and I can tell I have blowby

It's got 3k on the 10w30 Mobil 1 with synthetic filter. The oil was pretty dark. Not black, but almost. How bad does blowby affect the performance of this oil? I mean I get Mobil 1 for $3.75 a quart, so changing it isn't a problem... but if it's safe to run a darker oil this long, I will because I'm poor.

When I got this engine I didn't bother rebuilding the lower half, and it had about 80k on it (so about 85k now). Should I just change my oil when it's this dark? Or let it go to its scheduled 3,000 (or longer?) as long as it's full?

 

You get mobil one for $3.75 a quart?I cant find it any cheaper than $5 a quart here and thats not the extended performance formula.BTW,i currently have over 7,000 miles on my mobil one oil and am not worried at all.I will be changing soon though.

 

Call me stupid, but what is Blowby?

I have noticed a similar issue with mine. Previous owner ran Quakerstate. As soon as I got her, I switched to 10 30 Mobile 1, after about 2000 miles the oil is pretty dark.

thoughts?

 

how dark the oil is if I remember right from the enlightning ramblings of someone (maybe 57kid cause he rambles a lot about oil ) is that it doesn't mean much in the effect of performance of the oil.

but yeah on one of my cars I changed the oil to mobil 1 and less then 1000miles later it was turning dark.

and the 3.75 a quart sounds like the semi-synthetic mobil 1.
remember they make dinojuice, synthetic and the semi-synthetic stuff now.

 

Go to walmart and buy the one large 5 quart container and maybe an extra 1 quart to keep in the car as a spare. Usually its the best price that I can find anywhere.

 

I work at an oil change place, and I pay our dealer costs

For standard Valvoline I could change oil and filter for <$7. Or for Mobil 1 full synthetic and a synthetic filter it's about $20-25, I forget exactly. But it's a hell of a lot cheaper than the $65 we charge...




I'm waiting for more replies on the subject before I make any critical results.


Btw, blowby is the term for the exhaust gasses that "blow by" the piston rings and get into the crankcase.

 

How do you know it's blowby?

 

If this is the first time synthetic has been in an 80k lower end, you should at least change the filter, if not the oil as well. You're cleaning up the gunk left in there by the petroleum oil.

Dirty oil doesn't seal the rings as well as clean oil.

 

You are seriously the expert. I love it man! You're right, it's my first time with synthetic on this motor, previously using 10w30 for 500 miles after my cam swap. I went to synthetic exactly 3k ago (give or take 50 mi), then I changed the filter from a paper to a synthetic 500 miles ago at 2500.


Do you think I should change it now at 3k, then let it live to 4k or more next time around?

 

My breather smokes a lot when I remove the PCV.

 

Since you already changed the filter, I'd go ahead and change the oil/filter now.

To really quantify blow-by, you'd need to hook up a manometer. Most engines will put out some vapor when you disconnect the PCV.

 

Rockin five7! Thats likely my issue to. Time for an oil change!

 

Alright, I'll see about doing this at work tomorrow. Yay for an open to close shift, 8am to 7pm. Great way to spend my friday for $7/hr!!!

 

Think about the $$ your saving on oil/filter as additional pay

 

I know a few that worked for express lubes, they got the 5 finger discount rates. lol

 

HAH, my wifes cousin works for one, I know every time my father in law is out that way, he gets free oil changes...

 

Just curious but how confident are you with how well you are venting the crank case. Do you have a good PVC set up. And what air filter are you using. I know a lot of people probably won't agree with me here, but higher flowing air filters allow a lot more dirt in.

http://home.usadatanet.net/~jbplock/ISO5011/SPICER.htm

When I went from the holley foam air filter back to regular paper I swear my oil is staying cleaner.

 

horrible news

Long story short, I didn't have an oil dipstick until a week ago. It's not from a 92 Firebird, it's from something else. When I put it in, I assumed it was off, seeing as there was nothing on the dipstick itself... today at work I changed my oil... drained the plug and about 1.5 qts came out. I caught it all in a pan to make sure it wasn't just me thinking weird things. Well the dipstick wasn't off. I was seriously four quarts low, after 3k miles.

I'm leaking it, this was obvious to me from the stains in my driveway... But how fast it was leaking was not apparent since this is my first full-length oil change. There seems to always be a beading drop on the filter itself every time I look. Oil leaks from there. The filter gaskets are flawless, and the mounting surface is flush and clear of debris. It's not leaking from the filter itself. Now, I've marginalized the location of the leak- I have a few locations:

1) Oil Pressure Sender
2) Oil Cooler Attachment fitting
3) Rear Main Seal leak


I pulled the inspection plate from the flexplate/TC and discovered no oil on either of them, but it was wet on the inside of the plate as well as the bottom of it and the trans pan. Upon closer inspection, I definitely see wetness coming from the general area of the oil pressure sender, however I don't see if it's actually leaking. It seems too high to be a RMS, although I wouldn't rule out the RMS is probably old too.


Do you have any ideas????

 

I use a paper filter, and a brand new PCV with breather on opposite valve cover. But my oil was so dark due to the fact it was so low.

 

eh I would of got rid of the holley foam filter either way
least if is was the ol' triangle of death style filter

 

The triangle of death is an Edelbrock product.

 

lol oops
my mistake.

rx7speed <--- import retard






sad thing is I knew that it just didn't click
my dad had one once... he switch after an engine fire

 

you are correct, it was the edelbrock. It's been a while since I had it. I actually never had any problems with it, I just have to drive past a lot of dusty construction sites on the way to work so i went back to paper because I trust it a lot more.

Anyway Token, sorry to hear about that. I know you gotta be worried about any damage done. Were you getting good oil pressure at that low a level of oil?

The oil sending unit has always been a PITA for me. I can never seem to get it to not leak. But it's a very slow leak for me.

 

the oil pressure sender has never worked correctly since my engine swap. it reads off the chart when the key is on.

 

No, your not too much of a tard.
All of them make a triangle of death, Holley, Weiand, Eledcrap and a few no namers.

I do know the Accel which is the same filter as Amsoil does pass more dirt them paper but doesent bug me.