Fwd: <VV> VV Sleeping Lakewood

[HallGrenn at aol.com]

In a message dated 4/7/2005 11:57:49 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
joeaverage at earthlink.net writes:

> Anybody have any preferences for a GOOD engine crankcase flush that 
> actually works?   It's been a while since I saw an engine with crud like 
> this.
> 

As some of the other guys and you have pointed out, a step process seems to 
work well for me with the least chance of damage to the engine.  Whenever I 
would take on a "new" old engine that seemed to be crudded up I would remove and 
clean the same things you have--the top cover, vent tube (amazing how much 
crud can "condense" in a vent tube), valve covers and oil pan.  The heavy gray 
crud in the pan and bottom of the valve covers WAS mostly lead from the old 
leaded gas.  After that I just ran clean oil with an oil detergent additive (not 
one that restores compression, but one that just states that it cleans).  The 
detergents in the oil and detergent additive gradually softened the baked on 
crud and dissolved it without blocking oil passages etc.  I have never used 
solvents because they aren't lubicants and I didn't want to add to the wear of the 
bearings etc. after the abuse of too few oil changes.  Over time (weekly then 
monthly changes) the crud always softened and gradually disappeared.  The 
worst engine I have had was actually a 3.0 litre Buick V6 that, after the above 
treatment went another 100,000 miles.  Of course Corvair run forever.

Bob Hall
Group Corvair
'64 Brier
'65 Corsa
2 '68 Monzas