture...
I probably wouldn't touch it unless the head has to come off. (Hot tank the head if it ever has to come off.)
I'd worry about disturbing anything and having it end up in the oil pan clogging the oil sump screen, causing $evere problem$ to the bottom end.
Switch to a 5w20 GF-5 oil and keep driving?
A better quality oil will probably slowly work on cleaning up the mess without resorting to actual physical labor.
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