Cheap Oil for Multiple Flushes

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My mechanic buddies have environmentally friendly waste oil heaters in their shop. So they are more than happy about folks bringing them as much used oil as possible, as it keeps them warm and toasty all winter long.
 
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My mechanic buddies have environmentally friendly waste oil heaters in their shop. So they are more than happy about folks bringing them as much used oil as possible, as it keeps them warm and toasty all winter long.




What happens to all the heavy metals in the oil? Do they end up in the air?
 
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The problem that I can foresee is that the flushing oil's capacity to suspend contaminates would be quickly used up.


The oil's capacity to suspend contaminants would not really matter for a 5 mile flush. Basically you want to get everything rinsed off and then drop it out the bottom of the pan. (In that respect, I guess I should remove the Fram Sure Drain for a quick drain.) But I don't think the oil would degrade that quickly.
 
Every once in a while i will run a very short interval oil change as a "flush" which i dont think is a bad idea. Usually its the result of my experimenting with an oil, not being happy with it, and dumping it after 1000 miles.

Having said that, if doing it at every oil change, i would be curious if any benefits done by rinsing would be outdone by the added stress of 2 dry-cranks every oil change instead of just one.

If you have an oil that you like and you stick with it, i would think just shortening your OCI would be a better all around solution that the 'rise' on every oil change.
 
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This isn't 1940. The emissions on modern waste oil heaters are clean.




Hey...I was just asking. No need to be snide about it.
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http://www.p2pays.org/ref/11/10502.htm
 
I wasn't intending to be snide, and apologize if it was taken that way.

But these new heaters run clean and hot. The techs love 'em, because the service managers don't turn them down to freeze their bones and save money.
 
If the oil's ability to suspend contaminants doesn't really matter, that then begs the question:
Why bother?
You can't really expect all the garbage to drain out of the pan, without the oil picking up a good load.
 
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Every once in a while i will run a very short interval oil change as a "flush" which i dont think is a bad idea. Usually its the result of my experimenting with an oil, not being happy with it, and dumping it after 1000 miles.

Having said that, if doing it at every oil change, i would be curious if any benefits done by rinsing would be outdone by the added stress of 2 dry-cranks every oil change instead of just one.





Added stress? Bet it's no greater than a cold startup. At night, the oil drains down to the pan anyway, and the flow is the same regardless. In both cases, you're relying on the AW agents deposited on all surfaces to protect them till the oil flows. Something tells me too much is made of the "dry" startup after OC.

My
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If the oil's ability to suspend contaminants doesn't really matter, that then begs the question:
Why bother?
You can't really expect all the garbage to drain out of the pan, without the oil picking up a good load.


Maybe we are talking two different things. I was more thinking of dispersency, which would be important during the OCI, but I don't think is important to the drain off. I would think any loose crud would rinse off like hosing dirt off a shovel.
 
I did this to an old diesel I bought that I did not know the history of the OCI's. I flushed 4 gallons (2 flushes) of cheap $.84 per qt 20w-50 thru it. It came out just as black as the old oil, so it must have picked up something. On the third try I left it in for 1000 miles and it did indeed look cleaner on the dipstick.

Who knows? It will probably not help pick up wear metals, but loose sludge and soot, probably.
 
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