Thread: Sludge!!

Ok, I replaced the old leaking valve cover gasket almost a month ago and noticed the sludge. I also changed the oil and filter at the same time. The engine runs great and sounds healthy. I read a few threads including Vadims "sludge monster" but I didn't fully understand the diesel cleansing method. Can anyone offer advice? I have a can of seafoam but I didn't wanna pour that in and clog up the pick up tube. I'm planning on changing the oil within the next week.

Here's what it looked like.




I did clean up what I could but I'd like to get this engine back to almost new looking! I've been looking for a whole new engine or even a complete head but nothing is in my budget right now or close by to pick up

You can try an engine flush or sea foam..that's pretty bad tho

I have never had seafoam clog a pickup tube. Fill the neighborhood up with smoke. Yes, but bike clog.

Haha yeah I put on a food smoke show when I ran the seafoam through brake booster. I think I might put the seafoam in it tomorrow before my drive to my brothers house which is like 20miles away and change it when I get there.

Car is still really peppy and doesn't feel at all effected by the sludge. As long as I it will still get me around till I can replace te engine or head, I'll be happy. Hell I only gave $400 for the car anyways

Looks like you could just remove the cam caps and the other sludged up stuff and soak it in diesel fuel overnight.Reassemble and run it for a few minutes,drain the oil.
Next,I would go buy some cheap oil(I usually"waste" walmart supertech synthetic for this) Add a 1/2 quart ATF to your oil.The detergents in it will help clean it . Drive it 500-1000 miles and change the oil and filter.
That would be a good start.

I would also drop the oilpan,check the pickup and bottom of the pan for caked on sludge too....after the ATF/oil change.

I have a decent stock valve cover for 40 shipped if you want to save some cleaning there and just slap a better one on it instead.

You can run 4 quarts ATF at idle for about 20 min to help that too. Just leave your old oil filter in and let it hum for a bit.

Many people just use the 'don't touch anything' method with more frequent oil changes. Knocking big chunks loose could be dangeroo....

How many miles?
If its got 200k miles and you are speaking economically its probably time to put away some money and get ready to throw in the towel on the original motor.

Believe it or not, we have had a sludge motor to where when we removed da valve cover, you couldnt see the cams

Wow. That is some of the worst I've seen on an sr20. Id say clean out as much of it as you can by running the underside of the valve cover under hot water for awhile and get as much as you can. Then dry it off and reinstall

Go to dollar tree and buy a few gallon jugs of "LA's totally awesome" cleaner, take apart what u can and soak it overnight in that stuff. Works better for me than the deisel fuel.

I did get the valve cover cleaned up really good considering how it looked. But I will keep you in mind Eggman as I'm wanting to get one powder coated.

The car has 191,xxx miles but motor and trans has been replaced with one that now has 86,xxx. Got a receipt from the previous owner from the shop in north carolina that installed it that included the actual mileage when installed.

I'll try the tips provided on here and see how it goes. It runs great with no hesitation but seeing it with my own eyes and knowing that crap is in there, is enough to bug the hell outta me to remove it!