Saturday Oil Change

[M-Pilot]

Just curious. Took my car in for an oil change and a front brake job. Dealer calls when done and says on the next oil change I should do a internal engine oil flush as there is a little sludge build up on the oil cap and oil filler pipe. I hear the word sludge and I'm concerned. Should I be or is it normal like the dealer says? Radiator cap was leaking a little and they replaced that as well. 65K on the beast...

[zerg711]

How frequently do you get your oil changed? If there is sludge, maybe you should consider an earlier oil change interval. If you perform your oil changes based on regular intervals (3000 to 4000 miles), I just don't see how you can have sludge build up.

[M-Pilot]

How frequently do you get your oil changed? If there is sludge, maybe you should consider an earlier oil change interval. If you perform your oil changes based on regular intervals (3000 to 4000 miles), I just don't see how you can have sludge build up.

I've changed the oil every 5K since I purchased it (42K),; however, I bought it used, so who knows if prior owner changed the oil. Guess I'll pay $110 for a flush and hope my engine doesn't sieze I did purchase an extended warranty, so hopefully it blows before that runs out...

Or the dealer is looking for upsale on the next visit he did say it's a normal buildup for the miles it has and the car is itn great shape. I was just concerned when I heard "sludge."

[antzrus]

I'm at 66k, run Mobil 1 and change every 12k. Ain't got no damn sludge!!

She runs like a Deere.

[EniGmA1987]

Many people might not like what I do, but I wouldnt really care too much about hearing that from the dealer. If go and drive as hard as I can and take the car to redline as often as possible for 5-10 minutes. That will break up and clean out any carbon deposits and sludge that might be building up and it doesnt cost $110, only a couple gallons of gas. I normally drive my car pretty hard and I have 120k miles on it now, never once have I heard about any sort of buildup and no mention that anything is looking worn for its age or like it needs to be replaced. Car has only had a single issue and it is something lots of people have regardless of how hard they drive. These engines were made to be driven, not babied. When you hear about people with problems, almost all of them will tell you how easy they have been on the car.

[CPJ LB]

Many people might not like what I do, but I wouldnt really care too much about hearing that from the dealer. If go and drive as hard as I can and take the car to redline as often as possible for 5-10 minutes. That will break up and clean out any carbon deposits and sludge that might be building up and it doesnt cost $110, only a couple gallons of gas. I normally drive my car pretty hard and I have 120k miles on it now, never once have I heard about any sort of buildup and no mention that anything is looking worn for its age or like it needs to be replaced. Car has only had a single issue and it is something lots of people have regardless of how hard they drive. These engines were made to be driven, not babied. When you hear about people with problems, almost all of them will tell you how easy they have been on the car.

that is classic.....

I love it.... .....reminds me of "...go big or go home".....

I personally use Mobil 1 and change every 5k....I change more frequent in the summer months...

[M-Pilot]

Many people might not like what I do, but I wouldnt really care too much about hearing that from the dealer. If go and drive as hard as I can and take the car to redline as often as possible for 5-10 minutes. That will break up and clean out any carbon deposits and sludge that might be building up and it doesnt cost $110, only a couple gallons of gas. I normally drive my car pretty hard and I have 120k miles on it now, never once have I heard about any sort of buildup and no mention that anything is looking worn for its age or like it needs to be replaced. Car has only had a single issue and it is something lots of people have regardless of how hard they drive. These engines were made to be driven, not babied. When you hear about people with problems, almost all of them will tell you how easy they have been on the car.

The good news is I don't baby my car. I guess I will take out a flashlight and see if there really is sludge. That means I have to open the hood... BTW, I drove a G37 and maaaan those cars are quick. I thought my car was fast...

[Ilya]

G37 is like a Ferrari compared to the M35 lol. I love it when they give me a 37 loaner haha.

I doubt you have any serious sludge issues.

What you should do, is pour a couple cap fulls of Seafoam into your oil at every oil change. I usually do like 2 cap fulls with each change. It will clean away some of the sludge and keep your motor clean.

[lovemycarM35]

Seafoam is good stuff I had a shortblock replacment done on my M back in August and the dealer siad the top of my motor was the cleanest he had ever seen thanks to seafoam

[Ilya]

I agree.

I pour it into my gas every 7-8k (full can), do half-can via the intake manifold vacuum line (suck it up - let it sit for 30 minutes or so - then rev the motor slightly to burn all the gunk out) every 20k or so, and then a couple caps of it in my oil at each oil change.

Here is the HowTo for the M35:

howto-sea-foam-your-infiniti-m-t517551.html

Here is a video of my M after I did the intake manifold cleaning:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McLwRh_c3us[/youtube]

[M-Pilot]

I agree.

I pour it into my gas every 7-8k (full can), do half-can via the intake manifold vacuum line (suck it up - let it sit for 30 minutes or so - then rev the motor slightly to burn all the gunk out) every 20k or so, and then a couple caps of it in my oil at each oil change.

Here is the HowTo for the M35:

howto-sea-foam-your-infiniti-m-t517551.html

Here is a video of my M after I did the intake manifold cleaning:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McLwRh_c3us[/youtube]

Cool!

[myother45isalesbaer]

Sludge? What is sludge? Someone please explain. I've owned many cars and farm tractors and sludge is not a word I am familiar with. I also have no idea what a full engine flush is. Sounds like another BS scam to me. I always thought sludge was something in a septic tank.

[Ilya]

If you tear apart an engine block from a poorly maintained vehicle, you will see a layer of dark oil that is basically stuck to everything. No matter how often you change the oil, it's there. Such as in the valve cover. That's sludge.

Seafoam helps break that up and it gets burned up, etc.

However, for those people who are interested in pouring seafoam into your engine...MAKE SURE YOU CHANGE YOUR OIL WITHIN 100 MILES IF YOU USE A GOOD AMOUNT OF SEAFOAM. I only do a small dose as 'maintenance' with each oil change, but on my Maxima I put in half a bottle, drove 100 miles, and then dropped the pan, etc. and cleaned EVERYTHING out.

[myother45isalesbaer]

IlyaKol,

I think you hit the nail on the head. As you say "a poorly maintained" engine or vechicle. I have torn down engines with 150,000+ miles on them and they were as clean inside as the day they came out of the factory. I maintain that regular oil changes are the reason why these engines stay so clean. Just my OP.

[Ilya]

That's precisely it.

And then to keep the manifolds clean, etc. just run some through there and use high octane fuel ALL THE TIME. It burns off cleaner.