I was checking my spark plugs one day and found some oil on the threads. Since the engine has 260,000kms on it I figured maybe I should change the valve cover gasket(I've owned the car since new).
While I was there I changed the timing chain tensioner as well to the new type.

I used zip ties to lock the chain in place so that the chain wouldn't jump by accident while I removed the tensioner.

My main question is how does my engine look for 260, 000 kms.?
The picture shows strange shadows and what looks like dents on the close up of the cam but in reality they are smooth as shown in the picture with the zip ties on the chain.

Is this engine considered clean or dirty?

 

Just interested; have you been using "high mileage" oil?

It looks okay to me from here, maybe more frequent oil changes and use full synthetic 5 W 30 oil.

 

Not high milage oil.. Should I be using it?
Mobil 1 full synthetic or Castrol syntec
5w30 since new

 

From here the color of the deposits look a bit like additives used in "high mileage" oil. No, don't use it; it expands the rubber seals then they wear then when you don't use it one time all the oil goes out the now blown seals. If you use it once, you must continue using it.

Looks like there are some darker/black maybe built up deposits, that's what I was meaning by more frequent changes. The light copperish color means that the oil is doing it's job soaking into the metal.

Picture of oily metal can be deceiving.

 

Awesome thanks for the input. I'll keep on doing what I am doing except maybe switch out oil at 50% oil life...

 

TBH the OLM system scares me a bit... I still dont think it would be safe to go from 100% down to the "change oil soon" message"..... with my driving habits I could make it nearly 15,000 miles before the car requested an oil change!!!! I stick to every 6 or 7 thousand and am using Pennzoil Ultra Platinum. I would recommend switching to this oil if you arent already using a quality synthetic.