Took off Valve Covers -- dirtiest SHO engine ever!!!

[Groo]

Thanks to help from Ryan (Shoman594) and Luke (SHODOG220), and some other freinds (Steve, Scott, and Nick), I was able to remove the valve covers.

You see kids, this is what happens when you don't change your oil. I've only owner this car from 82000 to 87000, but I've changed the oil 3 times. The person before me, quite obviously didn't.

This is Luke and Steve modeling just how FILTHY the inside of this engine is.

There were literally big chunks of black sludge that you could lift out.

<small>[ July 04, 2002, 12:53 PM: Message edited by: Groo ]</small>

 

[SHOfun 93]

Well fellow sho owners, let these pics be once again a reminder that the SHO engine needs regular oil changes. Also the TYPE of oil can be critical as well. These cam lobe areas are screaming either valvoline or penzoil to me. Those wax based oils will **** a SHO engine quick. Groo....BTW I noticed that the throttle body was removed..not necessary, but now would be a good time to bypass the throttle body coolant line areas to help keep the throttle body cooler. I did it to mine and I did notice the area was cooler, but I also live in a 90 degree plus climate. Just a suggesstion. thumbs_u

 

[Slo-Sho]

eek! I'd hate to see what your bearings look like! If that were mine, I get a bucket under the oil pan and just dump loads of engine flush on it.

 

[Groo]

Now would not be the time. The engine is back together . And my philosiphy is, if Ford put it there, they did it for a reason.

 

[SHOfun 93]

I respect that....... wink

 

[Tommy's SHO]

I work at a Toyota dealership and have seen even worse engines. Unfortunatelly people don't take care of there cars.
Last year I remember a '98 Avalon coming in for service...customer complained about ticking noise under hard acceleration... She told us thar she had never changed the oil in the car and she bought the car brand new. She though the only thing you have to do to a car was to add gas.
Oh, the car had 28K miles on it!

What it all comes down to is to change the oil regularly. Every 2K-3K miles. For those who use Synthetic oil change it every 4K - 5K miles. After 5K your pushing it!

 

[Toolman]

Jeremy Hohn:
Also the TYPE of oil can be critical as well. These cam lobe areas are screaming either valvoline or penzoil to me. Those wax based oils will **** a SHO engine quick.

Valvoline is no good? That is the first I have heard. So what oil do you recommend?

 

[luigisho]

I agree with the bearing concern. I would drop the oil pan and look around in there. The bearings the oil pump and screen. It's a pain but the alternative is worse.
And I thought the wax based oils were penn. and quaker.

 

[drivinhard]

That looks about like 3.0L motor that was in the original SR71 wink

Valvoline is a good oil. I run it in all my SHO's.

IMHO the frequency of the change intervals is more important than the oil used. My 92 has 165k, has had q-state (first 60k before I owned it) and valvoline ever since. Heads are as clean as any SHO motor out there, still uses very little oil (and runs 14 sec 1/4's all night long.)

 

[SHODOGG]

heh, yeah that engine was DIRTY!!! All I know is that my engine better not look anything like that once I pull off my valve covers soon.

 

[Groo]

At least you can yell at the guy who sold you the car.

 

[ISHOU]

Just curious, what did you use the hammer for???

 

[Groo]

Adjusting the shims, obviously .

j/k, the hammer was used every now and then for knocking something in or out of place. A light tap got the front valve cover loose. It also got the front passenger side intake brace back in between the alternator and engine. Very useful tool, that hammer. I see big things in its future.

 

[sdpatt]

I would stay away from Pennzoil and Quaker State. Valvoline is a good oil. Yes, that is the worst I have seen in the valvetrain of a SHO engine. It makes you wonder how the thing has lasted this long. Some people don't treat their cars like they want them to last very long. Changing the oil infrequently or with cheap product is like eating high fat foods or smoking cigarettes. You know it will hurt you, but you just don't think about what you can't see happening inside. Poor engine.

<small>[ July 05, 2002, 09:27 AM: Message edited by: sdpatt ]</small>

 

[SHOfun 93]

Dang...sorry I meant to say Quaker State when I said Valvoline instead...my bad...

 

[Chris Benvie]

I use the castrol synthetic for High HorsePower engines, the Yamaha engine loves it, i had a ford mechanic at my family's dealership tell me to use it, rather than Mobil One and for some reason, i'm glad i did.

 

[WaterRooster]

Now what can you do to clean that out ? Just wipe it down ???

 

[olympic]

You could plug up the oil return holes and use some sort of solvent or cleaner. It should eventually clean itself out with regular oil changes with descent oil.

 

[pete c]

I was in the autoparts store today and saw this stuff for flushing out the engine. They tell you to add it to a cold engine, let it idle for 5 mins and then drain/replace the oil. They specifically say don't drive the car with this crap in it. Anybody ever use this stuff? I was considering doing this treatment immediately prior to doing my rod bearings this weekend. Just what is this stuff anyway? I'm guessing that it is basically kerosene and works by diluting your oil which could knock loose some of the shit built up in the engine. Probably better off just doing frequent oil changes with 5-30 for a while. I hope to do the top end 60k sometime next month. Hopefully iy will look a little nicer than these pics.

 

[Foxwulfe]

Groo, do you beleive in a "personal" or conventional god? If not, start now. It is by only the act of a higher power that for some reason your Yamaha still runs. I have seen the tops of two different cylinder heads with upwards of 150,000 miles that were spotless or just slightly varnished. I will pray for your engine's troubled soul; it needs it.
Justin