Oil Sludge after switching to synthetic oil

[Summer]

I'm new to this forum and find it so helpful..really enjoy reading the posts.

So, here's my issue...I have a 2003 Explorer 4.6 V8, 144000 miles, I am the original owner and am religious with maintenance, oil changes, etc...the last oil change the mechanic informed me he put synthetic in and it has never had synthetic. After about 2500 miles I notice the oil seemed thick on the dipstick so I immediately took it to another shop down the road. When they drained the oil it was sludge!! And the oil filter was filled with 'gunk' and sludge. All the oil was drained and regular oil put back in with a new filter.
I am panicking because I don't want any damage to occur to the engine.

Is there anything else I need to do?

I recommended bringing it back in after a couple of weeks to change oil again.

Could the PCV system be damaged?

Help!!

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[Fpo]

If the engine was super sludged up, the detergent in Synthetic could clean up enough to plug your oil filter. But I don't think that would all happen in 2500 miles.

I use a Amsoil Engine flush when converting people who have been using jiffy lube or similar for their Maint.
http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-produ...nd-transmission-flush/?GroupID=953&zo=1667299

Here is a 2005 Escape V6 with 103,000 miles on it.
Before

After

BTW welcome to the forum.

 

[swshawaii]

No oil expert here, but how is that much sludge possible if you were "religious" about oil and filter changes, dino or not.

Out of curiosity, what brand and viscosity conventional oil was used before the issue? What interval? Any additives used?

 

[Summer]

Thank you for the advice on Amsoil Engine Flush.

The oil used I believe was 5w20, I changed the oil every 2500-3000 miles; have every single receipt...which is why this is concerning. No additives were ever added. I took my vehicle to a local mechanic and switch to a new one after I saw the thick oil on the dipstick.

Could an engine become so 'sludged' up from age? It just seems like a 'coicidence' that the slug occurred after the synthetic was added.

Any more thoughts?

 

[swshawaii]

$25 on a standard UOA may be wisely spent money after your next oil change. Baffling. :scratch:

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/free-test-kits.php

 

[Fpo]

The photos above were from her running conventional oil ( she changed hers ever 3000 too)
Skip to about 1 min 50 seconds if you want to get straight to the part that talks about the difference between Synthetic and Conventional

 

[Fpo]

$25 on a standard UOA may be wisely spent money after your next oil change. Baffling. :scratch:

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/free-test-kits.php

Pay the extra $10 Blackstone charges for the TBN ( total base number) it lets you know how much life is left in the oil and how its holding up against the acids.



I offer Oil Analysis too for about the same prices as blackstone.

 

[Fpo]

double post

 

[swshawaii]

Summer, you ARE using an air filter, correct?

 

[Fpo]

Hopefully your filter was not this bad yet..."
I took this one off of a new customers car

 

[Sweersa]

^ Wow, how does one manage to do that?

 

[Fpo]

Using low quality oil for way longer than they should...

I ran a flush through it. and will flush it again the next time I change the oil. Then hopefully it will be mostly Sludge free.

 

[Summer]

The video was very helpful!

I do not drive highway..very rarely. And will get oil tested next oil change which will be soon.
Yep I have an air filter which is changed regularly...I check all fluids each week including air filter.

Very puzzling.....

 

[Sweersa]

Using low quality oil for way longer than they should...

I ran a flush through it. and will flush it again the next time I change the oil. Then hopefully it will be mostly Sludge free.

Hmm, this is making me re-think the oil I use. My dad and I have used
Valvoline conventional in our vehicles for years. We change oil every 4,000 miles or so.

If I switch to synthetic, should I change it every 2,000 miles or so until the sludge clears up?

 

[Fpo]

Hmm, this is making me re-think the oil I use. My dad and I have used
Valvoline conventional in our vehicles for years. We change oil every 4,000 miles or so.

If I switch to synthetic, should I change it every 2,000 miles or so until the sludge clears up?

Who knows if you have sludge all cars are different. People have different driving habits.

When I bought my 2008 P71 Crown Victoria , it had sludge build up., I ran it with our flush in it for 15 min. then put in Synthetic, I ended up running that oil for 6 months then changed it again.

 

[2000StreetRod]

thermostat?

I suspect that only driving short distances that do not allow an engine to reach and maintain normal operating temperatures is a major factor toward sludge buildup when using conventional oil. Also, a low temperature, defective or removed thermostat will cause the same results.

 

[Summer]

Should the engine be flushed? I don't want to cause any damage?

And/or should the oil pan be dropped?

I scheduled another oil and filter change for Saturday.