Engine Builders Association Bulletin on Oil Sludge

Post by **cn90** » 27 Nov 2014, 14:14

For those of you who suffer engine idle ticking noise and the occasional "Check Oil Pressure" light on the dash, it is either from the bad O-rings (in the sump) or Oil Sludge blocking the screen.

See the link:
http://www.lydellmotorsltd.com/files/Ae ... 202010.pdf

I will upload the pdf here, just in case the link above disappears in the future.

This thread may create a whole bunch of comments on how to get rid of sludge in an old car that has been neglected (long oil change intervals).

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Post by **Ben850** » 27 Nov 2014, 15:45

cn90 wrote:This thread may create a whole bunch of comments on how to get rid of sludge in an old car that has been neglected (long oil change intervals).

I am sure it will.
My introduction was the '93 850. Once I had learned of the oil trap, it was the first thing to be replaced.
I had done a couple oil and filter changes in close succession, 500 miles apart maybe while adding Sea-foam to the fuel tank only.

The third last time, I added a third of the Sea-foam to the oil during another change with filter.
This has seemed to have done some good.
After a few more oil and filter changes over the past few years, things look nicely clean inside the cam cover while adding oil.

I have done the same to the '96 turbo wagon.
The T-5R is sludged a good deal where I can see in the oil filler cap. I haven't driven it enough yet to do these things. It is under cover for the winter. It will get its attention in the spring.
I am likely picking up an '02 S60 Monday with 176,000 miles. I am looking forward to seeing its condition regarding the sludge.

Post by **dosbricks** » 27 Nov 2014, 19:01

I bought my wagon from the dealer's used car lot when it was two years old w/42k. The car had been serviced at the dealer exclusively. After a couple of weeks, I went to the dealer service department to ask about the sludge I could see through the filler cap. They sent out a junior mechanic that had only worked there a few days. In response to a direct question about what kind of oil they were using, he revealed that it was "Quacker State" bulk oil. That despite the fact that they recommended and sold Castrol behind the counter. This erstwhile young man also told me he knew of no other cheap oil that contained more paraffin. I immediately changed to Castrol full synthetic, and with regular changes, it cleaned up the engine within two years.

It should be noted that a lot of new car owners could care less about what kind of oil is used and pay top dollar at the dealer mainly because of trust, plus the "free" car wash which they get with every oil change.

Hope this doesn't create a discussion of oil brands, but I'm only reporting my experience.

Post by **cn90** » 27 Nov 2014, 20:26

If you want to see Sludge, see the related thread below...

Help! 2005 2.5T Sounds Like a Diesel

http://forums.swedespeed.com/showthread ... e-a-Diesel

Post by **rspi** » 27 Nov 2014, 20:33

That was nuts. My motor had no sludge that I know of but the PCV system was severely clogged.

Post by **Ben850** » 27 Nov 2014, 23:40

cn90 wrote:If you want to see Sludge, see the related thread below...

Help! 2005 2.5T Sounds Like a Diesel

http://forums.swedespeed.com/showthread ... e-a-Diesel

Extreme poster child for automobile neglect?

Sorry, the last time I had come across something like that, was disassembling a 1967 small block Chevy.
That was in 1980.

Post by **mecheng** » 28 Nov 2014, 06:26

Interesting. Next time I will take my sawsall to the oil filter; curious to see how it looks after 8000km.
I cut open the original fuel filter, it was dirty but nothing out of the ordinary.

Post by **tryingbe** » 28 Nov 2014, 06:44

Why change oil? Just change the engine every 50k.

Post by **northernlights** » 28 Nov 2014, 13:17

I assume everyone noticed that they state ACEA A1/B1, viscosity SAE 5W-30 or ACEA A3/B3, viscosity SAE 5W-30 under the first oil change section. Not ISLAC, API or whatever.

This is because ACEA oil is good. This is what Volvo specifies everywhere but the USA.

Post by **j-dawg** » 28 Nov 2014, 21:38

246k, oil every 3000-3500, pretty consistently similar oil change interval over the records I have from before I owned it. I changed the PCV a few thousand miles ago, and it was all clean as a whistle.

The oil and filter come out clean, drippy, and brown, and nothing freaky is visible through the oil filler cap. I have never seen the oil pressure light come on except when I turn the key. I don't use any fancy oils, and the previous owner told me he and the owner before him both used conventional oils from off the shelf.

I'd go synthetic if I weren't worried about starting leaks at the seals, but the car has had owners who change the oil regularly, and the results seem pretty good to me.Still, this is a subject that inspires much passionate debate and I'm pretty sure everyone is both right and wrong. Religion, politics, and oil changes. Not at the dinner table.