Why to have your top end looked at!

[travelite]

Close, no cigar! The stuff in the oil, commonly known as detergent, hold the not so pleasant effluent in suspension within the oil. There is no expiration date on a can, gallon or drum of oil...the "stuff" is still there after years. True, the detergents dissipate after use however the oil change intervals are set to the conservative and most folks drain oil that still has all the necessary properties.

A non running engine will produce very little, if any condensation, that is all a result of combustion, blow by and the like. Starting an engine and not allowing it to reach full operating temperature when there is a moducum of hope that the moisture will evaporate, is perhaps the most lethal thing one can do.

Well, not quite the full story. There are 2 types of contaminants in used oil, soluble and insoluble. What you are referring to are the insoluble components. These are the particulates and abrasives that need to be lifted, emulsified, and filtered. The soluble components include acids: sulfuric, nitric, and others. These components need to be buffered and neutralized. The TBN, total base number, is the measurement of an oil's ability to neutralize the acids, and yes, TBN degrades. At some point the acids can do real harm to engine surfaces.

David Brady
'02 Blue Bird Wanderlodge LXi,
Series 60 Equipped,
Asheville, NC