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Is it a basestock issue, an additive issue, a driving style issue (habitual short trips etc), or a combination of all?
What causes varnish to begin building up?
- Thread starter LoneRanger
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TomNJ might have a tech answer for you, but I believe base stock and OCI may have a lot to do with it. All I know is that my engines don't have varnish problems even with 200K+. Both Duratechs are clean as new from what I can see through the oil fill hole. I have pics if you want to see them.
Originally Posted By: tig1
TomNJ might have a tech answer for you, but I believe base stock and OCI may have a lot to do with it. All I know is that my engines don't have varnish problems even with 200K+. Both Duratechs are clean as new from what I can see through the oil fill hole. I have pics if you want to see them.
Pics of engines with 200k on them or your current cars with 80k on them?
TomNJ might have a tech answer for you, but I believe base stock and OCI may have a lot to do with it. All I know is that my engines don't have varnish problems even with 200K+. Both Duratechs are clean as new from what I can see through the oil fill hole. I have pics if you want to see them.
Pics of engines with 200k on them or your current cars with 80k on them?
Its normal and nothing to worry about
Heat, old oil, and poor PCV systems all contribute.
some engines are prone to varnish but does not affect their longevity..
the d15/16 civics and f20/f22 accords are such engines.
i've never seen super clean head from these engines yet they are known to go 200k-400k+ miles easily.
the d15/16 civics and f20/f22 accords are such engines.
i've never seen super clean head from these engines yet they are known to go 200k-400k+ miles easily.
HEAT
varnish is sludge flypaper.
oxidation. its the same as how old frying pans are discolored. The oil is not capable of withstanding heat being circulated inside the oil. One of the major jobs of an oil is to dissipate heat. If it can't dissipate heat you will see varnish, if that gets neglected it will become sludge.
Heaps of things start it.
moiture doesn't do you any favours. Localised hot-spots, like a tight bearing can overheat it enough to get it going. Contact with air (more like aeration than just contact), some filters just happen to have micro static discharges. Aerated oil can behave like a diesel under certain conditions.,
moiture doesn't do you any favours. Localised hot-spots, like a tight bearing can overheat it enough to get it going. Contact with air (more like aeration than just contact), some filters just happen to have micro static discharges. Aerated oil can behave like a diesel under certain conditions.,
Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
varnish is sludge flypaper.
varnish is sludge flypaper.
It's really a combination of all (basestock, additive, driving style) with as previously mentioned oxidization and heat.
Varnish - by definition is a low temperature deposit and typically forms due to fuel biproducts(blow-by) and the integrity of the seal between the combustion chamber and the crankcase. Usually the main culprit of varnish buildup in gasoline engines is intermittent use with a lot of stop and go operation.
Sludge - a close relative to Varnish - is by definition a high temperature deposit and is formed most commonly by thermal and oxidative degradation of the lubricant - the base stock and additives. Running an oil too hot for too long will almost certainly result in sludge. Oxidative byproducts will build up over time which is why oil that is left beyond its service life in an engine will often lead to a sludge related issue.
Varnish - by definition is a low temperature deposit and typically forms due to fuel biproducts(blow-by) and the integrity of the seal between the combustion chamber and the crankcase. Usually the main culprit of varnish buildup in gasoline engines is intermittent use with a lot of stop and go operation.
Sludge - a close relative to Varnish - is by definition a high temperature deposit and is formed most commonly by thermal and oxidative degradation of the lubricant - the base stock and additives. Running an oil too hot for too long will almost certainly result in sludge. Oxidative byproducts will build up over time which is why oil that is left beyond its service life in an engine will often lead to a sludge related issue.
Short trips and stop and go. I have it in several of my cars that get driven short distances every day.
Originally Posted By: LoneRanger
Is it a basestock issue, an additive issue, a driving style issue (habitual short trips etc), or a combination of all?
Mostly it's fuel. Really surprised no one mentioned it.
Is it a basestock issue, an additive issue, a driving style issue (habitual short trips etc), or a combination of all?
Mostly it's fuel. Really surprised no one mentioned it.
Originally Posted By: Pablo
Originally Posted By: LoneRanger
Is it a basestock issue, an additive issue, a driving style issue (habitual short trips etc), or a combination of all?
Mostly it's fuel. Really surprised no one mentioned it.
Is this Fuel Dillution or unburnt fuel getting past the Rings?
Originally Posted By: LoneRanger
Is it a basestock issue, an additive issue, a driving style issue (habitual short trips etc), or a combination of all?
Mostly it's fuel. Really surprised no one mentioned it.
Is this Fuel Dillution or unburnt fuel getting past the Rings?
Originally Posted By: Pablo
Originally Posted By: LoneRanger
Is it a basestock issue, an additive issue, a driving style issue (habitual short trips etc), or a combination of all?
Mostly it's fuel. Really surprised no one mentioned it.
IMO. Varnish is from smoke inside of the crank case. Lower flash point temp = more smoke.
Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
varnish is sludge flypaper.
It is also dye flypaper. Once I ran an orange colored oil and it turned the varnish orange.
Originally Posted By: LoneRanger
Is it a basestock issue, an additive issue, a driving style issue (habitual short trips etc), or a combination of all?
Mostly it's fuel. Really surprised no one mentioned it.
IMO. Varnish is from smoke inside of the crank case. Lower flash point temp = more smoke.
Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
varnish is sludge flypaper.
It is also dye flypaper. Once I ran an orange colored oil and it turned the varnish orange.
Originally Posted By: Bayman
Originally Posted By: Pablo
Originally Posted By: LoneRanger
Is it a basestock issue, an additive issue, a driving style issue (habitual short trips etc), or a combination of all?
Mostly it's fuel. Really surprised no one mentioned it.
Is this Fuel Dillution or unburnt fuel getting past the Rings?
Both, mostly unburnt hydrocarbons, but raw fuel as well and the effect it has on oil.
Originally Posted By: Pablo
Originally Posted By: LoneRanger
Is it a basestock issue, an additive issue, a driving style issue (habitual short trips etc), or a combination of all?
Mostly it's fuel. Really surprised no one mentioned it.
Is this Fuel Dillution or unburnt fuel getting past the Rings?
Both, mostly unburnt hydrocarbons, but raw fuel as well and the effect it has on oil.
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