What does everyone think of this scenerio? I was talking to a delivery person at my work. He says he purchased a 1995 Chevy Cavalier (4 cylinder) that runs, but has been neglected badly. It was at a towing company's yard, lien sale (cars towed in, impounded. Owners don't claim vehicle, and months later the tow fees are more that the car is worth) He said the cooling system is rusty, and the oil is black and thick. To flush it, he says he is going to run 1 quart of Gunk's "engine flush" and three quarts of Rislone Engine treatment for 3,000 miles. I told him he's crazy, but he seems to believe this will work. Thoughts? ED

 

I expect that it will have a clean crankcase except for all the bearing material that will be floating around in there. He could save him self a few bucks and just pour kerosene in the crankcase and accomplish the same thing.

One quart of either and three quarts of oil might not be too bad, but I wouldn't run it over a few hundred miles at most.

Have a great day,
Doc

 

Ed -

You may wanna stand WAAAAAY back when he fires 'er up! Doc's right; lotsa cleaning will be going on, just not much lubrication.

Steve

 

I'll be more impressed if it makes it 3000 miles. Okay, 300 miles. Amazing what some folks will do to try to ruin a motor.

 

Tell him to get a gallon of Gum Out. Drain all the oil and put a new filter on it. Then pour that gallon in there and run it for 5 minutes. After that drain it out and replace the filter agian. Then add whatever oil he wants. It honest to god works.

 

An engine can't be run too long w/o a proper lubricant. I'd put in a bottle of engine flush, run it 15 - 20 mins and change the oil and the filter. Then add a pint or two engine flush or some other cleaner to the fresh oil. Within a 1000 miles or so, most of the soft sludge and deposits should be dissolved, so change the oil and filter again.

 

anyone for spare (very worn) parts?

 

DONT LET HIM DO IT!!! With no actual oil in there with it's anti-wear additives, that engine will take itself apart in short order. I'd be surprised if he gets 10 miles.

The correct thing to do as I see it, would be to run 15w40 diesel rated oil. This should gently clean out the deposits, and the heavier weight would probably be of benefit in an old neglected engine like this one.

Refer him to this page if you have to.

 

I say he's NOT going to run it 3000 miles. Oh , he might try, but I don't think he'll make it.
Where did he come up with this idea?

Take bets on how long it lasts.

I say 13.7 miles.

 

I say not out the driveway

 

Whats the rest of the car like ? is it just the moter that is bad or the whole car?
and since its a chebby it wont even go 1 mile if he does what he wants to do

 

look at it this way, It would be one less chebby on the road !!!

 

No kidding

 

Thanks for all your replies! The thing is, I can understand how he wants to flush out a neglected engine, but I could not believe he was serious about driving it for 3,000+ miles, ESPECIALLY with a quart of 'engine flush' in it. He did tell me the Cavalier has some minor door dings and is sun faded (common here in NoCal, with vehicles that sit outside, uncovered. The strong summer sunshine, under months of cloudless blue skies is terrible. Cars do not rust here, but will fade and oxidize if neglected) This guy, Mike, is a real shadetree mechanic (and funny, great sense of humor) so when I do get a chance to talk with him, it's usually car related. Some of his mechanic "work" is questionable from what I am thinking in my mind. I told him, he will dissolve a lot of junk, to quickly, and just might clog the oil pump etc. He seems to think his method will work, and has always used a quart of Rislone in every car he has owned, swears by it. I say, 1 quart of Rislone, 3 quarts of a quality brand name detergent oil, is okay. Anyway, I'll post any news the next time I talk to him about the Cavalier. Oh he did tell me, he thinks there is some "front end" issues with the car. Seems the FWD Chevy front tires, half of the inner tread are brand new, rubber, the half of the outside tread, are shiny silver (past the "bald" tire look, and now down to the steel cords of the tire!) but nothing two new tires and an alignment can't fix... . In 3-4 months if you see a '95 Cavalier, the name "Mike" color- white, area code 916, For Sale on E-Bay, RUN!! and Run Away Quickly!!