97 5SFE.....237,711 miles and sludge FREE.....

[bcp477]

I had some free time this afternoon. My car has had a small oil leak for some time...... possibly from the valve cover gasket. So, having the time and a valve cover gasket set on hand..... I decided to take care of this. At the same time, my intention was to check for sludge build-up in the head. Well, let me tell you, other than a very small amount of deposits, exclusively on the spark plug tubes and (primarily) on the inside of the VALVE COVER itself, there was nothing to speak of. I carefully cleaned the spark plug tubes of deposits, then spent some time scrubbing out and flushing clean the valve cover. Of course, I checked and cleaned the PCV valve, just to be sure. All buttoned back up.....and then, an oil change. It is time to change to my "winter" oil mix anyway....and I didn't want to NOT change the oil, after cleaning inside the valve cover (in case of any stray particles). Anyway, all is well - the car runs fine (I took it on a check ride).

The car, as mentioned in the title of this thread, has 237,711 miles. I got it from some friends with 200,032 miles, about 3.5 years ago. At the time, the car had a failing transmission, about which I knew, so I had the trans re-built. I was well aware of the level of maintenance the car had received before I had it, as it came with a log book and receipts....and my friends are good about keeping up with such matters. I've had VERY few problems with the car, after the trans overhaul. A few simple things one would expect of a 12 year old car, that's all. Of course, I am very careful about maintenance and repair - almost "religious" about it, it could be said.
The car runs beautifully.....and has never let me down. I've pretty much decided that I will keep it...and put another engine into it, when the time comes.

So, what's the point of all of this, you might ask ? I just wanted to press the point that, IF one of these cars is PROPERLY maintained....from new....there is NO reason that the engine can remain largely trouble - free and certainly SLUDGE FREE. Sludge build-up and the problems associated with it are due to POOR maintenance, period. This is NOT something that is endemic to any car....it does NOT HAVE to happen. The BEST thing one can do for an engine is CHANGE THE OIL. No "7500 mile" oil change intervals, as it says in the owners manuals of most cars now....UNLESS one uses ONLY full synthetic oil. If using conventional oils, even with additives..... change the oil at 3000 - 4000 miles...NO longer.

It is as simple as that.