[s-cars] engine flushes

[CyberPoet]

OK, I'll admit the question was directed at Robert, but I'll throw in
my two cents here...
----------
Dan asked:

Robert: What is your BTDT with engine/crankcase flushes?  Although the
records from the PO indicate that the oil was changed at regular
intervals, I was considering using one of those flushes.  The Car has
over 80k miles and I am using Mobil 1, which the PO did not use.  I just
used a fuel system cleaner {valvoline} with my last fill-up and the Car
seems to run better.  It used to idle a little rough/fluctuate and now
after running a tank of gas with the cleaner, it is much better.
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(A) change your oil immediately after going through the fuel system
cleaner if
your ran it through your tank. The excess cleaners have been absorbed
by your
oil in the process and are degrading it's viscosity as we speak. If you
cleaned
the fuel system without running the engine (i.e. - yanked the injectors
and ran
the cleaner from the fuel filter through the pump and out the
injectors), ignore
the oil-change advice.

(B) Engine flushed come in two varieties: the DYI
do-it-at-home-just-before-an-oil-change
version (which works fairly well, although switching to Mobil 1 has
probably done
much of the same work), and the professional high-pressure/high-temp
flush of all the
passages (which has caused numerous problems for people I've known,
much to the chagrin
of the local outfit that offers it).
The DIY version I can heartily recommend, especially if you recently
switched or about
to switch to a light synthetic. The only secret is to ensure that you
permit the engine
to drain after the flush for a longer than normal time to ensure that
it has dumped all
the cleaner/now-thin-oils...
Cautions: If you are getting any leakage at the camshaft bearing seals,
don't flush -- the oil that is gummed up there is helping prevent
leakage, and flushing
will clear it.
Pro's: On the other hand, it's great for removing varnishes and
re-energizing
hydraulic lifters, and will do no bad to an inherently healthy engine,
extending it's
lifespan by a great bit...

Cheers,
=-= Marc Glasgow
Serving Tampa Bay's Mac community since 1990
www.cyberpoet.net