Engine Flush

[rampid360]

Well, I had a loud ticking noise that matched the revs coming from my fucking engine bay for about 2 weeks on my 104,000 mile 240sx. I was about 100 miles past my last 3,000 mile change according to the valvoline sticker left behind by the previous owner. (Come to think of it, those fucks might have marked it according to the Nissan 3,750 mile 'recommendation'.

Anyway, I checked the oil yesterday. Jesus fuck, that was low. I went and got a quart of Valvoline 10w30 Synth Blend and dumped it in there. STILL BELOW MINIMUM. So I went and got three quarts of Valvoline 10w30 Synth Blend. Put another in, drove it around the block, noise went away.

I shelved the other two quarts then went back to autozone. I'm friends with a guy that has been racing for a while now (drives a 300zxTT at age 29) and he recommended I do a flush. Below is what I did.

I put in 1 quart of Engine Gook (gray bottle). I idled the engine for 5 minutes.

I pulled off the valvoline filter and drained the oil. Next, I put on a cheap STP filter. I added:

1 quart 0w30 oil.
2 quarts Automatic Transmission Fluid.
1 quart Gook.

Now, I idled for 15 minutes, then revved to 2,000 for 20 seconds. I turned it off, drained it, threw out the STP filter.

Finally, I put on a Mobil 1 filter and added 3 + 3/4 quarts Mobil 1 Fully Synthetic 10w30. He said that the flush procedure should negate the need to run synth blend for a while.



Anyway, my friend said he flushed his engine once (sometimes twice) every oil change. It costs as much as a cheap filter ($3) plus the ATF, Gook, and 0w30, but it is totally worth it. My tick is 100% gone, the engine runs like fucking new, and runs better than it did when I got it (and it was running very well then).

[SimpleS14]

so you put Automatic Transmission Fluid in your engine (where the oil goes)?

[/etc/shadow]

I posted this in Tech Talk and he archived it for me. Yes, two quarts of ATF as I was instructed to put in by my friend.

You do NOT drive the car or run it over 2,000 for more than 20 seconds with the ATF or Gunk in there. That would mess some stuff up.

He does it every oil change on his 300zxTT. Sometimes, twice. It's high mileage and running like a champ. Good way to take care of the turbos too.

[SimpleS14]

Thanks for this write-up, I will be sure to give it a try since my car is reaching 150,000 miles.

[Jeff240sx]

Am I the only one that thinks this is a bad idea?  I mean... I don't know the viscosity of ATF, or how it reacts to heat.  But it is extremely thin, and used more for the hydraulic parts of the tranny, as opposed to keeping steel slugs from scraping cylinder walls at 2,000 revs per minute.
I don't know... but I would never try this.  ESPECIALLY on my turbo.

I guess what I want is someone to prove this is a good thing and change my mind.
-Jeff

[/etc/shadow]

Well, if there's any proof I guess it would have to come from knowing who gave me this advice. I trust very few people to tinker with my vehicle, and he's one of the ones I would trust more than my own self. Over the years he's had quite a few cars (29 y/o now, been racing since he got a license) including a pair of Datsun 280Z's he still has laying around his parents' house. He drives a pretty modified 300zxTT. He does this procedure every oil change - sometimes twice - and his Z is in marvellous condition.

In any case, the ATF is about as viscous as brake fluid if I remember correctly. It's used to help clean out the engine. Gotta figure, you're idling at ~750 RPM for 15 minutes then at 2,000 RPM for 20 seconds. I doubt this does any damage.

[koop]

dont quote me on this.. but i heard that if you flush your high mileage or old engine that it might cause some leaks to occur.. &nbsp;deposits from oil burn off, dirt, etc can cause a build up around bad/cracked seals and gaskets, which clogs the gaps preventing leaks.. so if you clean your engine up, you'd be unclogging these build ups and then leaks may occur. &nbsp;but, i dont know for sure.. &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hehe:'> &nbsp; <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

[Jeff240sx]

Koop... &nbsp;According to a lot of mechanics that I have talked to, you are correct.
The big problems in high mileage engine maintenance are:
Changing the transmission filter. &nbsp;If you don't do it regularly, dont do it. &nbsp;You will loosen crap that will bypass the filter, and it will clog up the tranny. &nbsp;
Also, I knew a guy that did an engine cleaning (in high a mileage engine) and it loosened carbon buildup that was holding things together, like around the valve seats. &nbsp;He lost compression, and bent a valve. &nbsp;The mechanic said that there was a ring of crap around the valve, and when it came out, the valve hit ackwardly, and caused a lot of damage.
-Jeff

[SimpleS14]

Maybe I should think twice about this..... <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>

[/etc/shadow]

I contacted my friend for the answers to your concerns. What he told me is that if your engine has been treated like ass - hotrodding, not changing oil, general failing to take care of it, then yes, cleaning your shit can cause problems. However, it is important to note that an engine flush does not CAUSE problems - rather it reveals them. If your engine is relying on carbon and/or gunk buildup to run, you shouldn't be hotrodding it, you should be fixing it.

He said that if you do this once and encounter no problems, then do it for every oil change, you should never have problems.

[SimpleS14]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (/etc/shadow @ Sep. 29 2002,8:36)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I contacted my friend for the answers to your concerns. What he told me is that if your engine has been treated like ass - hotrodding, not changing oil, general failing to take care of it, then yes, cleaning your shit can cause problems. However, it is important to note that an engine flush does not CAUSE problems - rather it reveals them. If your engine is relying on carbon and/or gunk buildup to run, you shouldn't be hotrodding it, you should be fixing it.

He said that if you do this once and encounter no problems, then do it for every oil change, you should never have problems.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
That makes sense, but I bought my car used and have no idea what the previous owner(s) has treated it. &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>

Bah I'll just do it.....but make sure I have money on the side for an SR. &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/lookaround.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':look:'>

[rampid360]

Since i was the one who posted this, and my best friend was the main source of opposition, I give you: &nbsp;My experience..

I didn't know what difference it would make, or if it even would...but I followed the instructions exactly.

Engine (seems) to rev more freely and is much quieter (even on cold mornings.) &nbsp;Starts easier and idle's smoother too.

Well worth it IMO.

Jeff...I dont think AFT will break down at 2k rpms. &nbsp;I create more friction...err...nevermind. &nbsp; &nbsp;The pistons and turbo should be safe enough.

[Hubie]

The ATF has additives in it to rejuvenate/"swell" old seals. &nbsp;I used to put half a quart of ATF in my Jetta every oil change and I drive that car a lot harder than my 240. &nbsp;I never had any problems. In fact, it helped out my smoking problem. &nbsp;The ATF swelled the valve guide seals and therefore less smoking.

I think they use a similar additive package to the high-milege oils like Castol or Quaker State.

[deviousKA]

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