TL_Captain

I always have engine oil change on schedule (usually 200-300 miles prior to due time). I don't drive a lot, but I still change the oil change at least every 6 months (recommended minimum oil change is every year).

Took car to shop for an oil change today. Mechanic showed me the sticky brown stuff on the cap. He said I may have a sludge issue. Since the car only has 40k miles, he said the problem is probalby minor. He told me nothing needs to be fixed. Just change the oil more often.

Well, I do change oil on time (slightly more frequent than the recommended schedule). Should I use any kind of oil additive to reduce the current sludge problem? If yes, any recommendation?

....BTW, I usually have the oil changed in dealers. If changing at local shops, I bring in Mobile 1 oil.

turkeybaster115

iTrader: (1)

Buy lubromoly motor clean. Pour it all into your engine before your next oil change, then let it idle for 11 minutes. Next drain it all and it will remove all your sludge. good luck!

ineedmyfixofacura

iTrader: (2)

do you use synthetic?

niju321

seafoam that mofo

TL_Captain

thanks for the info. I never heard liqui moly motor clean before. Looks like a good product.

Nope. only used regular oil. I thought I'd be ok without synthetic since I stick to the oil change schedule. guess i was wrong.

Miss Phee

get a new mechanic.

gatrhumpy

iTrader: (1)

Why? I would value that mechanic if he found sludge in my car.

Eoanou

If you get your oil changed at the dealer, I'm surprised they didn't notice anything.

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

Is it a Toyota? They seem to be having a lot of sludge issues.

niju321

one other thing, i don't see how oil would circulate around the cap....i mean it may splash up there sometimes, but i doubt there would be regular flow there, so then whatever is there could turn to sludge...

but still, seafoam that mofo

TL_Captain

It's a crappy Volvo. Holds close to 8 qts of oil. Recommended oil change schedule is 7.5k. I usually get it done every 7.1 to 7.2k or once a year. I suspect the dealer may have used low grade engine oil and caused the sludge.

Not sure how the sludge gets to the cap. I did a quick search on internet. The mechanic was right. Looks like the quickest way to detect sludge is from the cap.

How do you "seafoam" an engine? It's not a major operation, is it?

ineedmyfixofacura

iTrader: (2)

You have one main problem. You have a Volvo. loool .

TL_Captain

I couldn't agree more. What's the deal wtih Swedish products? Volvo sucks. Saab probably sucks even more. IKEA...don't even get me start on that. Flimsy designs and shitty quality.

phee

iTrader: (5)

the swedes are gentle ppl. they care for their stuff.

i never recommend putting anything but oil in the crank case.

pull the valve covers off and post a pic.

Moog-Type-S

Volvo eh?....is it a turbo?

TL_Captain

nah, won't waste my time to pull the cover. will sell this junk once warranty is over.

not A turbo, a BI-turbo that is. That's what got my attention back then. And, yes, I was a dumb ass buying a Volvo.

Moog-Type-S

^^ I bet you have a bad PCV.

phee

iTrader: (5)

x2

Gfaze

Aren't turbo engines supposed to use synthetic? The heat generated by the turbo would destroy regular oil on the oil change intervals you're following.

SodaLuvr

There's probably nothing wrong. The brown stuff could just be condensation build-up from short trips.

Volvo does not require synthetic oil for any of their vehicles. Just plain 'ol conventional. Of course, it'd probably be smart to use synthetic oil in a turbocharged engine.

TL_Captain

I've ask the dealer if it's necessary to use synthetic. They said factory spec is regular oil.

BradE

This.

You can't determine a sludge problem by just looking at the oil filler cap.

If you are really worried about it, buy some Redline oil and run that for your next couple oil changes. It's group V ester based synthetic and will clean out any trash that's in the motor. Will also hold up much better in a turbo motor as well.