We used to see that type of goop when the owner/driver used high ash content multi-vis oil (typically 10W40) in conjunction with short cold drives & long oil change intervals. We would find this junk in the crankcase as well as the valve cover(s). Usually the first symptom was leaky VC gaskets. You run the risk of this junk plugging the oil pump pick up and starving the engine for oil. By the time the gauge dives (or the the dash light comes on), it is too late. Be careful & through in your cleaning. Good luck.

Car is idles well and steady. I just put in a new water pump and thermostat so the engine temp is where it should be.


Can't do any driving because of too much blue smoke. I need to do the valve stem seals first and hope that cuts the smoke enough to bring it to the steam clean place and clean out the underside and engine bay. I hate working in a dirty engine bay.


When I drained the oil pan as part of the oil change, I stuck a angled 1/4 inch wide piece of metal that was about a foot long and carefully tried to pick around to see how much gunk I would find. I didn't find any. My vote is still on the "fix your leaky valve seals" Snake Oil from the auto parts store that caused all the gunk. It was just too excessive to even be a part of a cold or unused engine. I've seen engines from cars that have been sitting and they didn't even come close to the thickness I found in mine.


Once the car is able to be driven, I'm actually going to use some small art tools and some powered suction to get as much of the gunk out as I can. That along with some more oil changes that include a quart of ATF should do the trick. I update after the valve stem seals are replaced. It will be my first crack at a stem seal job. I sure hope the don't get a power black out in the middle of it and I lose the power to my air compressor. I'm using the leak down kit method to keep the valves from falling into the cylinder- yikes!

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03 CLK430 Cabrio 211K Pweter Silver/ Oyster Leather
90 300SEL 214k Pearl Black/ Alto Grey/Black Leather

Prior: 85 190E, 88 300TE, 89 300TE, 90 300E 2.6, 90 300TE, 92 300E 2.6, 91 and 93 300SL, 87 Ferrari Mondial Cabrio