Thread: To flush or not to flush

Originally Posted by Leo109

Hi All,

Our 'new' DIIA is due for it's first service under our ownership. I have a drum of nice new fully synthetic oil and filters ready. I have no idea what oil is in the engine now. So I need to decide whether to use an oil change flush product before dropping the old oil and/or any other things before changing to the new syn oil. Any thoughts?
Same with the coolant. Just drop and flush with clean water or use a radiator flush product first? If I use flush products I'd probably lean toward Nulon but open to suggestions.

I'd just replace both and not stress about it. Some swear by OAT coolant. I don't but that's just me. I like that I can add water to my system in the bush if I get a leaky hose etc. which they don't recommend with OAT. Has happened to me a few times remotely now. I replaced it every two years Max.

Just replace the oil, filter and spinner filter with a good synthetic oil and you'll be fine. Td5s have an awesome filter system so don't worry about it. Save your bickies for the injector washers, oil pump bolt or other known td5 issues.

My D2a is in the workshop now getting the head gaskets replaced.
When they took the heads of they discovered that the engine was badly gunked up due to a lack of servicing.
I have had the truck for nearly 3 years and have done 50k in it and have changed the oil/filter 6 times in that period which works out to be less than 10,000k's each change.
I obviously "Inherited" all that crap in the engine from the previous owner So in your case a Good engine flushing that will also remove built up carbon deposits as well sounds like a Great idea.
As for the cooling system the same would apply, especially if the previous owner has added one of them nasty "Leak Fixer" type additives to the system.

Go for it, I just wish that I had done the same when I first got my Disco.

We are talking different beasts here TD5 & V8. Gusthedog is on the money about not stressing.
Nick

Originally Posted by Pippin

We are talking different beasts here TD5 & V8. Gusthedog is on the money about not stressing.
Nick

I would think that the costs and time involved to flush the systems would be negligible compared to the peace of mind that knowing for certain that both the engine and cooling system are clean and free of any blockages and contamination.
You never know for certain that the previous owner/owners has diligently serviced any second hand car when you buy it.
Too many people do the liquid fix it trick before they sell their trucks.

I had the impression that mine runs a bit hot, around 100*C when i floored it on the motorways... i flushed the system with liqui moly then rarely went above 95 so it had a good effect IMO

Originally Posted by sierrafery

I had the impression that mine runs a bit hot, around 100*C when i floored it on the motorways... i flushed the system with liqui moly then rarely went above 95 so it had a good effect IMO

Is that a petrol or td5? Coz that's bloody hot for a td5!

Originally Posted by sierrafery

I had the impression that mine runs a bit hot, around 100*C when i floored it on the motorways... i flushed the system with liqui moly then rarely went above 95 so it had a good effect IMO

Fair comment. One of my TD5's is just short of 500,000k's and the internals are still pristine clean and never flushed. In my opinion if you ever had to flush a TD5 after purchase you would need to be seriously worried about it's history and condition. You really can't compare TD5 service maintenance to V8, I'm sure if I had bought a V8 a flush might be the first thing I would do.
Nick

It is IMPERATIVE that you do NOT mix coolants.

Unless you are sure of the coolant in it being the same as the coolant you are going to put in it you should drain and refill (flush) the cooling system to ensure you have removed all the old coolant.

It will not all drain out hence flush, flush, flush.

You should be clear of any contaminant by then.

cheers

Mike