Sewing machine...gone?!?
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 513
Likes: 0
From: South Central Texas Baby!
Sewing machine...gone?!? First and foremost, auto zone's running a deal right now on oil. I picked up 6 qts of German castrol for $37.xx after tax, plus free filter. However, I got my wix at carquest already.
Anyhow, I've had the notorious sewing machine noise since I purchased her in January (95,xxx miles). I picked up some seafoam for the crankcase. I've never looked before, but I had discovered upon removing the oil cap, a lot of built up burnt residue. It's been forever since I've seen residue, as I always sub-conciously clean under the cap and inside the neck during every change.
I bought the seafoam at wal-mart, poured about 2/3 of it in the crankcase as soon as I got into the parking lot. Fired her up, and by the time I made it out to the main road (large parking lot btw), the noise had completely disappeared.
Now, I've been a fan of seafoam for years, and have never seen such drastic results. I mean, the car actually pulls smoother as well. I don't think I've ever noticed significant differences prior to this mainly due to the fact that all of my vehicles in the recent past were all newer, and serviced by me exclusively within the proper intervals. Use of the product then was more for up-keep and peace of mind, versus out of necessity.
Has anyone else experienced anything similar?
Also, any thoughts on why normal valve train noise would disappear so rapidly?
Don't get me wrong, I don't miss it; and am very glad that at least for the time being, it's gone.
Anyhow, I've had the notorious sewing machine noise since I purchased her in January (95,xxx miles). I picked up some seafoam for the crankcase. I've never looked before, but I had discovered upon removing the oil cap, a lot of built up burnt residue. It's been forever since I've seen residue, as I always sub-conciously clean under the cap and inside the neck during every change.
I bought the seafoam at wal-mart, poured about 2/3 of it in the crankcase as soon as I got into the parking lot. Fired her up, and by the time I made it out to the main road (large parking lot btw), the noise had completely disappeared.
Now, I've been a fan of seafoam for years, and have never seen such drastic results. I mean, the car actually pulls smoother as well. I don't think I've ever noticed significant differences prior to this mainly due to the fact that all of my vehicles in the recent past were all newer, and serviced by me exclusively within the proper intervals. Use of the product then was more for up-keep and peace of mind, versus out of necessity.
Has anyone else experienced anything similar?
Also, any thoughts on why normal valve train noise would disappear so rapidly?
Don't get me wrong, I don't miss it; and am very glad that at least for the time being, it's gone.
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 513
Likes: 0
From: South Central Texas Baby!
I know I'm going to get flamed for this, and I really don't know where some of the members on this forum get their numbers/data from; but, in the past, Ive usually have gone upwards to 200 miles with it in the oil. No Ill effects. Pretty nasty come change time though.
I've only gone about 10 miles thus far. I might give it another 20 or so. I'm really eager to get the G/C in there anyway.
I've only gone about 10 miles thus far. I might give it another 20 or so. I'm really eager to get the G/C in there anyway.
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 513
Likes: 0
From: South Central Texas Baby!
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 513
Likes: 0
From: South Central Texas Baby!
Update
This morning, fired her up... no slap or sewing machine noise. Drove around adding another 20 miles, for a grand total of 36 miles. All is good, right?
Decided to go ahead and change the oil. Now, I checked the oil when I first added it...was a light amber color (still have/had 1500 miles left). Drained the oil, and looked like coffee...cool, did it's job.
The noise is back. Even with the fresh G/C in it, which shouldve helped kept the noise at bay.
Any insight?
This morning, fired her up... no slap or sewing machine noise. Drove around adding another 20 miles, for a grand total of 36 miles. All is good, right?
Decided to go ahead and change the oil. Now, I checked the oil when I first added it...was a light amber color (still have/had 1500 miles left). Drained the oil, and looked like coffee...cool, did it's job.
The noise is back. Even with the fresh G/C in it, which shouldve helped kept the noise at bay.
Any insight?
Trending Topics
Assuming the car was "full" of oil when you added the seafoam maybe the answer lies not in what you put in there but in how much. Try adding some more oil and see if it goes away, just don't over-do it.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 513
Likes: 0
From: South Central Texas Baby!
I thought about that as well. Old oil plus seafoam resulted in the check line being just above the full hashmarks. I still have half a quart left, might just pour it in and see if there's any impact.
Might also be based on the thickness of the oil, adding the sea foam might have thinned it enough to get to places that it isn't otherwise able to get to. Might try a thinner oil if the amount isn't the issue.
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 513
Likes: 0
From: South Central Texas Baby!
Well, I'm trying it out because it came highly recommended from this site.
I might go another route as far as brand and weight come next change though. Will see how this works out.
I might go another route as far as brand and weight come next change though. Will see how this works out.
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 513
Likes: 0
From: South Central Texas Baby!
lol...typical inlines, maybe those funky square headlights had something to do with it. I just got rid of my '06 tj unlimited. It too had a little clatter, but was still better than the mini-van engines they're putting in them today.
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
how exactly did u seamfoam ur crankcase just pour it into your oil fill and run it for like 50miles?
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 513
Likes: 0
From: South Central Texas Baby!
That's correct. As stated above, in the past I've usually ran it for apprx 200 miles before changing it. Some folks here will frown upon that though
