Re: Engines that are prone to sludge

johngdole@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 wrote:
> Sure, condensation in the crankcase does a lot of harm. And driving
> highways also helps the battery charge.

As well as get the moisture out of the exhaust.  Exhaust system 
materials have improved greatly over the years, but not too many years 
ago, vehicles driven on lots of short trips will need most of their 
downstream exhaust components replaced every 2 to 3 years, whereas the 
same car driven mostly highway would go with the original exhaust system 
for most of its life.  It's not unusual for today's exhaust systems to 
last the life of the vehicle (250+k miles) in mostly highway use.

> On Jul 27, 5:48 am, "Dioclese" <NONE> wrote:
>> Reminds me of an older gentleman my daughter introduced me to a couple
of
>> years ago, her next door neighbor.  He has an old Chevy Nova he keeps
mostly
>> parked in his driveway.  Drives maybe 1/2 mile one way on his weekly
trips
>> to the grocery store or what not.  He complained about his carburetor
>> needing a rebuild recently due to buildup as he seldom drives. 
Son-in-law
>> did the rebuild.  He found the plugs a bit fouled, but not too bad. 
The
>> oil, only a few months old was very thick and very black.  He pulled a
valve
>> cover, and found that cream colored greasy substance on it, water
>> contamination.  No such in the oil itself or similar indication in the
>> antifreeze.  After futher investigation, we all came to the same
conclusion.
>> The lack of continuous driving time was causing the oil to foul as the
rings
>> are probably not set any more.  The creamy substance at the inside top
of
>> the valve covers was due to dew buildup as the mornings are terribly
moist
>> sometimes, and the engine never got hot enough to burn out the water.
>>
>> Its an extreme exaggeration of what can happen to current vehicles
(which
>> run hotter/faster nowadays), but, it drives home a point about the need
to
>> put adequate highway miles to keep the contaminants down in the oil.
>>
>> --
>> Dave


-- 
Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my 
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