Dan, have you thought of removing the oil pan and cleaning it? I know you don't
want to dismantle the entire engine, but this shouldn't take too long, and will
give you the peace of mind you're looking for.
Dean
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Date: Tue, 25 Apr 2000 15:49:28 -0500
From: "Dummer, Dan" <Dan.Dummer@BestBuy.Com>
Subject: RE: Seafoam
Seafoam is an engine detergent sold in auto parts stores around here
(Minnesota). I thought it was a fairly universal product, but nobody else
seems to have heard of it, so maybe not. I'm not trying to sell the
engine short. Its simplicity of design, and resilience are a couple of the
reasons I like the brand to begin with. What concerns me is that the car
was stored (if you can call letting it sit outside in the rain with the top
down for multiple years storage) with very dirty oil in it. Which gives me
an idea of how much it was loved and cared for before it was "stored" When
I drained the oil, it had all the consistency of cold molasses, and was
blacker than tar. What I'm thinking is that years of sitting may have
caused the heavier dirt particles to have settled onto the bottom of the
pan, and elsewhere. A single oil change, or more, won't loosen it up. Or
worse, it will dislodge it enmass and who knows what trying to push that
much sludge through the system will cause. I've heard of people using
diesel fuel because of the detergent content, but it doesn't have decent
enough viscosity, and I think it would do more harm than good. I know the
"right" answer would be to pull the engine apart and make sure its clean.
Thats a time consuming and expensive endeavor, and I don't want to undertake
it at the beginning of the nice driving weather. If there is a silver
bullet for this problem, I'm hoping someone on the list might know if it.
Or maybe I just need someone to tell me to stop worrying so my and just
drive the damn thing. ;-)
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