gunk in valve cover

There is massive gunk under the valve cover. I don"t think anything bad has happened yet. Should I remove the valve cover, clean it and risk more leaks and dislogement of the gunk into the oil system or use a solvent to dissolve it over time without removing the valve cover.
1967 Case 530 tractor.

i'd say clean it out then see what happens, if it comes back.

Please tell us some facts, so we can learn from this, and give advise. How long have you owned tractor? Type/weight/brand oil used? Brand filter used? How often oil/filter changed? Tom

(quoted from post at 06:11:31 06/10/08) There is massive gunk under the valve cover. I don"t think anything bad has happened yet. Should I remove the valve cover, clean it and risk more leaks and dislogement of the gunk into the oil system or use a solvent to dissolve it over time without removing the valve cover.
1967 Case 530 tractor.

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It would appear you already have the valve cover off so why would you NOT clean it now? I would and put a new gasket on and see want happens.
Don

That is what one gets because when he is to cheap to buy good detergent oil. As an older mechanic I have seen many engines with this problem. Clean it out the best you can then put in good detergent oil and run it for about 10 hours then check oil to see what it looks like if real dirty change it.
Don't get excited by all the naysayers who think you are nuts for putting detergent oil in it because it won't hurt a thing.
Walt

It is a 1967. It has about 4800 hours on the engine. I have owned it three months working on various parts. i don't know any of the oil history. the engine is stong. I changed oil with good 10-30w detergent oil and new filter.
There was no pcv valve but the valve cover head oil vapor vent line was very full of gunk. I don't have the valve cover off yet, but I can see inside and it is also gunky. I will look to see if I can get a new valve cover gasket and pull the cover and clean it.

Sounds right. Also, run a hot thermostat. 195 degree.

Gotta be careful when dislodging gunk. Yep, certainly scrape out what you can. But, as far as dislodging throughout the rest of the engine, can be a touchy situation because gunk can end up in oil passages, block them, and not good... Of course the best time to remove it is when is tore down, and then hot tank, but doesn't sound like you're doing that. Used to be a product on the market made just for that called Rislone, and maybe they still make it, but I've also rebuilt engines after Rislone was used, because it sure broke it loose, then blocked passages, and bearings ended up getting spun. I'm not saying or suggesting that Rislone's a bad product, because it sure does what it's supposed to do. The problem is that if its too gunked up, Rislone's going to dislodge it like is supposed to, and its going to end up somewhere, and spun bearings aint fun or cheap to deal with. Maybe pull the oil pan and see what it looks like up there. May not be so gunked up that couldn't try using a detergent oil as suggested.

I'm not going to tell you what to do, but whatever you decide on, be careful. Your money's not as easy to come by as it may've been not so long ago, and the last thing you need to do is have to invest it somewhere when that's not what you intended to do, at least not that way.

Good luck, be careful.

Mark

I agree with old dog below. Sounds like it either has a stuck open thermostat or to cool of one. Gunk is caused by condensation in the engine and oil thet never gets hot enough to burn it out. All the detergent oil in the world won't fix this or keep it clean. On the otherhand , have you ever seen a lawnmower engine (non-detergent oil) gunked up like this?? Exactly. They run hot and long and they stay pretty clean don't they?

Who puts non detergent oil in lawnmowers? why?
None of the owners manuals for anything that I
have says anything about "non detergent"