Re: Synthetic oil caused lifters to go bad?

[Dave Weiss <dzweiss@worldnet.att.net>]

Daphne Gooding / John Jorgensen wrote:

> Please give me instructions on your "Bilstein" flush and the "Lister 
> short change."  I'll really appreciate this as soon as possible.
> I have put about 2000 miles on the Mobil 1 and just changed the filter.

Luis Marques <marques@ti.com> wrote:

> I don't think the lifters would go bad simply because you don't do the
> engine clean-out thing.  I believe that it's just a matter of removing
> all the sludge and gunk left behind by the dino oil.  A special engine
> cleaning treatment may remove must of the stuff quickly, whereas it
> would probably take 4 oil changes with the sinthetic oil to achieve the
> same results.  As the synthetic oil disolves the gunk from the engine,
> at some point, it will become saturated with this sludge and all the
> lifters will start making a rattle.  But after an oil change, they
> should be quiet again, untill the synthetic oil removes some more 
> sludge from the engine, at which point it would be time for a new oil 
> change.

The short-change was recommended by a lister (Eric) before I got on the
list.  Theory is the synthetic picks up goo from the engine which plugs
the labyrinth lifters, so you change the oil a couple of times before
the goo builds up.  It's probably in the archives, but basically you
just change to synthetic, change again after ~1000 miles, and again
after another ~2000 miles.  (Hopefully someone will correct this if
these intervals are wrong.)

Bilstein R-2000 is a recirculating detergent/solvent wash done by a
repair shop.  Some shops do it, many don't.  W/ Bilstein, it might be a
good idea to do a change after 500-1000 miles to get any residual out of
the engine.  I think the last step is a flush w/ a light oil, though. 
One Bilstein flush costs less than two oil changes on a V8 (w/ full
synthetic and filter, and assuming you change your own).

To me, it was good insurance, esp. given the timing of the lifter
problem on the last car.  There could have been some other cause... 
Changing the oil after they started clacking on that car didn't quiet
them down.

There was much discussion of oils around Jan-Feb of this year.  Might be
wise to start reading there-- and keep reading and reading, as little
was left unsaid.

HTH,

Dave Weiss
'91 V8 5-spd
'93 90 CS UnQ