alexF mentioned this the other day. if you use a decent quality oil anyway there's no advantages

 

hi mate known from past experiences engine flushes can do more harm than good!!! it takes away carbon build up in the engine which have caused engines to rattle do to wear and make very harsh noises!! just a pre warning for ya there mate!!!!

 

are there any disadvantages? I'm going to change the oil on my escos and just wanna make the best out of it since it's been a while..

 

I've heard people using it to get rid of rattles. Like from hydraulic tappets. And it have worked well. Tried it on my brothers mondeo and it did fck all..

 

i used a can of it in an old escort which had done a few miles (100,000 odd)

the engine was nosier than before i started! - basically it cleans everything and gets rid of build up of carbon etc

a car that was quiet before was then very noisy!

 

leave it well alone then..

 

Agreedl

 

I flushed a 1.2 corsa i took in p/x once. It leaked oil from every seal after that... Like a bastard tea bag it was.

It was mint before i messed with it as well....

Never again. If it aint broke, dont fuck it up, as my old Granny used to say!

 

i think that you have answered your own question Gary..

 

I was told the carbon build up, especially on around the pistons helps create a seal, remove that and it cause you no end of trouble.

I was told to just run the engine till the current oils nice and warm, then drain it. (be very careful tho..... use a bit of commen sense) It also warms all the sludge and then most of that will come out at the same.... Jobs a good 'un.

Fill with lovely fresh oil and you should be sorted.

I just wouldn't recomend a flush......

 

well, i dont like the stuff tbh.

i prefer to flush the engine with new, cheap oil if anything - just a quick flush.

 

So it seems from posts on here carbon can stop noises of a knackered engine, quite true, so why not recondition it then.
It is very true that all engines will have carbon in the oil as a waste product of combustion leaking past the rings, this is what blackens the oil.
Carbon on a piston will do nothing to promote a better seal, as the only seal is between rings bores, so any carbon is ground away by rings anyway!!
Some engines can indeed become noisier, engine flush is not always the correct stuff to use for noisy tappets, hydraulic valve lube is though, but again depends on how far gone they are.
I always do it at every change, with oil changes at 12,000 miles, my cossie has 163,000 miles without a bottom end rebuild, still going perfect and has regular dyno sessions for hours at a time(doing developement stuff), and I do use it very very hard.
I use wynns flush as it is not as harsh as others so disolves gently the crud/carbon, I leave it in for a minimum of 200 miles before oil change.
A cheaper way to do it is to put some DIESEL fuel in the oil, as this has the same effect.
tabetha

 

i have never used an engine flush but i was informed that if you wish to flush the engine of most crap warm the current oil then drain. then refill using a halfrauds/poverty spec brand oil for 500miles or so then drain again change the filter and refill with good spec oil and and filter this will help clear any built up sludge etc but not strip of all so engine will still remain quite.

did it on my daily runner which has done 80,000 and was tip top after