Flushing oil

[Jamie Dundee]

Did a quick forum search but didn’t come up with anything. Does anyone use a flushing oil before an oil change? Any downside to using one or is it just snake flushing oil?

 

[peteK]

Something that people used 50years ago but not now.

 

[[178529]]

Not recommended by most car engine builders anymore. On a very dirty engine the high detergent content can dislodge deposits that can then block oilways.

I rebuilt a rover V8 that had been destroyed by crud from the valley between the banks getting into the oil pump. It had been run with flushing oil.

I would just change oil and filters regularly and use the best oil you can within the spec required.

 

[lynallbel]

I have only ever seen one firm use it, and that was because they ran their vans way past their normal oil change intervals, predictably they always had a van in for a new engine, and even then it was a cheap refurb which were so carp they quite often did not make it out the workshop door before failing!
I have only ever had to flush one engine that the oil hand congealed, and for that I used a pint of derv in the oil drove a few miles then changed it, that was many years ago and i still own the car.
A pint of derv before an oil change was also the trick to free up sticky hydraulic tappets, again this was over 20 years ago.

Regular oil changes are the answer.

 

[kashurst]

No, waste of time or money unless you have inadvertently got water or diesel into your oil.
Modern oils will keep your engine clean.

 

[Assassin]

Everybody has already said it? waste of time with modern oils with their high detergency and dispersant additives.

Only time it should really be used is if your engine has a problem and you would change the oils and filters then add it, then change the oil again.

 

[Jamie Dundee]

Excellent, thanks gents