How often do you flush?

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Never. A series of short OCIs will do the same job and be more gentle on the engine.

When I got my truck, my dad had been doing 6K+ mile intervals on conventional oil. The dipstick had a nice layer of varnish on it and the oil never got changed before turning pitch black. After about 3 oil changes at 3K mile intervals, I noticed the varnish on the dipstick was completely gone. The oil also started to drain very clean...not black. I think just doing short OCIs was enough to undo what my dad did, though I've never had the valve covers off or anything to get a really good look.
 
My VW 1.8T gets valve cover buildup even with OCIs less than 4K miles using good synthetics so I use the Amsoil flush maybe once every 4 oil changes. This is a special case engine...I don't flush any other engines.
 
I always do 5000km OCIs, But i just thought that by flushing every other change using Seafoam, or Amsoil, Motul, i was keeping my engine clean. Now by this post i started i am realizing that the oil i buy is good enough on its own.

No more flushes before OCIs.

And for the record i have never used any kind of oil additives in my cars.
 
I can't ever remember using an engine flush. From time to time I will use MMO but don't consider it a flush. The routine I use for oil changes, and tweaking with MMO keeps my engines clean and never in need of a flush. JMO
 
I've changed the oil twice now in my Liberty since I've bought it back in September 09. Never flushed. I don't think it's needed to be honest. Drain, remove oil filter, let drip overnight, new filter, new oil. That's it, that's all.
 
Used unknown beater? I've Auto-Rx'd all of them. Haven't used a flushing (solvent) agent since my early-Bitog life. But that was back when I knew it all.

I might give the new Amsoil product a try just as a product familiarity thing.

Otherwise, I tend to hold that unless you've got a problem, there's no reason for anything other than motor oil.

If you have a problem, you need to ask what you're doing wrong (too long ..whatever).
 
ARX is the only thing other than oil I've ever put in any engine.
The whole idea of a solvent flush is scary.
If the engine doesn't need it, you're just creating excess wear.
If the engine does need it, how much built up garbage are you liberating into the engine's oil, which you won't be able to eliminate with a single drain?
What are the chances of something that cannot be bypassed, like the oil screen at the pickup or the oil returns from the head being plugged?
Bad idea, IMHO.
 
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