Engine flush - how..?

[Fastra]

Changing the Astras oil at weekend and want to shove some engine flush in it, but how is it used?
Do you just change the oil as normal and add the flush and thats it, or do you leave it in for a few hundred miles and then change the oil again?

[Defcon5]

Firstly, why are you wanting to use an engine flush? Sometimes they do more harm than good

[V88Dicky]

Read the instructions mate. IIRC you add the flush to your old oil then run the car up to temperature, then change the oil as normal.

[Fastra]

Defcon5 said:

Firstly, why are you wanting to use an engine flush? Sometimes they do more harm than good

Its been burning oil recently so I was thinking this would clean anything out that might need cleaning.
I put some Wynns Stop Smoke in a few weeks ago and this made quite a difference, I'm also changing the oil make from Halfords to Vauxhalls own just to see if this helps too.

[Fastra]

V88Dicky said:

Read the instructions mate. IIRC you add the flush to your old oil then run the car up to temperature, then change the oil as normal.

Not looked at any yet and thought the instruction may help though.

[mini me]

I seriously wouldnt bother if i was you. It wont do anything but hurt your engine. think about it and ask yourself, why would anyone want to flush all the oil out of their bearings/surfaces and then run the engine with effectively no/very little lubrication. it will do nothing but harm.

[Fastra]

Just had a read of this:

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t...

and it seems to follow Defcon5s thinking - causes more harm than good.

[Fastra]

mini me said:

I seriously wouldnt bother if i was you. It wont do anything but hurt your engine. think about it and ask yourself, why would anyone want to flush all the oil out of their bearings/surfaces and then run the engine with effectively no/very little lubrication. it will do nothing but harm.

Thanks mate.
Its always had regular oil changes so I'll think I'll leave well(ish) alone.

[burnunit]

Dont do it mate, it wont help with burning oil and will most probably dislodge the gunk from around the engine send it into the oilways etc and blocking them up.

[bridgdav]

A mate of mine done this a few years ago..

Turned a slightly smokey Petrol engine..

Into

A Very Smokey, sounded like a diesel engine..

Washed off and out all the grime in the crevecies of moving parts that were keeping the noises at bay.

[HellDiver]

My housemate's Astra engine was ruined by a dealer ignoring his instructions and going ahead and doing an engine flush. Perfectly good 1.6 8v with 80k on the clock, not a rattle. Dealer flushed the engine, ruined the hydraulic tappets, sounded like a skeleton wking in a biscuit tin at startup. Engine then started burning oil, was scrap by 90k.

[triggersbroom]

I've always used a cheaper brand of the correct grade of oil. Drain old oil (keep filter on), fill up with cheaper oil and run for up to 50 miles.

Drain oil, change filter and refil with proper oil.

Using flushing oil is a no-no IMO.

Edited by triggersbroom on Friday 24th April 10:34

[Fastra]

I was actually thinking of the emission test as well really - its the MOT in a few weeks, so was hoping to try and get it as 'clean' as possible.

[E30M3SE]

FYI. If you look on the back of a tin of the Wynn's Engine Flush it says on it ' not recommended for engines that have covered more than 75,000 miles'.

[Fastra]

E30M3SE said:

FYI. If you look on the back of a tin of the Wynn's Engine Flush it says on it ' not recommended for engines that have covered more than 75,000 miles'.

Thats it then - definitely not doing it!



Cheers lads!

[prand]

If you have a smoky engine, then giving your engine a proper flush will more likely make it worse as it cleans deposits off already leaking seals.

Depending on the car, I would consider having the valve guide seals replaced, and any other seals that a particular model will wear.

I don't think there is ever a quick and easy fix for smoky engines. An "Italian Tuneup" (going for a drive and revving to max in all gears for several minutes) won't have much effect either - and possibly make things worse as it blows all the deposits out that were probably protecting leaky seals too.

Edited by prand on Friday 24th April 10:43

[daveco]

Had an engine flush done on a 330ci last week, car runs and sounds a lot better. The trademark bimmer-6 noise is back when pushing on too! Garage are BMW specialists so I assumed they knew what they were doing.

[Rarefied Brains]

triggersbroom said:

I've always used a cheaper brand of the correct grade of oil. Drain old oil (keep filter on), fill up with cheaper oil and run for up to 50 miles.

Drain oil, change filter and refil with proper oil.

Using flushing oil is a no-no IMO.

Edited by triggersbroom on Friday 24th April 10:34

Totally agree with this statement - the best thing to clean an engine these days is oil.

Secondly I always advocate shorter oil change intervals when the car in question is used 'spiritedly'.

Adam

[Darkslider]

Garage I worked in used to use Forte engine flush with every oil change, with no ill effects.

Engine flush doesn't 'knacker' your engine, it might just highlight if your engine is already knackered. Which isn't the fault of the flush is it?

Is also advisable to run the engine very gently for the first few minutes after topping up the oil to ensure everything is sufficiently lubricated. If you were really worried you could unplug the crankshaft sensor/coilpack or similar and just spin the engine over on the starter a little bit before firing up.

My land rover has done 140,000 miles and the oil is blacker than anything I've seen, so I'll be doing an oil and filter change with engine flush. If it starts rattling or smoking any more than it does now I'll let you know, however I'm confident all will be fine

[Fastra]

Darkslider said:

Engine flush doesn't 'knacker' your engine, it might just highlight if your engine is already knackered.

I think thats the main point really!
My engines already worn in some place (either piston rings or valve seals), so I guess flush might dislodge any sludge that's actually doing any 'sealing' - if you get what I mean.