A question for the motor engineers and oil tekky egsspurts amongst us.

I always used flushing oils when carrying out oil changes on cars before I got my scoob, the amount of 5hite that comes out is amazing, even after fully draining down the old oil before adding flushing oil (+ non synth which I drain out after 10 mins).

Is it safe to use flushing oil on the Turbo engine (it is verrry thin) or is it a waste of time, money and potential reliability??

Over to you, chaps and chappesses.

 

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I don't think it is a good think for a couple of reasons.

Modern oils are very good at holding carbon particles in suspension. This is why the oil goes black, it just doing its job. Flushing oils were developed years ago to help remove the sludge that built up, before we had good suspnsion properties.

Flushing oils have very high concentrations of detergent. As an engine ages, things like bearing surfaces and hydraulic lifters will retain some tarry deposits on parts of their surfaces that are just out of tolerance. The deposits effectively make up the tolerance and seal everything.

If you wash these away, you can suddenly have an engine that rattles like a bag of spanners.



[This message has been edited by Pete Croney (edited 13 June 2001).]

 

For what it's worth, Renault advise against using flushing oils for some engines...

(Possibly their 3 litre V10 )

After hearing horror stories, I wouldn't ever use them on something that's had decent oil in it from day 1.

 

Petes right, if you use a good quality oil, particularly full synthetic and change it regularly you should not need to use a flushing oil or flushing additive. Flushing oil is crap as a lubricant and some of it will remain in the engine, mixed with your nice, new and expensive synthetic oil. JohnD

 

Dear Pete, Chiark, John,

Thanks for the advice. Looks like I can save meself a few squids when I change my oil.
Thinks... in approximately 75 oil changes time I'll have saved enough for decent zorst!!

 

Flushing oils have been known in the buisness to quieten down hydraulic tappets on a number of occasions.
Drain engine oil
Fill up with fushing oil
Run for approx 50 miles
Drain and replace oil/filter
This has been known to quieten down hyd tappets before........Ive done it 7 of 8 times on various cars!!!!
Cheers
Darren