Diesel Engine Oil Flush

[BMc]

I have an 97 TDI with 190K service coming up next week. I heard that you can buy some Engine Flush products that clear a lot of the gunge that builds up over time - which you add just before oil change - such as Lubeguard or Amsoil .. I regularly use the diesel additives to clear injectors etc and the car has full service history so unsure if there will be much benefit ?
Any one tried these or others ? recommendations / warnings / comments ?

[incisor]

I have an 97 TDI with 190K service coming up next week. I heard that you can buy some Engine Flush products that clear a lot of the gunge that builds up over time - which you add just before oil change - such as Lubeguard or Amsoil .. I regularly use the diesel additives to clear injectors etc and the car has full service history so unsure if there will be much benefit ?
Any one tried these or others ? recommendations / warnings / comments ?
Cost Effective Maintenance is what i used and i found it great... look in the reviews section of the old site at www.our4wd.com (http://www.our4wd.com) as i havent had time to port it to the new site yet.

[waynep]

Nulon make something - haven't tried it nor do I know who stocks it - maybe SuperCheap they stock some Nulon stuff

http://www.nulon.com/products.php?productId=eof

[rick130]

I don't really like the idea of engine oil flushes (and yes, I've used them myself in the past) as they are generally a pretty strong solvent base that are pretty harsh and are really competing with the engine oil to do it's job.
It's much like tipping one litre of kero in the engine oil :eek:

There is a cleaner from the US that is ester based (much like expensive synthetic oils such as Redline and Motul) and takes around 5,000km to do it's thing between cleaning and rinse cycles. (I'm trying to think of a washing machine joke..:rolleyes:) I think it's overpriced for what it does, but there are a few independent oil analyst types in the US that reckon it's the only thing of it's type that works and at least it can't harm anything as it's a very good friction modifier in it's own right and the claim is it doesn't mix with the oil, merely uses it to carry it through the engine and slowly dissolve carbon and sludge and somehow encapsulate it and deposit it in the filter.
It's called Auto-RX and a bloke in Melbourne imports it. I can PM contact details if you wish, but I reckon if you've been using a very good diesel oil and the engine is used on good runs (gets nice and hot) it will be bloody clean inside anyway.

[stevo]

if you do use engine flush after draining the old oil and before changing the filters run some cheap oil through the engine for 5 minutes at idle

[George130]

if you do use engine flush after draining the old oil and before changing the filters run some cheap oil through the engine for 5 minutes at idle

Friend used to use woolies oil in petrol cars to flush the crap. Put it in for 150-200km then drain and put the good stuff in. His idea was the detergents would do the cleaning job. No idea if it worked or not.

[rick130]

Friend used to use woolies oil in petrol cars to flush the crap. Put it in for 150-200km then drain and put the good stuff in. His idea was the detergents would do the cleaning job. No idea if it worked or not.

the only problem with that is that the cheapy oils generally have far less detergents/dispersants than the better quality ones, with dedicated diesel oils obviously having the most in this regard.

[landrovermick]

the only problem with that is that the cheapy oils generally have far less detergents/dispersants than the better quality ones, with dedicated diesel oils obviously having the most in this regard.

Yeah i have used cheap engine oil for running in , but not for clean up,

cheap oils - lik ethe enviro oil Kmart used to sell generally arent friction modified - so they let parts wear a little - good for the running in process.

[BMc]

Guys - Appreciate the quick and informed feedback - a quick summary of my experience -

SUMMARY
Used Nulon - Engine Flush ..Found a definate immediate difference in power. Thumbs up

DETAILS
I contacted CEM (Cost Effective Maintenance per Incisor feedback) as they are Mail Order only, and was put off by the lack of professionalism - appeared to be running business from garage, no issues with that at all except the costs were almost 10X others - didnt get a good feeling from them to justify the costs .. So I opted for Supercheap stocked Nulon Engine Flush .. 190Km service was done by Ricks 4WD on Gold Coast and Rick happily added the stuff though he reconned it would not really do much difference.. I picked the car up, and drove back up the highway reoccupied with thoughts of my crook child, when I noticed I was doing just under 135kph and still accelerating - Being used to sitting with foot on the accelerator patiently climbing to 110 this was a definate change in top end power. So I slowed down and then floored it again - and there was a definate difference in acceleration. For me $10 well spent ..

I normally do Oil changes myself - just was having other stuff done by Rick, so next time I will use again ($10 is worth it) but will take Stevo feedback and flush with some cheap oil too, hopeful though that most of the crap from 190k has been flushed so dont expect any other noticeable differences / improvements.

[incisor]

DETAILS
I contacted CEM (Cost Effective Maintenance per Incisor feedback) as they are Mail Order only, and was put off by the lack of professionalism - appeared to be running business from garage, no issues with that at all except the costs were almost 10X others - didnt get a good feeling from them to justify the costs ..
lack of professionalism?

you order it and it is there 2 days latter....

10x the cost? what you been smokin?

for about $99 bucks you get about 2 - 3 years worth of gear depending on your mileage

shakes head and wonders off....

[landrovermick]

Yeah copy that I used the CEM product - got both the oil flush and the fuel treatment packet - they are great - and the oil flush is not solvent based - so no chance of a big engine destroying boom!

Professionalism, with a A+ ordered - spent 15 minutes on phone discussing products and figuring out which one suited me. then emailed me the recipt - for personal reasons and posted the item - express post I paid late in the arvo and had the item THE NEXT DAY - i have never seen as good customer service anywhere . Ill be going back with i buy my new drum of gear oil for the gear addative.

In the end many products will work its just what the individual will be happy with

Mick

[up2nogood]

Is the CEM stuff the same as the Auto-RX that was referred to earlier?

[JRC]

I have an 97 TDI with 190K service coming up next week. I heard that you can buy some Engine Flush products that clear a lot of the gunge that builds up over time - which you add just before oil change - such as Lubeguard or Amsoil .. I regularly use the diesel additives to clear injectors etc and the car has full service history so unsure if there will be much benefit ?
Any one tried these or others ? recommendations / warnings / comments ?
If your engine is a diesel and you are using diesel engine oil, which has detergent additives and your services are up-to-date, why flush.

Engine oil performs 3 may be 4 things, Lubricates, Cools, Cleans (thats why the oil is black due to the detergents) and leaks on your driveway.

[incisor]

in a perfect world you are exactly right, in general use any diesel gets a build up of sludge and also glaze on the bores. CEM cleans it up.

my very well maintained unit made about 1/2 a litre of extra oil on the initial cleanup from memory.

the CEM treatment working in japanese diesels has made 1 1/2 litres on the first flush :P

my vehicle was definetely way better for the treatment IMHO

[TheEntertainer]

Hi Guys,

I've got a disco td5 99", I know the patrols and Toyotos needs oil flushes now and then + spare parts. What about the TD5, with 210 000km on. Will a engine flush help get some power back??

[incisor]

i did my 300tdi at 175000 and it made a marked improvement.

if power is down due to glaze and sludge it will defiently make a difference if it behaves like it did in mine