Re: 3.9 sludge and knock.

From: Terrible Tom (SilverEightynine@aol.com)
Date: Sun Oct 22 2006 - 16:58:44 EDT


steveophonic@yahoo.com wrote:
> Hey! I haven`t posted anything for a while,and I just now joined the web-news
> thang!

Welcome back!

> Anyway,it has 20,000 miles on it,and the oil didn`t look like it had ever been
> changed. The last 1/2" of the dipstick looks like black plastic (is it??) and
> it doesn`t want to come off of there.

Thats a hardend tip to help the dipstick snake through the tube and into
the oil pan, don't worry about it.

> Other places on the stick looked like
> baked-on oil,so I cleaned it off with an SOS pad,and changed the oil with
> Mobil 1.

sounds like it hasn't had regular oil changes. The 238(3.9), 318(5.2),
and 360(5.9) engines are not known to be sludge motors, unlike other
engines (the 2.7 V6 in the Intrepid is a sludge prone engine) I would
recommend running a full can of sea foam in the crank case just prior to
your next oil change. Also - as per my own recent oil filter
experiance, I would suggest you change the oil filter halfway through
your oil service interval. (if you are going to run 4000 miles, change
the filter at 2000) - as it seems an engine with a little sludge build
up can cause an oil filter to clog up quickly. Had that happen to one
of mine after only a few hours at idle!

> The motor runs okay I guess (some of you may remember my experiences
> with my 99 V6 Dak from years back. This one isn`t much better,but it does okay
> with the AC off).

Stock 3.9s were never powerhouse engines in stock form... be glad you
don't have a premagger 3.9 :-P

> The other thing is a knock from the motor when fully warm,idling in gear. It`s
> kinda loud,actually. Sounds almost like my old 2.2 Lebaron with the wrist pin
> knock,but not as loud. I can`t hear it unless it`s in gear. Give it some RPM
> and it seems to go away.

This might be related to the dirty oil. If the lifters are dirty and
clogged - they won't "pump up" as well - and can cause clacking that
will vary with engine speed. Again, a can of sea foam will clean out
sludge and should free up sticking lifters. Marvel Mystery Oil also has
the same uses.

-- 
-------------------------------------------------------------
"The word, is no. I am therefore going anyway." - James T. Kirk

75 Honda CL360, 89 Dakota, 89 Dakota 4x4, 95 Dakota 4x4, 96 Neon, 01 Ram 4x4 http://members.aol.com/silvereightynine/ AIM & Yahoo: SilverEightynine



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