20 weight oils for cleaning/flushing?

[cangreylegend]

I read some time ago that many of the old oil additives were principally 20 weight oils. I also read another article stating that "flushing" oil was also basically 20 weight oil.
Wouldn't these 5w-20 oils really help clean an engine as well? If not, why not?

 

[Ken2]

The cleaning done in an engine requires detergents and then dispersents to keep the stuff in solution. Motor oil, of any type, does not contain enough detergents to make much difference for cleaning an engine. Maybe some of the highest detergent oils used for several oil changes will make a difference, but don't hold your breath.

If you want to clean your engine, do it right. Buy Auto-Rx or Schaeffer's Neutra. Both work very well and do no harm.


Ken