So the next oil change i’m going to do a test. I’m not adding any additives at the time of the oil change. . Instead, i’m going with 6 quarts of a good grade of synthetic high milage oil (valvoline) and a more expensive Wix oil filter that has a backflow valve to prevent the oil from draining to the bottom of the crankcase.
Maybe my mechanic’s house brand oil and filter is the problem. I also want to make sure I have the full six quarts of oil to start , as it always seems low, when it never burned/lost any oil before this problem started. It’s worth a try just to make sure.
Initial Results – I did the above, with Valvoline 5w-30 synthetic high mileage oil, and valve noise was pretty much eliminated. What got noticeably worse was the low oil pressure problem. Not only was there dry starts, the low oil pressure alarm would go off at every stop light, every low idle for the first 15 or so minutes of operation, when the car was fully warmed up. It was alarming so I though I would try another additive Lucas Oil High Mileage Stabilizer. It claims it “Eliminates Dry Starts, #1 Cause of Wear in Engines”
This stuff is very very thick, but it says it is for “today’s electronically controlled gasoline engines.”
So here we go!
Odometer 188,361 – Out in Lucas High Mileage Oil Stabilizer into warm engine as specified. There was no low oil pressure at re-start and no valve noise. Interested to see what happens when it is cold starting.