This last weekend I attempted a valve cover gasket repair/replacement for the first time. My shop said it was seeping last time I had it in for them to check some AC work they did. I'd say they were right. While no serious dripping had occurred, there was pools of oil in spark plug openings 2 & 4. Spark plug opening #3 was dry but deposits from previous oil pooling were easily seen (it was very dark colored down at the plug). Plug hole 1 was completely clean.
I took some pics while I had it open. I apologize for the pic quality as it was just my phone I had around. I knew it was likely I wouldn't like what I saw but I was still disappointed. History of the escape:
- 139,500 miles on it
- owned since new (march 2007)
- first 70k miles was Pennzoil Platinum 5w20
- 50k miles Kendall Blend 5w20
- Last 10k miles has been Trop artic 5W30
- Synthetic was never run more than 7,500 miles
- Blends/conventional were never run over 5,000 miles
- just about 95% of anything dark in the pictures is a stain/varnish. It could not be wiped clean. The only areas that wiped clean were where the gaskets sit.
In my experience to date, conventionals changed at proper intervals do not have the ability to keep an engine clean. This seems to continue to confirm that belief. Of course because of this I do not think conventional oils can clean if they can't keep something clean.
When I get my free oil used up, I will switch to full synthetic. I hope to keep this Escape until the valve cover gasket needs to be replaced again. Hopefully I will have some evidence whether or not a full synthetic can help clean this at all.
I took some pics while I had it open. I apologize for the pic quality as it was just my phone I had around. I knew it was likely I wouldn't like what I saw but I was still disappointed. History of the escape:
- 139,500 miles on it
- owned since new (march 2007)
- first 70k miles was Pennzoil Platinum 5w20
- 50k miles Kendall Blend 5w20
- Last 10k miles has been Trop artic 5W30
- Synthetic was never run more than 7,500 miles
- Blends/conventional were never run over 5,000 miles
- just about 95% of anything dark in the pictures is a stain/varnish. It could not be wiped clean. The only areas that wiped clean were where the gaskets sit.
In my experience to date, conventionals changed at proper intervals do not have the ability to keep an engine clean. This seems to continue to confirm that belief. Of course because of this I do not think conventional oils can clean if they can't keep something clean.
When I get my free oil used up, I will switch to full synthetic. I hope to keep this Escape until the valve cover gasket needs to be replaced again. Hopefully I will have some evidence whether or not a full synthetic can help clean this at all.