I see all these commercials where they are scraping all that black muck out of the bottom and throughout the top portion of the motor. Sludge. All those mechanics and all related, how much abuse does the vehicle actually have to go through till the oil gets to be that bad? Does it take many years of neglect? or does it happen without notice?


Thank you!!

 

Way too many variables to guarantee a engine will sludge, but yes they do, some more than others ( Toyota, 2.7 Chrysler, etc. ).

Short cycle trips contribute, too high oil temperature, and yes, lack of maintenance all add to the problem.

 

Years ago, I worked at a place that had this old abused shop truck that had so much sludge the oil wouldn't drain.

That truck was severly neglected for a very long time...

 

i worked on the top end of a 350 out of a box truck where i used to work. the guys were bad about LONNNNG interval oil changes and general abused the hell out of the truck. had around 125000 iirc before they bent a valve. i spent a while with a screwdriver chipping off chunks for a while, then went on to a wire brush and some solvent to clean it up

 

My old 94 cherokee had never had the engine oil plug removed since it was new ( just oil top ups) when i bought it two years ago. there is about an inch of sludge stuck to most everything inside the engine. It still runs like a top though! 3xx xxx km on it.

 

some engines are also more prone to damage from sludge than others. (IH 300 something)