Motor Flush

[hattaresguy]

Motor flushes are a great way to ruin a perfectly good running older engine.

If the engine runs fine and has good oil pressure just run it. Change the oil at reasonable intervals with a good quality oil and filter. That alone will clean it up over time.

Don't fix it until its broke!


If this motor has a timing belt your efforts are much better spent on replacing it.

 

[TechnoLoGs]

Originally Posted By: Garak
Originally Posted By: Clevy
In the past weeks I've seen this whole transmission fluid in the crankcase nonsense almost daily,yet up til now it wasn't ever brought up.

I agree. This silly idea has been cropping up a lot lately. Of course, my dad's uncle's neighbour's mechanic did it in the day, so it must be a good idea. Yeesh.

What bottle of ATF recommends it be used as an engine flush? What factory service manual calls for ATF in the crankcase? What motor oil label recommends the addition of ATF to enhance cleaning properties? Oh, that's right. Pennzoil got rid of the wax and replaced it with ATF. That must be it.

It may be flawed logic, but I think the reason people put ATF, kerosene, diesel fuel in crankcases etc is because ATF/kerosese/diesel fuel.. cleans!!!

 

[antiqueshell]

Originally Posted By: TechnoLoGs


It may be flawed logic, but I think the reason people put ATF, kerosene, diesel fuel in crankcases etc is because ATF/kerosese/diesel fuel.. cleans!!!



Yes, it IS flawed logic.

ATF generally doesn't have enough detergent to effective clean any carbon build up but it sure does REDUCE the lubricating properties of a good oil INCREASING WEAR..

Harsh solvents kero/diesel in the crankcase can also cause serious wear in a very short time.

NEVER add these to the engine oil!

 

[Garak]

Kerosene and diesel do have certain cleaning properties. After all, some flushes aren't much more than those. ATF though?

The kerosene and diesel might clean a little too quickly, and I recommend people avoid fast flushes unless they have nothing to lose. ATF, though, dilutes the detergents and dispersants in motor oils rather than enhancing them.

 

[bladecutter]

Originally Posted By: TechnoLoGs
It may be flawed logic,


Anything posted by any of your different usernames includes flawed logic.

Originally Posted By: TechnoLoGs
but I think the reason people put ATF, kerosene, diesel fuel in crankcases etc is because ATF/kerosese/diesel fuel.. cleans!!!


And this post of yours is no different.

BC.

 

[Clevy]

So what exactly is in transmission fluid to support the whole cleaning claim.
I've heard and read anecdotes about sticking lifters getting quiet and misc other stuff and to be honest I can believe that the thinner transmission fluid did help free up a sticky lifter,but for anyone to believe that a fluid with limited(if any)additives known for their detergent capabilities to actually clean a crankcase is absolutely absurd.
And for those that have done it I beg them to please pull a valve cover and take pics of the before and after so you can see with your own eyes the futility of the effort.

 

[Virtuoso]

I would do nothing but change the oil on schedule and run it into the ground.

 

[05LGTLtd]

I'd be tempted to buy a quart of MMO, and run half a quart with Pennzoil Conventional, Mobil Super 5000 10w30, Rotella T5, etc. (you could go up a grade since your thinning it with the MMO) Keep an eye on oil level, when it burns down add the other half quart. When that burns down then drain and refill with straight SN 5w30 of your choice. You can then decide what interval after you see what degree your thin sludge layer has been effected.

 

[05LGTLtd]

Also I'd pull the alt cable, battery connections and every ground you can locate and clean them up for good measure. Then put a meter on the battery to see what your charging level is running.