Quaker State Ultimate 5w30

[littleant]

Originally Posted By: Fasttimez
I ran QSUD 5w30 in my 2010 F150 (4.6 3v engine). I never had any problems at all, however I noticed after about 50K miles, the dipstick turning like a varnish yellow/brown color. At 105,000 miles I had a lifter fail & had to be replaced. When I removed the valve covers, all the metal components were stained that yellow/brown varnish color which I found to be strange. I convinced my buddy to pull the valve cover of his Honda Civic which he used the 5w20 QSUD & had 140,000 miles on his engine. His was stained the same yellowish brown varnish color. You could scrape half of it off with your fingernail, some wouldn't come off. I haven't used it since. If there was that much discoloration & deposit in the top of the head, I can imagine what the valve & piston deposits looked like.
Fasttimez Just wondering I use QSUD 5w30 and am on my second oil change. At what mileage do you change out the oil? I thought QSUD was a good cleaning oil or is the varnish normal with any oil. Have you switched over to another oil.

 

[Fasttimez]

Originally Posted By: littleant
Originally Posted By: Fasttimez
I ran QSUD 5w30 in my 2010 F150 (4.6 3v engine). I never had any problems at all, however I noticed after about 50K miles, the dipstick turning like a varnish yellow/brown color. At 105,000 miles I had a lifter fail & had to be replaced. When I removed the valve covers, all the metal components were stained that yellow/brown varnish color which I found to be strange. I convinced my buddy to pull the valve cover of his Honda Civic which he used the 5w20 QSUD & had 140,000 miles on his engine. His was stained the same yellowish brown varnish color. You could scrape half of it off with your fingernail, some wouldn't come off. I haven't used it since. If there was that much discoloration & deposit in the top of the head, I can imagine what the valve & piston deposits looked like.
Fasttimez Just wondering I use QSUD 5w30 and am on my second oil change. At what mileage do you change out the oil? I thought QSUD was a good cleaning oil or is the varnish normal with any oil. Have you switched over to another oil.

I changed my oil every 5,000 miles. The only time I've ever seen the varnish like substance is in older vehicles that don't change their oils regularly, or using a cheap knock off brand oil. I was shocked to see it actually. Like I stated, I never had any issues with my engine (except the lifter, but that could be age related), so it's hard to say why it happened. I now use Pennzoil Platinum 5w30 in my 2017 F150 5.0, I dropped the factory fill at 500 miles & refilled with Royal Purple HPS 5w30 for the added ZDDP for the initial run in charge. I changed it at 5,000 miles & refilled with what I'm going to stick with in Pennzoil Platinum 5w30. I use a Mobil 1 EP oil filter, I plan on changing my oil every 5,000 miles as I always have. The EP filter & PP oil is probably overkill for a 5,000 OC interval, but it makes me sleep better.....HaHa

 

[littleant]

Fasttimez let us know if the Pennzoil Platinum 5w30 cleans up the varnish.

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

Originally Posted By: Fasttimez
I ran QSUD 5w30 in my 2010 F150 (4.6 3v engine). I never had any problems at all, however I noticed after about 50K miles, the dipstick turning like a varnish yellow/brown color. At 105,000 miles I had a lifter fail & had to be replaced. When I removed the valve covers, all the metal components were stained that yellow/brown varnish color which I found to be strange. I convinced my buddy to pull the valve cover of his Honda Civic which he used the 5w20 QSUD & had 140,000 miles on his engine. His was stained the same yellowish brown varnish color. You could scrape half of it off with your fingernail, some wouldn't come off. I haven't used it since. If there was that much discoloration & deposit in the top of the head, I can imagine what the valve & piston deposits looked like.


Boy I'd sure like to see those pictures!

 

[mctmatt]

Originally Posted By: littleant
Fasttimez let us know if the Pennzoil Platinum 5w30 cleans up the varnish.


I was under the impression that there is no oil that will actually clean up varnish after it has been baked on the engine.

 

[Fasttimez]

Originally Posted By: littleant
Fasttimez let us know if the Pennzoil Platinum 5w30 cleans up the varnish.

That was my 2010 F150, it's gone & I have my 2017 F150. That's the one I was saying I run PP oil in now.

 

[Fasttimez]

Originally Posted By: JohnnyJohnson
Originally Posted By: Fasttimez
I ran QSUD 5w30 in my 2010 F150 (4.6 3v engine). I never had any problems at all, however I noticed after about 50K miles, the dipstick turning like a varnish yellow/brown color. At 105,000 miles I had a lifter fail & had to be replaced. When I removed the valve covers, all the metal components were stained that yellow/brown varnish color which I found to be strange. I convinced my buddy to pull the valve cover of his Honda Civic which he used the 5w20 QSUD & had 140,000 miles on his engine. His was stained the same yellowish brown varnish color. You could scrape half of it off with your fingernail, some wouldn't come off. I haven't used it since. If there was that much discoloration & deposit in the top of the head, I can imagine what the valve & piston deposits looked like.


Boy I'd sure like to see those pictures!

I was told that a faulty PVC system could cause the golden varnish buildup. Im not blaming the oil, just saying what my experience was, along with my buddies Honda engine.