Does my engine have a chance of living?

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Ewhitaker0020

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I've attached a couple of photos of what I found while replacing my intake manifold. It seemed to be a bunch of carbonization especially around the heat crossovers. There's were loose 1 inch chunks of the stuff just sitting around along with the caked on pieces.

In the last pic you can see that I was able to get everything cleaned up. I removed the valve covers and they're in decent shape with very minimal to no crud in that area.

My question is what is my next step? I'm thinking I need to pull the oil pan and make sure there isn't a bunch of crud in the pickup screen before I get everything back together and start the truck. Is there anything I can do to help make sure the oil galleys aren't plugged? I cannot afford to replace or rebuild the engine at this time as this is a secondary vehicle and we're trying to pay off debt. I've heard of top end oiling kits to make sure there's no issues with oil starvation.

What do you recommend I do?

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Snoots

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You're better off pulling and hot tanking the whole thing. All engines eventually die.
 

Ewhitaker0020

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You're better off pulling and hot tanking the whole thing. All engines eventually die.

I don't have the money or the means to do this right now.
 

Snoots

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Put it back together. Change the oil and filter. Run it for 5 minutes. Change the oil and filter again.
 

shiftpro

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I would at least pull the oil pan and oil pump. Open the pump too, it's easy. Then follow Snooter's advice...
 

1987 GMC Jimmy

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Holy cow! Are you running a PCV valve? If so, do you check it at regular intervals to make sure it’s working?
 

Ewhitaker0020

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Holy cow! Are you running a PCV valve? If so, do you check it at regular intervals to make sure it’s working?

The PVC valve seems to be working. It rattles when I shake it and I can blow air through it fine.
 

Ewhitaker0020

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I would at least pull the oil pan and oil pump. Open the pump too, it's easy. Then follow Snooter's advice...

I plan on pulling the oil pan and possibly replacing the oil pump and screen just to make sure.
 

Craig 85

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My last truck had a lot of sludge in it when I bought it. It developed a lifter tick at cold starts when the temp was below 60 degrees. I ran 1 quart of Marvelous Mystery Oil for 2 oil changes and the tick went away.

I would maybe run the Chevy 2 -Qt oil filter for a couple of rounds to pick up more gunk.

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87_stepper

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I've attached a couple of photos of what I found while replacing my intake manifold. It seemed to be a bunch of carbonization especially around the heat crossovers. There's were loose 1 inch chunks of the stuff just sitting around along with the caked on pieces.

In the last pic you can see that I was able to get everything cleaned up. I removed the valve covers and they're in decent shape with very minimal to no crud in that area.

My question is what is my next step? I'm thinking I need to pull the oil pan and make sure there isn't a bunch of crud in the pickup screen before I get everything back together and start the truck. Is there anything I can do to help make sure the oil galleys aren't plugged? I cannot afford to replace or rebuild the engine at this time as this is a secondary vehicle and we're trying to pay off debt. I've heard of top end oiling kits to make sure there's no issues with oil starvation.

What do you recommend I do?

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Clean up exactly like you did buy some 15-40 and a few filters mix the 15-40w with some diesel 50-50 run at idle for a couple minutes pull the filter cut open, drain repeat twice I have had great results also used ATF which is high in detergents.
 

shiftpro

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My last truck had a lot of sludge in it when I bought it. It developed a lifter tick at cold starts when the temp was below 60 degrees. I ran 1 quart of Marvelous Mystery Oil for 2 oil changes and the tick went away.

I would maybe run the Chevy 2 -Qt oil filter for a couple of rounds to pick up more gunk.

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Thanks I've been trying to source out these large filters.Auto parts store no help... they want to know color the vehicle is...!
 

Snoots

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Just for good measure, put a BIG magnet on the oil filter.

Go and buy yourself a magnetic drain plug too.
 

PrairieDrifter

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I’ve seen this buildup on a lot of old motors. It’s probably a tired motor but get it cleaned up as best you can and run it for as long as it’ll go

The crossovers are a VERY common buildup area. Seen it a hundred times easy, as long as the valves and their runners aren’t too bad they should clean up with some solvent.
 

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