Adding cleaner to engine oil
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 220
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Adding cleaner to engine oil
The local oil change shop advertises a service which they claim will clean the oiling system of the engine. Apparently the product is added to teh engine oil, the engine is run for a short period of time, during which this product "cleans" the oiling system--sorry for my non- motorhead terminology.
Then, the oil is drained and voila! All the gunk inside the engine is freed, lifters are unstuck etc. So they claim.
The local auto parts stores sell a product that claims to do the same for DIY.
Any thoughts on this?
Then, the oil is drained and voila! All the gunk inside the engine is freed, lifters are unstuck etc. So they claim.
The local auto parts stores sell a product that claims to do the same for DIY.
Any thoughts on this?
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 95
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From: in a house
Adding cleaner to engine oil
Yes I've used this product in all my cars and trucks all of them have high miles on them.
But follow the directions closely, after doing this i add a product called RESTORE its in
a silver can, all auto stores carry it. And if you have a ford the lifters and valves WILL
stick sooner or later, usually when you dont want them too.
95 EB bronco, 302
94 XLT bronco 302 (wifes)
65 monarch
73 challenger 340 six pac
But follow the directions closely, after doing this i add a product called RESTORE its in
a silver can, all auto stores carry it. And if you have a ford the lifters and valves WILL
stick sooner or later, usually when you dont want them too.
95 EB bronco, 302
94 XLT bronco 302 (wifes)
65 monarch
73 challenger 340 six pac
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 937
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Adding cleaner to engine oil
I'd say leave well enough alone. If your motor has low mileage, I suppose you could do this to _prevent_ sludge buildup, but if you've got hi mileage then you've probably got deposits happily sitting in corners not bothering anything. Leave them alone, if you free all that stuff up you can create problems, when you didn't have a problem to solve in the first place. My .00000000002
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,882
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From: Nevada
Adding cleaner to engine oil
honney's right, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. That accumulated sludge will be broken down and hit every bearing surface in the engine. And beware of snake oil salesmen.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,809
Likes: 3
From: Loveland, CO.
Adding cleaner to engine oil
1) I would not put it in a high mileage engine. 2) if you have ever dropped an oil pan and seen how much oil is still in left in there after draining, it makes you wonder how much of that cleaner is still in there diluting the oil.
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 250
Likes: 0
From: Grants Pass, OR
Adding cleaner to engine oil
"if you have ever dropped an oil pan and seen how much oil is still
in left in there after draining, it makes you wonder how
much of that cleaner is still in there diluting the oil."
I used that stuff once......I repeat once, on a S10 Blazer that I USED to own. I followed the directions and proceeded with the regular oil change. Shortly after that I took a road trip. On the way home, I started hearing a horrible knock and had a loss of power. Well, to make a long story short, the engine was shot and when I drained the oil in it, it had about 2-3 qts. more than what I had put in. The oil was thinned. I had always suspected that the "engine cleaner" junk was the ultimate culprate.
in left in there after draining, it makes you wonder how
much of that cleaner is still in there diluting the oil."
I used that stuff once......I repeat once, on a S10 Blazer that I USED to own. I followed the directions and proceeded with the regular oil change. Shortly after that I took a road trip. On the way home, I started hearing a horrible knock and had a loss of power. Well, to make a long story short, the engine was shot and when I drained the oil in it, it had about 2-3 qts. more than what I had put in. The oil was thinned. I had always suspected that the "engine cleaner" junk was the ultimate culprate.
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 974
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Adding cleaner to engine oil
I have heard of using tranny fluid, as it is 30 weight oil with lots of detergents. People add some to their engine, drive about 10-20 miles, then change the oil. It doesn't thin your regualr oil like the kerosene or diesel fuel (which is what that cleaner really is). I have never tried this trick, but many swear by it.
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
From: NJ
Adding cleaner to engine oil
I had a 79 T-Bird with a 302 in it. That Engine was really gunked up inside(My dad never believed in changing the oil) so I used one of those cleaners. Long story short the motor never ran right again. I have to agree with these guys Honney and georgedavila are right on the money on this one.
If you think your engine is gunked up inside you can get some of it out slowly by doing frequent oil changes. Change your oil before it gets too dirty.
If you think your engine is gunked up inside you can get some of it out slowly by doing frequent oil changes. Change your oil before it gets too dirty.
