Post a picture... any picture

**Frank Z** · 08-19-2007 11:51 PM

Picked up a 2002 Dodge Stratus today for $700. I was told the engine was siezed up (professional Mechanic...pffttt.) It motor turned over but wouldn't start. Popped off the rear valve cover (V-6) and found this....

**phuz** · 08-19-2007 11:53 PM

Did the owner use Hershey's syrup instead of oil?

**Frank Z** · 08-19-2007 11:54 PM

Nope, I'm thinkin' Pennzoil.

**disneyjoe7** · 08-20-2007 12:03 AM

My definition of seized up is it doesn't turn. Not pretty but I would AutoRX it twice. ;) Then Amsoil it.

**Frank Z** · 08-20-2007 12:06 AM

Yes, seized means it won't turn over, hence my comment...

(professional Mechanic...pffttt.)

The motor is getting yanked this week for a complete over haul.

All in all, not bad for a car in good (exterior & interior) with under 100k miles.

**read-alot** · 08-20-2007 08:25 AM

Originally Posted by Frank Z

Picked up a 2002 Dodge Stratus today for $700. I was told the engine was siezed up (professional Mechanic...pffttt.) It motor turned over but wouldn't start. Popped off the rear valve cover (V-6) and found this....

I've had the covers and a few intakes off of some V8 Chevys where the owners had run Quaker State that looked worse than that.

How many miles does this one have on it Frank? Is that Pennzoil?

**Frank Z** · 08-20-2007 08:30 AM

94k I believe. Looks like Pennzoil sludge to me. A can of Sea-Foam once a while could've kept this motor spotless.

**read-alot** · 08-20-2007 08:44 AM

Or a few bottles of Mobil 1 instead of those bottles of wax.

**bobman1235** · 08-20-2007 09:50 AM

Wow, I thought you were kidding about the Pennzoil thing.... it's actually bad? There's actually a difference between oil brands?

(Yes, I'm serious and yes, I'm an idiot).

**MikeC78** · 08-20-2007 10:01 AM

That sludge is from not changing the oil on a regular basis. I don't care what brand of oil you use, it will still turn to sludge if you don't change it.

I've been using Pennzoil in my '94 Plymouth GV from day one, and the engine with 135,000 miles still uses NO oil, and looks fairly clean between oil changes. I use Mobil 1 synthetic in the '04 Pontiac GP with only 45,000 miles, exactly the same way.

**jdhdiggs** · 08-20-2007 10:10 AM

Bob:

I did a project for Exxon/Mobil in Italy and they let us tour their research lab. There is definately a difference in oils. The head of XOM R&D Europe is currently at around 45,000 miles (not kilometers, miles) without an oil change and he has the lab guys check his car for sludge/damage every 5,000 km (3,000 miles) they then put the same oil back in with the same filter. They have some enigines that have a "simulated" 100K miles without a change on the Mobil 1 sythetic without breaking down. Some of their other oils break down much quicker.

What I also gleaned was that if you follow Mike's advice, it shouldn't make much of a difference.

**bobman1235** · 08-20-2007 10:19 AM

Well I realize ther's a difference between synthetic and "natural" oil, for sure, I just meant between brands of similarly labelled oils.

**read-alot** · 08-20-2007 10:22 AM

1968 I bought a 56 Chevy from a nurse in Spartanburg, SC and of course the first thing was to pop that 2 barrel intake off for an aluminum 4 holer, I couldn't believe what I saw, the build up of gunk had completely filled the lifter galley so bad that it was touching the bottom of the intake. Her service records where she had been using Quaker State were stickers that back in the day were still stuck on the door jambs. Anyone here remember those stickers? The 56 was my third Chevy, I had a 55 and a 57 before it.

**jdhdiggs** · 08-20-2007 10:23 AM

Well, since XOM has about 10 levels of "quality" I'd say that there is that chance.

**read-alot** · 08-20-2007 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by jdhdiggs

Well, since XOM has about 10 levels of "quality" I'd say that there is that chance.

That's exactly what my father who was a master with engines at the time explained to me. He said the oil she was using had a higher paraffin base than most oil on the market at that time.

**janmike** · 08-24-2007 08:38 PM

This is a must for your work area.

**shack** · 08-24-2007 09:11 PM

St. Thomas, VI. A few days ago just before Hurricane Dean...

Silverti · 08-24-2007 09:31 PM

Originally Posted by shack

St. Thomas, VI. A few days ago just before Hurricane Dean...

Would love to see "after" photos :)

**disneyjoe7** · 08-24-2007 09:34 PM

Oil Bobstheoilguy.com

Shack beautiful pictures of St. Thomas :)

**michael_w** · 08-28-2007 10:50 PM

Full lunar eclipse that happened last night / this morning. I thought it was at 12:54 but it didn't start until 1:54 and it finally made it to this stage by just after 3 in the morning... why can't these things ever happen on a night where I don't have to work the next day :p

**black magic** · 08-31-2007 10:58 PM

just lowered the car...

I know its only a civic, but i love it :D

**BaggedLancer** · 08-31-2007 11:18 PM

hubcaps gotta go!

**hypertone** · 08-31-2007 11:50 PM

Originally Posted by bobman1235

Wow, I thought you were kidding about the Pennzoil thing.... it's actually bad? There's actually a difference between oil brands?

(Yes, I'm serious and yes, I'm an idiot).

Alot of people think oils with a high parrafin content cause sludge, but this is a myth. I have never used Pennzoil. I use Rotella, a high parrafin diesel rated oil, and probably one of the best conventional oils on the market. The engine in the picture is the result of never changing the oil and very hard driving. If you change your oil every 5000 miles, you won't get sludge like that, even from the crappiest motor oil.

**hearingimpared** · 09-01-2007 01:32 AM

Originally Posted by hypertone

Alot of people think oils with a high parrafin content cause sludge, but this is a myth. I have never used Pennzoil. I use Rotella, a high parrafin diesel rated oil, and probably one of the best conventional oils on the market. The engine in the picture is the result of never changing the oil and very hard driving. If you change your oil every 5000 miles, you won't get sludge like that, even from the crappiest motor oil.

I change mine every 3000 miles and my car just past 145,000 miles and still going strong.

**Lasareath** · 09-01-2007 03:44 AM

Here's my Custom made coats I had done last year.

**Bill Ayotte** · 09-01-2007 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by BaggedLancer

hubcaps gotta go!

X111109393848490347982374 It would look better with the steelies......Is that a cup kit?

**black magic** · 09-02-2007 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by BaggedLancer

hubcaps gotta go!

yeah. you're both right. The only reason I don't have rims is because I know my car will get stolen. I'll get some prolly next spring. I'll have some decent security and a black paint job by then... hopefully.

These are the rims i'm looking at:

Silverti · 09-02-2007 11:06 AM

My only suggestion for you with a Civic is to chose a light weight wheel/tire combo. If you strap a lot of weight to your wheels.. its all bling and no go! You'll not like heavy wheels.

These Antera's were the best wheels I ever had. This was back in 96 when 15" wheels WERE the big wheels. People were barely starting to move into 16". Light weight and nice. Worked nice with a DOHC VTEC engine with lil torque.

Silverti · 09-02-2007 11:08 AM

I had these wheels on my TL Type S. Kinda cheap wheels but light. Had a lot of problems with them. They stuck out to far and tagged to many curbs that scratched them. I eventually power coated them and loved it.