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Anyone use engine flush?


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I was advised against using it in an older car (Mk2 Golf), as some of the slugde may actually be stopping oil leaks. Dont know how true this is though.

I dont use it in the VR as i change oil and filter every 6k anyway.

I suppose you could fill it up with cheap oil, run it for a few hundred miles then change it for the brand you originally wanted.

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Most are quite harsh, being mainly paraffin based. That said, an engine flush is not a bad idea, particularly if the oil you drain is really dark and yucky.

I have used semi synthetic diesel oil to flush a few of my old cars. All you do is drain the oil without changing the filter, fill up with diesel oil and use this for around 500 miles.

Then drain, change filter and fill up with your preferred brand as normal.

The logic behind it is that diesel oil has a lot of additives that clean out your engine's internals. The advantages over an engine flushing oil are:

1. The diesel oil is in there a lot longer and will do a more thorough job

2. The diesel oil is far less harsh

As I said, I have done this a few times now, most recently on my Rover 800 Vitesse. It has always worked well and during subsequent oil changes, the oil drained has been far cleaner.

As long as you select an oil that has the same 'rating' as the one you would normally use, you'll be fine.

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Yes, I have.. theres a trick to it.. buy two oil filters, a gallon of the good stuff (whatever you use) and a gallon of crap stuff. Now, you install the engine flush I use Asta 3000 as per QVC, run it for a fair few miles in the old oil, then warm the engine and drain.. now install the first filter and THE CRAP OIL , fill to the required level and run until warm then drain again .. this gets all the crud off the sump and out in the newish oil... remove filter and install new filter (second time) and fill with good stuff to required mark... never had any problems yet.. done it on a 200 Turbo, a BMW 735 and of course the VR all are still running better than ever.. no problems whatsoever...

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It was quite possible that the last owner put diesel oil in my syncro according to the mechanic i use- he normally advises not to use engine flush but as it was so full of crap he reckoned it was a good idea... no problems whatsoever.... just be careful- on a high mileage early example id not reccomend it!

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Why?? My Audi 200 Turbo was 145k when it was done, My VR is 90k, and my Bimmer is 168k and all have been done at high mileage with no resulting problems, infact on my VR it freed of a sticky tappet... So I'd have to disagree there... Sorry...

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Why?? My Audi 200 Turbo was 145k when it was done' date=' My VR is 90k, and my Bimmer is 168k and all have been done at high mileage with no resulting problems, infact on my VR it freed of a sticky tappet... So I'd have to disagree there... Sorry...

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With an engine that has done high mileage it is common knowledge you get carbon build up...... this is fact. With engine flush it (harshly) removes all these carbon deposits and can leave you with unwanted tolerances - especially around valve stem seals, guides and seats... My last VR had no history whatsoever and was showing slight signs of wear particulary with regard to oil consumption and the mechanic i use stongly advised against using it. The mechanic i use for my car is a mechanic for 3 cars in the VW cup- i would take his advice over yours..... sorry.....

As i stated previously my current VR had an engine flush treatment when it got it back from Gemany (its at 100k) but is in top condition with full history.... no problems so far but i wont be doing it again..... And when i mean high mileage i mean high mileage! 100k is nothing for a well looked after VR :-)

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we've had this discussion before and the way i look at it is. If your oil is really dirty you need to start doing your oil and filter changes at sooner itervals. As if your using something like synta silver it has all the cleaning properties in it already.

I wouldn't use the engine flush to harsh IMO, but never heard about the desiel oil before.

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If diesel oil is full of 'cleaning things' why not use it in a petrol engine all the time if it is the right 'rating'

for your engine. A diesel engine is under a lot more compression than a petrol so i would presume the oil can take more stick than its petrol counterpart.

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when i bought my mk2 16v with 146k on it, i did a flush with every 5k oil change, up until the last one at 180k when i noticed the tappets had finally stopped ticking away, & i can honestly say it improved the engine every time, now however i'll just use some crap oil and run that through the system first before putting the good stuff in.

Howevr i have heard that oil flush will loosen all the crap in your engine and as it travels round it can end up blocking up the oil ways and making things worse.

It worked ok for me but i probably wouldnt do it so often apart from the 1st oil change i'll do once/if i get my VR.....................................

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Luck of the draw I suppose. I have heard all of these arguments (except for the diesel oil) from mechanics and enthusiasts alike and all of them make theoretical sense. I have tried Wynns engine flush once before and it didn;t make much of a difference. the last two oil changes have been with Synta Silver and although the engine's no quieter she run's better and the oil seems that much cleaner. lol perhaps it was the engine flush :P

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Well - I have to confess to being a 1996 VR6 Sharan owner.

Engine done 85K. Nothing wrong at 80k - runs like a dream.

VW dealer serviced it at 81K and did an engine flush. I then got a noise which people agree is the upper hydraulic timing chain tensioner. Oil changes have been done every 5k all is life.

Talking to Storm Devs they reckon never flush a VR6 - it does not like the stuff used and lots of damage can ensue - tensioner, lower time chain, oil pump, valves ...

I aslo find on the net a post where someone says that VW themselves DO NOT recommend flushing VR6s (older ones anyway)

I am currntly talking to the dealer about the damage - he says its wear and tear - I say its the flush -

what to do.

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