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Old Sep 13, 2003 | 11:41 AM
  #1  
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engine flush

1990 4.0 I just read a topic it talks about flushing your engine with diesel. Would anybody agree? THANKS.
 
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Old Sep 13, 2003 | 08:58 PM
  #2  
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engine flush

I don't think I would. With the different seal materials and metals, I would tend to think this could be bad for your engine. That said I have read the ingredients in so called motor flush products and I wonder if these are advisable. I have thrown in a quart of ATF about 500 miles before an oil change. Making sure I had the room of course. I guess I would be more comfortable with you going this route as ATF would not attack any seals.
 
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Old Sep 13, 2003 | 09:07 PM
  #3  
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engine flush

Throw in a quart of ATF and run the van for how many minutes??

Our van has a noisy lifter and I want to change the oil but I want to get the crankshaft, valves, and rockers cleaned before I do this.

Is there anything other than Diesel that I can dump into the oil that works well?

Thanks!!
 
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Old Sep 13, 2003 | 09:46 PM
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engine flush

Originally posted by Timothyap5vm
Throw in a quart of ATF and run the van for how many minutes??

Our van has a noisy lifter and I want to change the oil but I want to get the crankshaft, valves, and rockers cleaned before I do this.

Is there anything other than Diesel that I can dump into the oil that works well?

Thanks!!
If you think about it diesel is a fuel, not a lubricant! I wouldn't do it. My last oil change I put 1/2-1 litre of ATF in my engine and let it run for about 15 minutes. Drained out my oil and put my new oil in. It seems that my oil is now cleaner. The only thing I could maybe think of why it is cleaner is maybe I changed oils? I was using *cough* Quakerstate *cough* then I switched to Motomaster (Canadian Tire brand) partially synthetic brand. WHo knows. Whatever you do don't put any type of an engine flush in your engine. Most of them are diesel fuel and will just strip your engine.

-Matt
 
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Old Sep 14, 2003 | 12:53 AM
  #5  
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JTHill24
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From: Orland USA
engine flush

Ok 1st off it's not an engine flush. An engine flush would be to drain all oil then refill with something then run the engine then drain again.

Now...
My dad a born and raised Okie,
Before an oil change,would warm the oil/engine up then put in about a quart of Desiel fuel (pour in with the oil), run the engine about 10 min then drain the oil, change the filter, refill with fresh oil.

It did quiet the lifters. Cleaned out the gunk.
and he never has had a problem with any seals.

In fact I have done it more than once and have never had a problem. I fixed a engine by doing it. Someone had been using non-det. oil and the wax in it had stuck the lifters. Sounded like a machine gun going off when you started it.
Put the desiel in run about 10-15 min quieted all but one that had a slight knock. It was a Ford 289.
Looked like sludge when it was drained.
 
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Old Sep 14, 2003 | 08:34 AM
  #6  
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engine flush

Once again I would say that I would put diesel fuel in my engine. I went back into my old posts and found one that I had put up regarding this exact same thing. Here: the link: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...416#post730416 I ended up putting tranny fluid in my engine for 15 minutes. Thats it. No engine flushes or diesel fuel. Goodluck. Also when someone responded to my post they gave me 2 more links so click on them too.

-Matt
 
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Old Sep 14, 2003 | 11:29 AM
  #7  
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68torino
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From: South Dakota
engine flush

The diesel fuel in older engines would work back then. As I said I would be concerned about the different materials in engines these days. Another 'old' remedy from my dad was when a trans would shift poorly(usually do to varnish build up or sludge) he would dump some brake fluid in to clean it. But back then next to no one replaced trans fluid and filter. Back then when you 'guessed' you had sticky rings from carbon build up the remedy was to slowly pour a quart of ATF thru the carb while running the engine at 1500 rpm(high idle), when you had 1/2 the quart poured in you would dump the rest in to stall the motor. Next morning you would fire it up and drive it till it quit smoking. Usually pissed off most of your neighbors, but it would clean the top end. Now if you do it to a 'modern' engine you will take out the 'cats and probably the O2 sensor(s).
So running ATF inside the motor I would feel alright with as transmissions these days have different types of seal materials, band material and metals so a trans fluid should be quite 'friendly'. That said I would not leave it in very long. Since I average 500 miles a week, this may be a tad long for hours of operation, but I've had good luck doing it.
 
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Old Sep 14, 2003 | 07:50 PM
  #8  
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eehoepp
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From: Tottenham Ontario Canada
engine flush

I have also put ATF in the crankcase to quiet noisy lifters. It works, but if you leave it in too long, it boils off and redeposits the gunk. I was told 50 to 100 miles maximum.

In my case it was a band-aid solution. I tore the engine apart after I pulled it & there were a couple of lifters mushroomed over...

Cheers,
Eric
 
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Old Sep 14, 2003 | 08:36 PM
  #9  
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Beast12
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From: Sarnia, Ontario, CANADA!
engine flush

Originally posted by Beast12
Once again I would say that I would put diesel fuel in my engine. I went back into my old posts and found one that I had put up regarding this exact same thing. Here: the link: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...416#post730416 I ended up putting tranny fluid in my engine for 15 minutes. Thats it. No engine flushes or diesel fuel. Goodluck. Also when someone responded to my post they gave me 2 more links so click on them too.

-Matt
Oops....that first line is supposed to say "Once again I would say that I would NOT put diesel fuel in my engine." Thought I should just correct that.

-Matt
 
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Old Sep 15, 2003 | 12:16 AM
  #10  
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JTHill24
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From: Orland USA
engine flush

Well all I can say is Desiel fuel is Desiel fuel. Been the same for 80 Years Plus.
Now with ATF it's been changing with all sorts of new additives being added over the last 20 years.
I have seen what can happen when ATF gets on stuff or in stuff it shouldn't be.

Have used Desiel in engines from the 60's to ones in the 90's.
So far so Good

We'll just agree to disagree and I'll keep using the desiel in mine.
 
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