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detergent oil or not?

1K views 12 replies 5 participants last post by  yragat 
#1 ·
If you have and older engine (smokes a little) and previous owner used non-detergent oil,Is it advisable to switch to a detergent type oil?
 
#2 ·
For A high mileage motor that would not be advisable. The detergent oil will clean out the junk that has built up over time and may loosen up things to cause you to use more oil or make things noisey. At least that is what I was taught. .
If it smokes a little it may smoke even more.
Pop off the valve covers and be sure the return holes are open to let the oil back down to the pan. :welcome:
 
#5 ·
yragat said:
If you have and older engine (smokes a little) and previous owner used non-detergent oil,Is it advisable to switch to a detergent type oil?
when does it smoke ? on deceleration? when you stomp down on the gas? it might be wise to determine (if you can) why it smokes.if it smokes only on deceleration it is most likely valve guides or seals, if it smokes all the time and especially when accelerating then it is probably rings. pull the pcv valve from the valve cover with the engine running , if it smokes like the little train that could, then it is rings. Valve guide seals can be straightened out without pulling the heads, just use the umbrella type seals. If it is determined to be rings.... keep running the non detergent
Rings can become stuck in the piston lands by not using a detergent oil, but in your case being a high mileage engine I doubt that is the case
 
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