| I work in the motor trade and in my opinion engine flushing agents should not be used. Modern synthetic and semisynthetic oils have high detergent levels and clean the engine whilst lubricating it, a flushing compound with even higher levels of detergent will reduce lubrication where it is most needed (cam followers). we have had instances of ford and vw engines where a customer has run the engine with flushing oil and it has softened hard carbon deposits in the head which have then washed into the sump and blocked the oil strainer, result new engine required.
If you feel the need to flush the engine drain the oil and fit a new filter and refill with a good semisynthetic, run for around 500 miles and then change the oil and filter again expensive but after 5000 miles if the oil is fairly clean so are the engine internals if the oil comes out thick and black, repeat the process.
dave
[Edited on 25-8-2004 by DAVE HARRIS] |