Operation Clean-up: 2001 Focus, Redline 5w30

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
I would have saved the Redline for the M5, and just thrown in something on sale in the Focus. That's not that dirty, it won't affect performance.

Just an experiment. And not an overly expensive one. I plan on ordering some of their 0w30 for the Expedition to try as well. Not sure what grade the M5 spec's. Will cross that bridge when we get there.

Conventional wisdom is the oil and filter is too expensive for this car, but the beauty of this is we are free to choose what we want to experience and spend our money.

I applause OVERK1LL for this trial

and waiting to see the picture(s) after 2-3k miles. If Redline does clean up whatever is in the engine I may try 0W20 in my '00 E430 with 128k miles.

 

[Falcon_LS]

This will be very interesting! Thanks for posting pictures and doing this.

Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
...that oil change probably cost 1/5 of what you paid for the car!


That's why his name is Overkill!

 

[addyguy]

Looking forward to seeing this play out.

That engine looks so small and 'industrial' compared to todays shiny, plastic-covered and polished DOHC mills!

 

[OVERKILL]

OK, she rolled 1,000Km today, pics are not too dramatic, so don't get excited, LOL!

 

[addyguy]

Looks close to the same. Maybe a teeny bit cleaner, but it's hard to tell....

 

[wander2039]

That must of been one abused Focus. We currently have my sister's 02 Focus with the SPI 91k.. they haven't decided what they're going to do with it almost to good to get rid of. Anyways it's had 1 year-10k oci's with PP and before that 6month/5k intervals with Castrol. And the majority of that time she drove it was in college alot of stop and go. It has been setting alot the last three years though. It's spotless under the valve cover. I didn't think that motor was capable to being dirty guess I was wrong. The only problem to date overall is the don't want to start some mornings.

 

[bustednutz]

I wouldn't get too excited about a Redline cleanup. I currently have 2000 miles into a Redline cleanup on my 96 Accord with 186000 miles. Its still as dirty under the cover as it was at the beginning. I'm gonna run it to its limit before I have to change it. Maybe the following change will help "flush" out anything that got loosened up. We'll see. But so far I'm not too impressed. But I do know that its doing its job protecting my engine.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: bustednutz
I wouldn't get too excited about a Redline cleanup. I currently have 2000 miles into a Redline cleanup on my 96 Accord with 186000 miles. Its still as dirty under the cover as it was at the beginning. I'm gonna run it to its limit before I have to change it. Maybe the following change will help "flush" out anything that got loosened up. We'll see. But so far I'm not too impressed. But I do know that its doing its job protecting my engine.


I saw some very pronounced results with it in the Expedition. The Focus seems to be a tougher candidate.

 

[Ben99GT]

Probably having a tougher time getting underneath/through the thicker buildup?

 

[electrolover]

man thats gross!!!
good luck!!

 

[OVERKILL]

I need to snap some new pics. The oil is hideous now. I need to change it.

 

[gotsnake]

Do you have new pics?

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: gotsnake
Do you have new pics?


Not yet, will try and get some today. Been too busy with ze BIMMER!

 

[addyguy]

Will be interesting to see if 'hideous oil' translates to 'it cleaned the engine'......loooking forward to this one.....

 

[OVERKILL]

OK, update (finally)

251,983Km:

 

[SLCraig]

That's gonna take a while....

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: SLCraig
That's gonna take a while....


Yeah, I'm seeing that. Results in the Expedition were a lot more dramatic. But there was a lot less to clean up.

This test will likely unfortunately be cut short. We will be selling the Focus soon. Don't have room for it since I bought the BMW, so it has been parked on the street.

 

[bladecutter]

I hate to ask, but with how easy it looks to just pop off the valve cover on that engine, why not just take it off, and get a better look under there?

Why restrict yourself to the filler hole, which might not be telling you the whole picture?

Besides, I don't believe a pushrod valve train is going to see as good cleaning benefits as an overhead cam setup would. More oil under greater pressure to the top end for the latter setup, while the former is more just spray and mist lubrication for the most part.

BC.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: Bladecutter
I hate to ask, but with how easy it looks to just pop off the valve cover on that engine, why not just take it off, and get a better look under there?

Why restrict yourself to the filler hole, which might not be telling you the whole picture?

Besides, I don't believe a pushrod valve train is going to see as good cleaning benefits as an overhead cam setup would. More oil under greater pressure to the top end for the latter setup, while the former is more just spray and mist lubrication for the most part.

BC.


This engine is SOHC. I don't want to bother with the valve cover. Maybe if we were keeping it, but we aren't now. So no real use.

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Originally Posted By: SLCraig
That's gonna take a while....


Yeah, I'm seeing that. Results in the Expedition were a lot more dramatic. But there was a lot less to clean up.

This test will likely unfortunately be cut short. We will be selling the Focus soon. Don't have room for it since I bought the BMW, so it has been parked on the street.



Bummer...