Anyone Else "Oil Flush" When Doing an OC?

[zray1]

If one really suspects there’s something lurking in the pan , either take dang pan off and clean it, or dump some kerosene down the oil fill access or down the dipstick holder.. When that’s all dripped out and evaporated, then add your new oil. Surely one of those two methods would satisfy your OCD cravings.

But doing nothing more than just draining hot oil has worked for me.
KISS.

Z

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Are you thinking of some earlier thread where this technique wasn't almost universally panned? I sure don't remember any.

I'm thinking of the underlying reasoning for the behavior rather than the technique. BITOG OC manifests itself in many different ways.

 

[ATex7239]

Some people are compelled to do things just because it is “more” or “better.” It cannot be as easy or straightforward as just change the oil, right? That is too simple. No way that’ll work. You gotta flush it all out. And let it set overnight. Then rub your belly and pat your head at the same time. Then organize your pantry so all the cans face east to get more sunlight. Then flush it out again… yeah, that’ll work now.

My favorite is the claim of cheap insurance as justification for mental gymnastics or obsessive-compulsive behavior.

 

[BAJA_05]

Just flushing your wallet.

 

[Kira]

May I make a suggestion to all those entertaining the idea of such a "flush"?

Change you oil + filter however you prefer.
FYI: I'm in the "warm oil flows faster and likely carries out a crumb or two more" camp.
Refill using any appropriate oil and run it for a minute or two.
Then just drain the oil into a clean vessel and transfer into clear plastic or glass bottles.
You'll then see how little the new oil was dirtied.
This should establish some measure of efficacy and necessity of such a "flush".

Use this oil for top-offs and/or your next oil change....no waste.

I'm not scolding or condescending here, (God knows, I've done some rip-roaring, stupid-ass things in my day) but I think maintaining tire pressures...glazing cleanliness...battery condition....brake inspections etc. is a better use of anyone's brain power, time and resources.

 

[Rogueman2016s]

Wasteful in my opinion

 

[gfh77665]

Totally understand it's not touching internals. Never mentioned that.
I did say he explains doing it to clear the oil pan and that was all I was asking about.

On a side note, arrogant and condescending responses similar to yours really make it tough for folks to want to ask questions at times. I get I don't have the same level of knowledge as you and a majority of other members here and so that is why I ask. I even use the search feature before posting. But sometimes getting talked to online like an incompetent child sure outweighs asking the question (just not this time as I thought it was a harmless question).

You specifically asked for opinions. I tried to offer mine, and I never had the slightest idea I would come of as "arrogant" and "condescending" to you. In fact, I was making a generalized statement to any and all who might be interested in this topic, that's why I mentioned it would not significantly touch the internals.

My only motivation is to help others make good decisions when I can. I don't want you or anyone else to waste hard earned money. Flushing is a textbook example of OCD behavior. I offered my thought and the reasoning behind it. Feel free to see things differently, I respect others views.

Keep in mind though, if you ask for opinions here you will get them all here, not just the ones you may want to hear. Lastly, don't presume others to be "arrogant" and "condescending" without more definitive proof. Feel free to look back at my overall content. I try to be polite, professional, and knowledgeable.

 

[fantastic]

I was under the assumption that since his daughters car was new & he was trying to purge the break-in loaded oil out of the oil pan for a UOA baseline he can get to sooner. In a bigger oil system that holds a lot more oil back would probably make more sense to do this but he was trying to rid the contaminates of break-in debris. This is certainly not 100% fault proof but an easy method to get what he could with an extra qt of oil used to flush.

I see no harm in that & it makes sense when doing the next UOA. I'd not be able to afford to do this myself though & I'd assume that even doing UOA it would avg out over time doing reg. oil drains w/o the added expense. I could see one doing this for the first or second oil drain while doing UOA but after that it's not something I'd recommend.

I'd say if I were to do it to use the same oil that will be used in the run but as you allude to if you have some other oil lying around then have at it. It would make more sense though in a new engine, w/same oil, when doing used oil analysis the first few times.

We see several members here that will go 500-1000 miles or less on a new engine to flush loaded oil & or get to a UOA baseline sooner so I certainly see no harm in using just 1 qt to purge some old oil out.

 

[demarpaint]

If one really suspects there’s something lurking in the pan , either take dang pan off and clean it, or dump some kerosene down the oil fill access or down the dipstick holder.. When that’s all dripped out and evaporated, then add your new oil. Surely one of those two methods would satisfy your OCD cravings.

But doing nothing more than just draining hot oil has worked for me.
KISS.

Z

I agree to a point. If I suspected a problem I might consider dropping the pan, depending on how involved it is, or use a bore scope and have a look. Regarding your kerosene suggestion, hard pass for me. If I had to choose between the two I'd waste the oil.

I agree 100% with your last comment. Doing nothing more than just draining warm/hot oil, change the filter, refill to the proper level, check for leaks and call it a day.

 

[dogememe]

Quite a few people do this. I've had customers ask me for an extra quart to pour through when they buy oil and oil filter.

