oil sludge pics

[Gayle]

Thank you for posting this thread. Whit posted the first pictures I saw like this and then they disappeared or I just couldn't find them. There are occassions I want to post them in response to what someone says and it has been so frustrating to be unable to find them. If I were still the librarian in charge of bimmernuggets, this thread would definitely go there. Hint hint Jeff.

[NovceGuru]

Chocolate Pudding? Mom?

[rob101]

desert is served (yes it's stiff enough to hold up the spoon)

mmmmmmm I think i might buy some gelati and put it in my engine.

do you guys have any similar pictures of how the so called "lifetime fluid" affects the later bmw automatic transmissions?

[winfred]

nothing much to really see, auto trannys don't really make sludge unless they get water in them and then it's kinda like a cross between pepto bismol and cottage cheese, about all you see is the bits of clutch in the pan

mmmmmmm I think i might buy some gelati and put it in my engine.

do you guys have any similar pictures of how the so called "lifetime fluid" affects the later bmw automatic transmissions?

[rob101]

nothing much to really see, auto trannys don't really make sludge unless they get water in them and then it's kinda like a cross between pepto bismol and cottage cheese, about all you see is the bits of clutch in the pan

bummer, i once had a massive argument with a dude about the nature of lifetime fluid. he was one of the "bmw knows better than you" kinds of people.

personally i would change it every 100 000 kms, I can't see any lubricant lasting longer than that without a change of filter or water seperator.
what are your thoughts/experiences on the subject?

[BillionPa]

the lifetime fluid doesnt really turn into sludge, but it does turn black and varnish the metal.... thats bad. change it at the 60K mile tuneup if you want the tranny to last.

oh, quaker state seems to have the specs of real synthetic, but with a listing of noack volatility "<13%" it looks more like fake synthetic. unless they specify the exact volatility, and its much lower, i wont conclude otherwise. thats for the 5W40 "euro" formulation btw. The "Q" advanced synthetic line also has extremely high volatility and extremely low HTHS, which means they are not group 4/5 synthetics. also their tech data sheets are all screwed up, dont look at them for any useful info.

any oil with specs like that is 3000 mile oil MAX, and will cause more wear in those 3000 miles than a real synthetic with ester oil will in 7500. the exception seems to be pennzoil platinum, which gets low wear at up to 10K mile intervals (not severe duty driving). havent had anyone take apart one of those and check for sludge though!

[shogun]

Some of my japanese friends use now Chevron Dexron III Mercon in their E32 750 trannies. Bottle costs less than $ 2. So a change costs less than $ 20 DIY.
One is using it even in his Alpina B12 since some years, no problem at all he says.
http://www.ryderfleetproducts.com/cg...lm.0&oid=71809
The other stuff is pretty expensive here and a complete change on a tranny costs here at least 250 $. But of course, fluid approved by BMW.

Chevron says:

MERCON® (Ford Vehicles, 1980 – 1999)
Most Ford vehicles manufactured between 1980 and 1999 specify a MERCON® ATF. ATFs that meet DEXRON®-III requirements usually meet the MERCON® requirements as well.
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I am tempted to try that also next time. Just changed it with the approved fluid 2 months ago, but after 1 year I will change it to the cheap stuff from Chevron.
No big risk, I still have a spare tranny on stock.

[Milkboot]

It scares me



*going to bed with nightmares now*

[liquidtiger720]

I'm sure mine looks like that....once in awhile, I forget about oil changes(because I have my mind buried in books), and it gets stretched to 5k.

[RSK540iA]

I remember seeing the exact sludge on a 70's Volvo 164E my father had, but not in the sump, on his car the chocolate mousse flowed out the coolant system expansion bottle!

I think what you have here is a case of water mixing with the oil, be it through a cracked water jacket or leaking head gasket.