Originally Posted By: jk_636
Originally Posted By: BufordTJustice
I owned an 07 Cobalt 2.2 ecotec. I ran syn 5w-30 according to the oil life monitor (wrong decision for long term performance), which usually ended up being close to 9-10k on OCIs with full syn oil and an M1 or Puro Syn filter. Filter always looked like [censored] at the end of an OCI (partially collapsed and filthy). And, no, this wasn't from install (I checked; the crush was not due to the cap being tightened). Sold it at 130k with some top-end clatter.
For this motor, ST synthetic 5w-30 at 1k intervals with a FU or M1 filter, with some seafoam added to the crankcase for the last 100 miles of each OCI. Do not go thinner. 10w-30 synthetic would be just fine as well.
Thanks for the input. From my research it Seems like these engines are prone to sludge, and shorter OCIs are really the only way to combat this endemic problem in the Ecotec engines.
Out of curiosity, why would you not go thinner? My thought is that since it still has good compression there is no reason to go with heavier weight oil, but going lighter seems to be a way to get more oil to the top of the engine and/or through narrowed sludged oil passages.
Thoughts?
Quote:
Think I’d do this … by a package of filters on eBay … rotate a few brands of low cost Dexos oil … don’t push it too hard … don’t go too far from help …
Originally Posted By: clinebarger
Originally Posted By: 2015_PSD
Take the valve cover off and drop the oil pan. By a 12 pack of Berryman B-12 Chemtool and use 6 cans on the top end and 6 cans on the bottom. Run 2 short OCIs and you will be a clean as practical under the circumstances. The whole treatment including new gaskets would be less than $100 and the sludge would be gone.
You need to calm down. Using that much common sense in one post makes people upset. Much easier to cry & whine about how poorly a engine is engineered because you can't do 50,000 mile OCI's.
That is a big job for someone who just learned how to change oil to do solo...
No one is debating that these problems aren't the result of neglect but yes, making such a critically important engine component out of plastic that will be bathed in scalding hot engine oil is an example of garbage engineering any way you look at it. Especially when they do fail, it is always the same piece, always broken in the same spot...
Probably more out there than you realize … our Ecotec is at 105k and pristine in the head … 7k OCIs with M1
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CMFYOfhTltQ