We regularly see posts recommending non-detergent oil to avoid engine damage from breaking large amounts of sludge loose.I have never experienced this and have always put detergent oil in any tractor I buy. I never overhaul a tractor until I have worked it and am sure it needs an overhaul and not just adjustment. Or MMO in the oil to free stuck rings. This includes an engine where I drained out brown lumps, put detergent in, and ran it until the new oil looked bad. I agree it is better to pull the pan and at least scrape off the screen. I really think detergent oil is not that strong of detergent, and that oil passages rarely plug off in operation. They get plugged sitting for years as dirty oil settles. Non-detergent oil does not help that, but detergent may. So my question: Who has damaged an engine, or suspect they did, by using detergent oil? If the fear of putting detergent in these old engines is an old wives' tale, lets stop it. If there is real danger, I don't want to lead someone astray. Please deal with personal experiences here, and not "I heard of a guy in Toledo" because a lot of those stories are just that. Thanks, guys and gals.
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