Engine oil flushing

[gdunc]

My commuting wagon is in need of some fresh oil as the current lot has gone a bit black after around 6k. I'm tempted to give it a good flush and was wondering if there's any recommendations?

Have heard that Wurth flush is effective on bikes - will this do a job on a car?

Car is a '97 A3 1.6 by the way.

Cheers

Dunc

[JWB]

I use some cheaper named oil (Castrol, Duckhams etc) oil, put it in the engine and run it for a while, then drain.

John

[megamaniac]

Wurth flush will do the trick no problem i tend to go for a steady drive for 20 minutes with it in before draining.
Paul

[mave]

megamaniac said:

Wurth flush will do the trick no problem i tend to go for a steady drive for 20 minutes with it in before draining.
Paul

Interesting, last time I did a flush I started driving round the block, and then remembered that the instructions talked about idling (ie no load on the engine) rather than driving. I curtailed my journey and let it idle, I wonder whether anyone has experienced problems driving with engine flush in? I thought it maight not provide the same protection as unadulterated oil?

[leorest]

As no oil change is 100% some of your flushing agent will be left in the engine for the following oil service interval. I would tend to go for changing the oil to the cheapest (BUT still to manufacturers spec. quality, viscosity etc.)oil and then run the car normally for say 3000 miles and change for some good stuff. You could even follow that up with another 3000 mile interval if it still comes out black.

[Howitzer]

If you use decent oil (None of that magnatec rubbish) and change it every 6000 or so then don't bother with a flushing oil, you are wasting your money.

Drain the oil when hot and leave to drip for half an hour or so afterwards, apart from that it's all you need to do.

Dave!

[thong]

dont drive a car with oil flush in it for god's sake!

[Avocet]

Your engine hasn't done that many miles but I've heard apocryphal stories of people who have used flushing oil in very high mileage cars and have suffered bearing failure shortly afterwards. I've heard that it can dislodge sludge and gunk in the oil galleries and on occasions, not all of it comes out with the oil change. After the new stuff is put in, some bit of gunk cruises round and gets stuck in an oilway and then starves the next bearing down the line.

If it was my car, I'd be inclined to call Audi and ask them what their position is. Generally, a modern engine properly looked after according to manufactuere's instructions should outlast the rest of the car!

[jchase]

The last time I used engine flush I got a hole in the fuel pump diaphragm of my car about 20 miles after the fresh oil went in.

[gdunc]

Thanks for info guys - much appreciated.
Think i'll hold off on the flush and give it some fresh oil and monitor the condition after a 2000miles or so.

When I bought the car 6k or so ago it had been lying a while and had black oil so i've only had one clean change in my ownership. Maybe this drain more of the bad stuff will pass through.

Dunc

[leorest]

Once the oil has gone black it will take a huge amount of changes to get it clear again.
I wouldn't get too anal about it and just make sure you keep on top of regular intervals with decent oil.
If you're after some work then you could always drop the sump and wipe it out, which would ensure that the maximum amount of crud is removed.

BTW I've seen a Rover P6 which has had oil changed every 3000 miles of it's life (less if the year comes up first!) It also has the sump cleaned annually. It's hard to see any difference between the old oil coming out and the new going in! Think this is a bit over the top IMHO I'd rather be driving it!

[grahambell]

You could try what I did with my MR2 and use the cheapest oil you can find to flush it (Asda had some at about £3 for 4 litres).

Just drained the old oil but kept the filter on, put the cheap oil in and took the car for a 20 mile run keeping to half throttle, then did full oil and filter change.

Several weeks on and new oil still looking clean.