I have never done this. What is the best way to strain the oil?Did you strain the drained oil to see if there were any larger pieces of debris in the oil?
Go get some paint strainers, like this. You might be able to buy them at the hardware store too. If there is anything too large to get sucked up by the oil pump it could come out with the drained oil, so if you strain the drained oil you might see something.I have never done this. What is the best way to strain the oil?
Did you buy this vehicle new or used? Only lack of timely oil changes could cause sludge build-up like that, unless some really bad dollar store oil has been used.At the dealer when they showed me the dipstick it was covered in sludge and the oil fill area was also. I have changed the oil a couple times at 500mi each. The last oil change you could see where globs of assuming sludge was coming out. I put marvel mystery oil in this last oil change. The dipstick now is clean and I barely get sludge on the tip of the dipstick when i put it into the oil fill area. Looks like just shortening OCI is clearing the sludge out.
The oil filter doesn't cause sludge or whatever it is to form.I bought it new. I always used mobil1 what could have caused it i was using extra guard filter and changing it every other oil change. I think that wasn’t a good enough filter to do that? As it is now. My oil pressure is fine. No engine warning lights. Oil on dipstick is clean. I get a little sludge on the tip of disptick if i put it into the oil fill. I cut open the oil filter and the pleats where clean. I am going yo filter the oil and see if anything is in that. Would just doing a couple more short OCI be good for now before doing anything more drastic? I do plan on dropping the oil pan and looking into it.
It crumbles when you roll it with your fingers. I would say it is brittle rubber pieces.So it feels more like rubber than hard plastic?
This is the second filter i have cut open and neither had sludge in them. At the dealer the dipstick was covered in sludge and the oil fill area had it also. The dipstick now is clean and oil looks good. Would all the sludge from before be in the oil pan or have come out already. I am probably on my third oil change since discovering the sludge at the dealer.The oil filter doesn't cause sludge or whatever it is to form.
You say the filter pleats were clean, yet there is this sludge/crud in the oil, which doesn't add up because if the engine was contaminated the filter should show signs of it to.
No, it wouldn't cause the sludge problem. Sludge is caused by negligent intervals, low oil levels, and excessive moisture or coolant in the oil.I came across a technical service bulletin for engine knocking and/or ticking. This applies for vin numbers just before mine was built. It talks about inspecting inside -#7 sparkug for cylinder scuffing and if it is present to replace the short engine assembly. If there is the cylinder scuffing issue, would this have caused the sludge problem?
Does this vehicle get a lot a short driving trips?If there is the cylinder scuffing issue, would this have caused the sludge problem?
Mechanical problems like that don't cause oil to sludge.I took my van to a mechanic. The ticking noise is a failing lifter for the high pressure fuel system. If it isn’t too damaged it should come right out and be an easy swap. Would this have caused the sludge issue or was it damaged from the sludge?