Noticed some black stuff in engine while doing valve adjustment....

akashyap · Mon, Dec-20-2010, 07:20:44 AM

Hey guys I was happily performing a valve adjustment when I noticed the following..... I tried to clean the first spot I found this between cyl 1 and 2 but its at every other location as well.

Should I be concerned? Should I clean it off? Is this normal?

**deilenberger** · Mon, Dec-20-2010, 05:56:52 PM

I think you need to circle what you're concerned about. It may be clear as mud to you - but not to the rest of the world..

Ramp1 · Mon, Dec-20-2010, 06:09:05 PM

I think I see what he's talking about...the black sludge around the holes. Right?

I don't know if that's "normal" or not on an S54 but I've only seen that in older engines that were left too long without an oil change. In the case of an S54 this could be from using the wrong oil, or not using an OEM filter and/or leaving it too long.

deadlysyns · Mon, Dec-20-2010, 06:09:22 PM

I think he is talking about the outer black ring of gunk where the shim slot is.

hogger453 · Mon, Dec-20-2010, 06:12:27 PM

TY. For the first time I have no idea what I'm looking at.

DwebMasta · Mon, Dec-20-2010, 06:52:04 PM

oil turns black due to carbon... by-product of combustion. not every single drop of oil is drained during oil changes.... so overtime the head will look like the pics above.

akashyap · Mon, Dec-20-2010, 08:11:05 PM

Yes it is the black gunk around the holes in the top center of the pics. I cleaned it off best I could to see if it reappears later.

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

Mon, Dec-20-2010, 07:20:44 AM	#1
akashyap Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Age: 21 Posts: 660 Reputation: 0 Location: Austin	Noticed some black stuff in engine while doing valve adjustment.... Hey guys I was happily performing a valve adjustment when I noticed the following..... I tried to clean the first spot I found this between cyl 1 and 2 but its at every other location as well. Should I be concerned? Should I clean it off? Is this normal? __________________ CDV Delete, Auto Solutions 30%, Koni Yellows, Vogtland Springs, TopSpeed Exhaust

Mon, Dec-20-2010, 05:56:52 PM	#2
deilenberger Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 13,319 Reputation: 578	Re: Noticed some black stuff in engine while doing valve adjustment.... I think you need to circle what you're concerned about. It may be clear as mud to you - but not to the rest of the world.. __________________ Don Eilenberger AKA bellymeisterburgermeister and denilegiiiiiiiiiiiiibennnnegerieragher (but that's misspelled..) 2001 M-Coupe - TiSilver/Black - Das Boot.. 2002 M3C/6 - Imola Red/Black - SOLD 2003 525iT - Green/Tan - SOLD - replaced with Lexus 2006 Cayenne/S - Iceland Silver Metallic/Stone-steel Gray - Truckster. 2007 R1200R - Roadster, black mit/white pinstripes - the REAL BMW.. 2011 Lexus RX-350. SWMBO's new toy.

Mon, Dec-20-2010, 06:09:05 PM	#3
Ramp1 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 602 In the garage: '03 BMW M3 E46 '03 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: Toronto	Re: Noticed some black stuff in engine while doing valve adjustment.... I think I see what he's talking about...the black sludge around the holes. Right? I don't know if that's "normal" or not on an S54 but I've only seen that in older engines that were left too long without an oil change. In the case of an S54 this could be from using the wrong oil, or not using an OEM filter and/or leaving it too long.

Mon, Dec-20-2010, 06:09:22 PM	#4
deadlysyns Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5,037 Reputation: 0 Location: DFW	Re: Noticed some black stuff in engine while doing valve adjustment.... I think he is talking about the outer black ring of gunk where the shim slot is. __________________

Mon, Dec-20-2010, 06:12:27 PM	#5
hogger453 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 4,735 In the garage: '13 AUDI A3 '90 FORD MUSTANG Reputation: 0 Location: Los Angeles	Re: Noticed some black stuff in engine while doing valve adjustment.... TY. For the first time I have no idea what I'm looking at.

Mon, Dec-20-2010, 06:52:04 PM	#6
DwebMasta Unregistered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 829 Reputation: 0 Location: Vancouver, BC	Re: Noticed some black stuff in engine while doing valve adjustment.... oil turns black due to carbon... by-product of combustion. not every single drop of oil is drained during oil changes.... so overtime the head will look like the pics above. __________________ *2002 BMW M3*

Mon, Dec-20-2010, 08:11:05 PM	#7
akashyap Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Age: 21 Posts: 660 Reputation: 0 Location: Austin	Yes it is the black gunk around the holes in the top center of the pics. I cleaned it off best I could to see if it reappears later. Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk __________________ CDV Delete, Auto Solutions 30%, Koni Yellows, Vogtland Springs, TopSpeed Exhaust

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