Author Topic: Dealing with Sludge (Read 5228 times)

burn_your_money · « **on:** August 10, 2008, 11:07:51 am »

One of my many 1.6TDs has a sludge problem. I pulled the oil filter flange today and the oil was very thick and goopy. What is the best way to deal with this? I planned on dropping the pan and cleaning it out, but then what?

Synthetic oil? Kerosene? Beat the crap out of the motor to free it all up (italian tune-up)

Any and all advice is appreciated.

jtanguay · « **Reply #1 on:** August 10, 2008, 11:10:23 am »

wynn's makes an engine flush as well as a engine tune up (mostly purple can) that you put in and drive to free sticky rings & lifters. i've used it before and it does seem to work well.

maybe use the lucas oil stabilizer in the future?

burn_your_money · « **Reply #2 on:** August 10, 2008, 11:14:06 am »

This motor is new to me and I know nothing about it other then it should be a good runner.

Where is Wynns available at?

carrizog60 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 10, 2008, 11:20:30 am »

yesterday i tryed the Justice Brothers products(engine cleaner and engine stop leak)
but too soon to see diferences.

from the demo i saw the products seem to work so lets wait and see

jimfoo · « **Reply #4 on:** August 10, 2008, 12:30:36 pm »

Either some ATF or Marvel Mystery Oil in with the crankcase oil will remove a lot of sludge. Just don't drive too long before changing the oil.

cyrus #1 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 10, 2008, 12:35:27 pm »

I've heard ATF works as well. Never tried it myself. Be prepared to deal with some leaks after you get it all cleaned out though.

Patrick · « **Reply #6 on:** August 10, 2008, 12:45:29 pm »

Change the oil to something high detergent , then run it and change it sooner than normal for a couple trips. SHould clean up on it's own. Chances are it either had the wrong oil, or lots of short trips/condensation buildup.

burn_your_money · « **Reply #7 on:** August 10, 2008, 01:15:12 pm »

It's going to be hooked up to an auto so the first highway trip should get the oil nice and hot quickly. Leaks are not something I want to deal with, I'm building this car for my mom and she hates leakes.

I'm leaning towards cheap c-tire oil, some additive of some sort, beat the hell out of the car and then change to oil/filter after 3 hours on the highway, and then do it again but change it after 1000. Sound reasonable?

Baxter · « **Reply #8 on:** August 10, 2008, 02:31:42 pm »

We think alike!
:lol:
:wink:

Vincent Waldon · « **Reply #9 on:** August 10, 2008, 04:22:23 pm »

Wynn's et. al. are available at your friendly neighbourhood Canadian Tire... you'll find a bunch of oil flushers.

clbanman · « **Reply #10 on:** August 10, 2008, 04:34:08 pm »

Years ago my dad used to run an engine up to operating temperature, shut it off and drain the oil, refill the crankcase with diesel fuel and idle it for about 5 minutes. Claimed it cleaned the inside right out. I was always afraid to try it, but I know he put over 200,000 kms on most of the engines he did it to (v-8s all). I tore one apart after about 260,000 kms, and there was not any of what I would consider abnormal wear on bearings or cylinder walls.

dillenger1 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 10, 2008, 04:42:03 pm »

thats actually a good idea.I would use "off road" though or add atf.

Vincent Waldon · « **Reply #12 on:** August 10, 2008, 04:43:14 pm »

Myself personally I'm really really wary of running anything but oil in the sump, from a bearing perspective... especially the mains, given the pressures they are under.

However, I wonder if filling the sump with Varsol or some such cleaner and then running the oil pump thru the vacuum pump hole would make for a safe flush ?? Drain the old oil hot, swap in a new filter and 4l of Varsol, run the oil pump for 5 minutes, drain, replace the oil filter, add some cheap 10W30, run the engine for 5 minutes, then dump the oil and filter one last time ?

Vincent Waldon · « **Reply #13 on:** August 10, 2008, 05:04:56 pm »

Actually, that reminds me of my favorite Canadian Tire parking lot story. :wink:

For those of you who don't live in Canada: Canadian Tire is a nation-wide chain featuring service bays, automotive parts, sporting goods, garden supplies, and tools... tons and tons of tools. A mans-man store if ever there was one.

A fun game we Canadians play is: Who's Doing Car Maintenance In The Canadian Tire Parking Lot Today ?? Seems like folks just can't wait till they're home to install those new wiper blades/ headlights/ batteries/ sparkplugs/ distributor caps/ seatcovers, and they frequently leave their old parts lying on the ground or thrown back in the shopping cart.

One winter day while playing this game I watched a guy come out of the store with 5l of oil, 5l of ATF, and a new oil filter. He disappeared under the front of his car for a minute or two... couldn't see what he was doing. However when he reappeared he popped open the hood and proceeded to pour the 5l of ATF into the crankcase via the valve cover cap.

I was going to go over and see if perhaps he had confused what hole was what but he was very fast.... he threw the valve cover cap back on, slammed the hood, and roared away.

As soon as he moved forward a car-length I understood his haste.. left behind him in the snow was a huge puddle of black motor oil. The dude had drained his old oil directly on the parking lot pavement and was flushing his engine out with ATF on the drive home, where he would likely carefully complete his oil change. :roll:

Game, set, and match. :lol:

shegel · « **Reply #14 on:** August 10, 2008, 05:47:24 pm »

i like that story. ......but as to the previous question....i use seafoam in my crankcase to clean everything out. i put it in. let it idle for between 10 and 15 minutes then do the change.

Author Topic: Dealing with Sludge (Read 5228 times)

Baxter