Hi all, i changed the oil yesterday in the van, there was a layer of black sludge on sump plate, about 1 to 2mm thick. I have six small, strong magnets on the bottom of the sump plate, not sure if this is relevant. The oil had been in for a 1000 miles, i change it every year regardless of mileage. Is this sludge normal?.
Dark grey sludge is steel and you can be pretty sure from the cylinders - was it magnetic? Was the 1-2mm while it was soaked in oil? Like grinding paste?
I think you'd find if you were to split the case you'd find a layer of sludge at the bottom. Prettty normal, I'd say.
Taint a Bantam or an A10 dya know, nor a C15 or A65 so it’s mucky. Ozziedog,,,,,,,,, A layer of sludge, we can only dream
If its black sludge, not metallic it is going to be from where oil is meeting combustion.. if its building up faster than before its meaning that piston rings are maybe not as good as new. Or that the engine is running rich so there is extra carbon around. There always is a buildup of carbon in the oil and sludge in the bottom of the engine anyway- I change my oil when the metal of the dipstick is harder to see through the dark oil - 6000 to 8000 miles (a bit under every year) , with a full flow filter system catching anything bigger. If you are not using the bus much then changing oil at yearly intervals makes sense. Shiny metallic sludge is time for a rebuild as the engine is starting to come apart by itself.
