VZ 05 Engine Issue

[hanzao]

Hi Guys, I have been looking through the forums to find the answer but can't really pin point it so.

I have a 2005 VZ wagon (which is at the mechinics right now)

Story:
I have been having issues with this car past 6 months
It was making a funny clicking noise (replaced the water pump)
Then it had over heating issues (replaced raidiator & thermo)

It was running fine for a while then it started to over heat again when I wasn't moving fast (faulty water pump - warranty)
Now the car is making a bad ass tapping noise when I am accelerating and it goes down when idle. So the mechinics opened the engine up and the oil has gone charcaol. I have read on the net its called the "Black Death" and can be fix by oil flush every 3-5ks. Which i was hoping to do but the engine is still over heating as I drive it.

They are saying getting a 2nd hand engine would be the best solution so it going to cost me around $2800 engine & $1200 for labour.

Does anyone have any other ideas or recommend me a Holden engine specialist in Perth? Because I am trying to decide to fix it or savage or sell?

[impulsed_sv6]

well i dont want to alarm you but i had an old vt that haddnd been seviced properly and all the oil inlets were blocked with a charcol type substance and the big end bearing locators sheard of and the crank seized then snapped so my adivce would be constaly check your oil leves daily and check how clean it is and maybe once a week drop your oil and look in it to see if any charcoal type substance are in it

maybe also use a lower viscosity oil for a small time jsut to let oil tru and slowlt breke it up

[RiCeY]

Sounds like a sludged engine, common on alloytecs that have been neglected with oil changes.

You can try the flush but the risk is dislodging the sludge and blocking the oil pickup. Though you dont have much to lose if the engines cooked anyway I guess.

Take the oil cap off and look inside, there should be a shiny metal plate, if all you see is dark brown crap you can wipe off with your finger then you have a sludger.