Black sludge/deposits under valve cover - problem?

[YachtTech82]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but I just found this on my engine today. Pulled the V/C's to replace the gaskets and was surprised to find the gooey oil sludge under BOTH sides. I checkthe valve stems and they all felt tight. Engine performance seems find though I have not driven the trick a ton yet, just bought it 3 weeks ago. I did an oil change a week ago and poured seafoam in and ran it for several hours before draining, could this be a result or do I have something much worse going on? I have no clue when the oil was changed from the last owner or before, he said he never changed it. To me it looks like lack of oil changes, it isn't hard and wiped up easily.

 

[IDIBOBS]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but I just found this on my engine today. Pulled the V/C's to replace the gaskets and was surprised to find the gooey oil sludge under BOTH sides. I checkthe valve stems and they all felt tight. Engine performance seems find though I have not driven the trick a ton yet, just bought it 3 weeks ago. I did an oil change a week ago and poured seafoam in and ran it for several hours before draining, could this be a result or do I have something much worse going on? I have no clue when the oil was changed from the last owner or before, he said he never changed it. To me it looks like lack of oil changes, it isn't hard and wiped up easily.

When I first got my truck the passenger side was just like this. The truck sat for 3 or so years before I got it. I pulled valve covers for 2 reasons. New seals and I had a small knock. Turns out the valve guide was bad on that cylinder and 3 valve seals were bad. So heads come off. Got new valve guide in. One new valve set, valve job and hand lap and seals. It’s been great for years now. Seals you can do with the heads on.