So, I'm working on a '95 LWB for a friend...

[noee]

Well, not really a friend, they're paying me in meat and pork (they run a beef/pork farm down the road).

So, I've done suspension, oil change, tcase/AT, tune-up and brakes and the low hanging fruit and the thing is tight, smooth and fast, like the girl who works at Milano's downtown.

Anyway, today I was trying to locate the oil leak and I narrowed most of it down to the rocker cover gaskets (big surprise). Took one off and I just about fainted. The amount of gunk and crap was a bit overwhelming.

So, what the hell? Is there any point in trying to clean this thing up? Searching tells me there's no point in messing with it and my gut tells me I'll most likely do more harm than good. Is there really any way to clean this thing up without just doing a top-end?

 

[rover4x4]

Rotella.

 

[p m]

So, what the hell? Is there any point in trying to clean this thing up? Searching tells me there's no point in messing with it and my gut tells me I'll most likely do more harm than good. Is there really any way to clean this thing up without just doing a top-end?

yes, there's a point. I'd clean up whatever crud I could get my hands on, in heads, valve covers, oil pan, block. And make them change oil every 500-1000 miles for a year. Just don't dump any solvents or flushing oils into it.

 

[ptschram]

Just don't dump any solvents or flushing oils into it.

On two occasions, I have removed valve covers, intake manifold and oil pan and hosed the exposed surfaces with diesel fuel. In one of these cases, the ruck was brought to me with complaints of oil leaks from the valve covers. The valve covers were completely filled with sludge. I doubt the oil had been changed frequently. nor regularly. Surprisingly, the oil pick-up wasn't clogged and the cam was in OK shape.

Last year, I removed the valve covers, oil pan and camshaft and again hosed it all down with diesel fuel and scrubbed the exposed surfaces.

I understand the fear of dislodging something and it clogging somewhere else, but I have a hard time avoiding removing crud that does not belong inside an engine and certainly not in significant amounts.

When it causes me to lose an engine, I'll change my tune!

 

[t77911s]

I did more or less the same as above, only I just used a bunch of cans of gunk and a hose, then cleaned and scraped everything I could. Then I fired it up, got it hot, and immed changed the oil, then several more oil changes like 50, 100, 500 etc just to make sure I got it all. Worked for me.

 

[jymmiejamz]

I did more or less the same as above, only I just used a bunch of cans of gunk and a hose, then cleaned and scraped everything I could. Then I fired it up, got it hot, and immed changed the oil, then several more oil changes like 50, 100, 500 etc just to make sure I got it all. Worked for me.

A water hose? I don't know that I'd want to be spraying water down on my engine.:ack:

I would definitely at least pull the oil pan and clean it out, I'm sure that is full of sludge too.

 

[JohnK]

Do you have any pictures?

 

[noee]

Me? Of the crud-ola? Naw, I quickly buttoned it back up and pretended nothing happened. You know, See No Evil.....and all that.

I'll talk to the owner, see what they want to do, I appreciate the suggestions so far.

I have a pit in my stomach when I see something like this, especially on an otherwise very solid truck. I feel like I should call CPS or something.

 

[sven]

They all look like that inside!

I know at some point I have to do the top end on my D1. So for now, I'll just pretend all is good.

 

[MUSKYMAN]

On two occasions, I have removed valve covers, intake manifold and oil pan and hosed the exposed surfaces with diesel fuel. In one of these cases, the ruck was brought to me with complaints of oil leaks from the valve covers. The valve covers were completely filled with sludge. I doubt the oil had been changed frequently. nor regularly. Surprisingly, the oil pick-up wasn't clogged and the cam was in OK shape.

Last year, I removed the valve covers, oil pan and camshaft and again hosed it all down with diesel fuel and scrubbed the exposed surfaces.

I understand the fear of dislodging something and it clogging somewhere else, but I have a hard time avoiding removing crud that does not belong inside an engine and certainly not in significant amounts.

When it causes me to lose an engine, I'll change my tune!

x2

come one not cleaning it out is just stupid.

I have cleaned the insides top to bottom with diesel clean and both motors were 100% better for it.

go look at the current thread in general and the thread I posted last week of what happens when you leave the crud inside these motors un-addressed...THEY EXPLODE.

cleaning them is really the best solution and not that big of deal...

pull the valve covers

pull the intake

pull the pan

get in there with a shop vac and some scrappers and go to work.

then hit it with wire brushes and diesel clean and get to scrubbing

vacuum out all the debris

and that motor has a new lease on life:applause:

 

[Roving Beetle]

Strong 2nd on what Thom said.

Clean her out well - you not do any harm if you take your time and flush her out well.

Leaving it in there after removing a cover is not a good idea s you may well have loosened something by moving it at all and that "chunk" could well be the one that falls into a passageway and does a lot of harm. CLEAN IT OUT.

 

[sven]

Thom/PT: How much diesel fuel would you need for the typical engine "wash"? Gallon?

 

[peter sherman]

They all look like that inside!

I know at some point I have to do the top end on my D1. So for now, I'll just pretend all is good.

Naw not all of them my blue d1 has the cleanest engine I have ever seen.

 

[MUSKYMAN]

Thom/PT: How much diesel fuel would you need for the typical engine "wash"? Gallon?

go to wall mart and get some diesel kleen it will cut the crud 100% better then just diesel fuel. 1/2 gallon will last you a few years of cleaning grungy parts.

use in a well ventilated area or loose alot of brain cells

 

[57loboy]

My LWB had no gunk anywhere too after 139k miles when I did the heads last year. Prior owner (from new) insisted on regular oil changes its whole life. I do the same - cheap, easy. There wasn't anything anywhere for me to clean off. I use 15w40 Rotella to keep it that way.

 

[57loboy]

go to wall mart and but some diesel kleen it will cut the crub 100% better then just diesel fuel. 1/2 gallon will last you a few years of cleaning grungy parts.

That stuff is great! Big fan, and yes - one needs good ventilation or weird things start to float in front of your eyes...:ack:

 

[landrovered]

I usually use an anti crud cleaner and then pressure wash all the top end bits when I do a head gasket job. The heads always seem so clean when I get them back from the machine shop that is is a shame to bolt a bunch of gunky stuff back on to them. It makes reassembly easier and it gets all the crap out from under the valve covers. Those metal plates inside the valve covers can retain a bunch of crap that could get into the engine later on.

 

[Chris-St Louis]

Fix the breather, and tell them to use better oil.

 

[noee]

...x2

come one not cleaning it out is just stupid.

Yeah, if it were one of mine, I'd probably go ahead and do a complete top-end and the whole enchilada.

I've got 6 hrs into this thing so far and that's a lot of meat at an even reduced rate, and they're looking for "the cheap", but maybe if I explain to them the longer-term ramifications of "doing nothing", they'll go for it.

Either way, Diesel Kleen is in my immediate future....

 

[noee]

Fix the breather, and tell them to use better oil.

Yeah, I soaked that thing in Seafoam over night and then checked the hoses, they were okay, actually looked somewhat new, surprisingly.

Just looking at the oil that came out, I wonder if it was ever changed recently.

When I drained the borg/warner, less than a quart came out and it was blacker than used oil. Transmission fluid wasn't much better, but at least it was up to level.