So, the engine I thought was ready to go after new rings that was in a bug I picked up a few years ago harbored some surprises.....

Some pleasant, such as everything being balanced. Oh, and the cam is great.



Except the issue of not being able to achieve proper valve lash no matter what I did after getting the engine reassembled having reringed the pistons.

So it was time for a full tear down to remedy this issue.



Well.....I see the problem. What lifter? I can push that prick right out the bore backwards!

So....maybe it's just the lifters that are junk. The cam looks......no wait...



Well, at least I can reuse the b-....son of a bitch!

Looks good, I hear people are having problems with cams due to buckle content? In the oil being low, especially for old engines. I tore the intake off mazdaspeed 6 today to find the egr port completely clogged shut as well as so much carbon built up on the valves/ intake runners that they were almost 1/2 blocked up. Some carb cleaner and a walnut blast they look new and it runs sooo much better.

ZDDP content is the supposed issue.

I'm not sure why zink turned into buckle

Ouch... that hurts.

Some non-synthetic diesel oils still have a pretty high level of zinc in them.

i tore down a 305 Chevy I took out of an 84 LeSabre (RWD) once. The owner had complained that the engine 'just started knocking' and then locked. They junked the car even though the body and interior were like new. Anyways, I got the engine of the car and started tearing it down. I pulled the intake off first... The entire cam/pushrod galley was filled with BLACK DIRT. I spun the engine over on the stand and pulled the oil pan off... yep, you guessed it, fine black dirt. Come to find out after the fact, the original owners never changed the oil. Ten years of them just adding oil whenever it was low on the stick!

Posted by Samurai i tore down a 305 Chevy I took out of an 84 LeSabre (RWD) once. The owner had complained that the engine 'just started knocking' and then locked. They junked the car even though the body and interior were like new. Anyways, I got the engine of the car and started tearing it down. I pulled the intake off first... The entire cam/pushrod galley was filled with BLACK DIRT. I spun the engine over on the stand and pulled the oil pan off... yep, you guessed it, fine black dirt. Come to find out after the fact, the original owners never changed the oil. Ten years of them just adding oil whenever it was low on the stick!

I needed a valve cover once so I went to the you pull it yard, found a 74 amc hornet and removed the valve cover, the engine was so clogged up with nasty oil it turned into a solid to the point you couldn't even see the rocker arms/valve springs. And that is why I change my oil every 3k.

We had a girl tow her Accord back to Walmart claiming we destroyed her engine. I did the upper bay on it so I started asking questions. She said when she got home her boyfriend (think douche) took off the "oil lid" and couldn't see oil. So thinking we hadn't put oil in it he proceeded to go to Advanced Auto and got 2 of the 5 qt jugs and filled it till they could see oil and started it up. See if you can guess the result. Explained to them why they were idiots, showed them where the dip stick was and walked away. Never heard another word from em.

Posted by sleeperspirit I needed a valve cover once so I went to the you pull it yard, found a 74 amc hornet and removed the valve cover, the engine was so clogged up with nasty oil it turned into a solid to the point you couldn't even see the rocker arms/valve springs. And that is why I change my oil every 3k.

Quaker State.

Posted by jeepdave Quaker State.

i wouldn't put Quaker State in a lawnmower!
Valvoline Max Life 10W-40 in Beretta
... (tear) Royal Purple 10W-40 in the Cobalt SS (when I had it).

not really sure what the Cruze takes for oil to be honest.

Posted by Samurai i wouldn't put Quaker State in a lawnmower!

Same here!

I've always used Castrol in everything. Ran Mobil 1 in the 325is for a while but found it was sludging up a bit.

Posted by Samurai i wouldn't put Quaker State in a lawnmower! Valvoline Max Life 10W-40 in Beretta ... (tear) Royal Purple 10W-40 in the Cobalt SS (when I had it). not really sure what the Cruze takes for oil to be honest.

So true. I was given a 76 Trans Am that had been getting QS its entire life. I pulled the engine apart and it was like cake.

Posted by bandi Same here! I've always used Castrol in everything. Ran Mobil 1 in the 325is for a while but found it was sludging up a bit.

the warranty called for Mobil 1 in the Cobalt and the Cruze... sorry, no.

I run autozone synthetic in my wifes BMW, it has 250k and seams to be working good. I change it every 5k and it's still very clean looking.