I'd suspect it's a total waste of time and has pretty much no benefit while being a total waste of oil and money but to each their own... if it makes them sleep better at night, a few bucks is worth it.

 

[eljefino]

It's stupid, you'd be better off changing the oil 6/5 as often.

It shows a complete lack of thought-- the assumption is they're getting "dirt" out of the engine, the old oil is "dirty", that's why it's dark in color.

Maybe back when non-detergent oils were a thing, would you get "dirt" and sludge out of the bottom of the pan. Modern oil changes color due to its chemistry, but even that isn't something you can reliably count on.

If you have "dirt" in the engine, there are only two places it can come in, through the air filter or fuel filter. And the air filter is far more likely. If you want to obsess over your car, maintain the intake system well.

If you "must" flush, put ~2 quarts in so it covers the pickup, run the flush oil for 15 minutes at idle, then dump it. At least then it goes somewhere in the engine besides splashing off the bottom of the pan.

 

[duck__dodgers]

for anyone curious, here is a video on showing the oil when you change your oil 2x in one day + an unscientific experiment.

(obviously not a shocker as an oil change doesn't 100% drain the system---not advocating a flush though. might as well just change the oil every 3,000 miles instead).

 

[Blake1107]

You specifically asked for opinions. I tried to offer mine, and I never had the slightest idea I would come of as "arrogant" and "condescending" to you. In fact, I was making a generalized statement to any and all who might be interested in this topic, that's why I mentioned it would not significantly touch the internals.

My only motivation is to help others make good decisions when I can. I don't want you or anyone else to waste hard earned money. Flushing is a textbook example of OCD behavior. I offered my thought and the reasoning behind it. Feel free to see things differently, I respect others views.

Keep in mind though, if you ask for opinions here you will get them all here, not just the ones you may want to hear. Lastly, don't presume others to be "arrogant" and "condescending" without more definitive proof. Feel free to look back at my overall content. I try to be polite, professional, and knowledgeable.

Terrible assumption on my part and I apologize for that. Also, I apologize for stating my response in a way that was no better than what I was accusing you of. I appreciate your input!

 

[gfh77665]

Terrible assumption on my part and I apologize for that. Also, I apologize for stating my response in a way that was no better than what I was accusing you of. I appreciate your input!

Its all good my friend. It is SO easy to get wires crossed on forums, everybody, self included, does it. No worries at all.

 

[Vinner210210]

If I've got a car that I know takes a certain amount less than a 5qt jug (e.g 4.5-4.75qt after oil+filter change), I'll flush a little bit. Partially to get out whatever little may have settled in the drain pan due to lift angle, but mostly just so I don't have to hold onto a 5qt jug with a little bit of oil; I've already got sealed single quart spares even though none of my vehicles burn oil.

 

[Titan]

I think you'd be better served to position the vehicle with the drain at the lowest point possible in relation to the engine. Some of my cars that means having one side higher than the other, some it means to have the front end up higher than the rear. Then I let it drain until it's no longer dripping enough to care about (while I empty the oil into a recycling container, get it ready to be taken to be recycled, put the oil filter remover up, cut open the filter if I'm going to do so, etc.). Pouring in the fill-hole and having that oil bypass all the oil galleries, etc., and just draining out the drain seems impractical and not making a positive impact on the goal of an oil change: to replace MOST of the oil with new oil.

 

[Torrid]

I never have done a flush, even on cars that needed a bit of a cleanup. I just used Mobil 1 0w40 and halved the OCI until the oil looked like it didn't darken so quickly after an oil change. I'd be too concerned about knocking big chunks off and clogging something if an engine really needed a clean up.

As far as adding extra chaser oil, I don't think I even ever thought of doing that.

 

[Vitamin Yoda]

Most oil flush products are made of very mild solvents, alcohols, or both. They're an absolute waste of money.

 

[02zx9r rev2]

Not sure of exactly how to phrase the title, so gave it my best shot!

I have watched some Lake Speed Jr. videos recently and in one video he is changing the oil in his daughter's new Toyota. What surprised me is he did a step in the OC I have never thought about doing.

Before removing the old filter, he took a quart of fresh oil and poured it through to "flush" any old oil and contaminants that may have been hanging out in the bottom of the oil pan that didn't come out in the initial drain. Normally I change my oil when warm as the oil should have the majority of anything foreign caught in suspension (thank you BITOG for teaching me that), but I guess it could be assumed not all of the old oil makes it out, too. So his idea of using a quart of fresh makes sense, too.

I have done this step the last 3 or 4 OC's as I have a small stock of jugs with 1-2qts in them that I won't be using for future OC's, so "flushing" with them doesn't really hurt.

And so really I am just curious how many other BITOGers do this step as well?
Or just your thoughts in general on it?

What oil is it

 

[Jimmy_Russells]

I go one step further. I invested in one of those suspension durability test machines you see at car factories. So that way I can shake the bejeebus out of the car/engine while I pour a few extra quarts through it. I get at least .0000001% more engine life this way. Well worth the investment.