I have a 4.8L truck with over 194K miles and it seems that it has begun building up more and more sludge as it gets older. The oil is changed around every 3,000(when the OLM light comes on) so I don't think that's the issue. I do use a different oil almost every time, if that affects anything. There has also been a few small metal shavings showing up on the drain plug magnet, so the engine is obviously nearing the end of it's life.

The mods are 87 Black Bear tune, 180* T-stat, TR55 plugs, One original cat and one cheapie that threw a code a year after it was installed. It had no PCV system for a while, but I hooked it back up because the breathers were making a mess.







Anyone have any ideas on what's causing this? Should I just stop changing the oil and let it die or try to fix it?

 

my change oil light comes on at like 7000 miles not 3000. That looks nasty. May want to do an engine flush.

 

do nt do engine flushes on high milage engines . i would just use some good filters and switch to rottla engine oil the diesel oil will help clean it out slowly with out pluging everthing up with sluge . IMO

 

Looks like Pennzoil!

 

Our Toyota/Lexus sludge issues were supposedly caused by faulty PCV systems...I wonder if running without a functioning PCV system created a problem? I've also seen overheated engines loosen up the gunk that was hardened in the bottom of the oil pan, but usually that will clog the oil pump pickup screen as the engine cools and the sludge hardens. Also, what is the condition of the air filter, clean or filthy? Every time that I've had an oil analysis done and they found "excessive" dirt, they condemn my air filter.

 

How did you get the filter apart so easily?

 

You can buy oil filter cutters fairly cheap, I believe that Summit sells them

 

Im ordering one right now. Last time I took apart a filter I cut my finger to the bone.

 

I know what ya mean on that one.it is a good tool to invest in
I would go ahead and pull the engine and rebuild it.
It looks like it has never had an oil change LOL

 

It had an old K&N intake kit for a while, but I pulled it off and put the factroy one back on with a new filter. That was probably 6,000 miles ago.

I cut open just about every filter I pull off my cars, just because that tool makes it so easy. I wouldn't rebuild it, I would just stick in a 5.3. I actually "want" the engine and trans(believe it may be original) to die at the same time so I can replace both.

I think I put the PCV hoses back on when I did the last oil change, and it wasn't nearly as sludged as it was this time. If it sludges up again, I'm going back to breathers and may try a stock t-stat.