To flush or not to flush ... that is the question.

gadget1960 · 28th December 2018, 17:05

Aside from doing the bottom mount this weekend, while the car is in the air it will be getting an oil/filter change.
Also ... I know this can be a controversial subject but do diesels in particular respond well to flushing just before an oil change? (bearing in mind just how black the oil gets). Whats the views on using 10% of auto transmission fluid as the flush? ( at least it is an oil with strong detergent properties rather than just a oil stripping flush ... or so I have read). Only asking as I have read sooooo much on the subject over many years from diy'ers and pro's alike and no real definitive answers.
I know there is no real substitute for regular oil changes but as the condition of the whole inlet tract was so full of crud, does the engine oil internals not suffer in a similar way?
Any views / experience in this field would very much appreciated.
Thanks.

roverbarmy · 28th December 2018, 17:10

I ran a haulage fleet for many years and we never used flushes. Just regular oil changes, even on the stop,start vehicles. Never had a problem.

MSS · 28th December 2018, 18:09

Whenever I acquire a new car, I just do an oil/filter change and repeat it a few hundred miles later.

In my opinion that is the safest type of oil flush for any car and worth doing.

COLVERT · 28th December 2018, 18:13

The oil in a diesel Rover does its own flushing if changed at sensible mileages.--( Max. 10,000 miles or less. )

bl52krz · 28th December 2018, 18:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by roverbarmy

I ran a haulage fleet for many years and we never used flushes. Just regular oil changes, even on the stop,start vehicles. Never had a problem.

As an adjunct to the above post. I used to change my engine oil at work over the pit.When I had the Montego turbo diesel, at around 90,000 miles or so, can not remember exactly, I decided to take the sump off to have a look-see how filthy everything was. I had a shock when I looked, it was like a mirror in there. Only used straight 30 grade oil. So when I hear about ‘flushing out the engine’ in a diesel, I have a little laugh. If you change the oil regular, that is all that is needed. Don’t waste your money. The amount of detergent in the oil will keep it clean if changed regularly.

topman · 28th December 2018, 19:04

If you want to then do it, I doubt it will do any harm. Equally I doubt there's any really benefit from doing it.

trikey · 28th December 2018, 19:09

I have flushed our diesels a few times, does no harm, the oil never stays clean anyway!

Les4048 · 28th December 2018, 19:43

We’ve started flushing our tractors at work and the guys have noticed after filling the engine with fresh oil and after starting it up and checking the dipstick the oil is much cleaner. So I’m assuming the flush is doing it’s job and loosening all the impurities and removing them from the engine

tantallon · 28th December 2018, 20:11

Be careful with flushing .It tends to loosen the crud and can block oilways .Modern oils if changed as per specification will be fine .More important is the using of good quality oil .Along with quality filters .Dont scrimp on either!

bl52krz · 28th December 2018, 22:30

Hi Andy. No harm is done if people want to flush out the engine oil with oil, or in some circumstances a mixture of diesel? Eh, and lubricating oil, just that I think in my experience it is really a waste of time and money.

28th December 2018, 17:05	#1
gadget1960 Gets stuck in Rover 75 saloon Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Maxton, Dover Posts: 519 Thanks: 183 Thanked 132 Times in 89 Posts	To flush or not to flush ... that is the question. Aside from doing the bottom mount this weekend, while the car is in the air it will be getting an oil/filter change. Also ... I know this can be a controversial subject but do diesels in particular respond well to flushing just before an oil change? (bearing in mind just how black the oil gets). Whats the views on using 10% of auto transmission fluid as the flush? ( at least it is an oil with strong detergent properties rather than just a oil stripping flush ... or so I have read). Only asking as I have read sooooo much on the subject over many years from diy'ers and pro's alike and no real definitive answers. I know there is no real substitute for regular oil changes but as the condition of the whole inlet tract was so full of crud, does the engine oil internals not suffer in a similar way? Any views / experience in this field would very much appreciated. Thanks.

28th December 2018, 17:10	#2
roverbarmy This is my second home Roverless + 1.7D Sportage Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: East Norfolk Posts: 7,050 Thanks: 729 Thanked 2,021 Times in 1,449 Posts	I ran a haulage fleet for many years and we never used flushes. Just regular oil changes, even on the stop,start vehicles. Never had a problem. __________________ Oil in my veins!

28th December 2018, 19:04	#6
topman This is my second home MG ZT-T 190 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Lincolnshire Posts: 5,493 Thanks: 372 Thanked 647 Times in 534 Posts	If you want to then do it, I doubt it will do any harm. Equally I doubt there's any really benefit from doing it. __________________ Like being creative? http://www.qwghlm.co.uk/toys/dailymail/

28th December 2018, 19:09	#7
trikey Premium Trader Rover 75 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Devon Posts: 33,774 Thanks: 8,837 Thanked 14,831 Times in 8,030 Posts	I have flushed our diesels a few times, does no harm, the oil never stays clean anyway! __________________ Lest we forget..

28th December 2018, 22:30	#10
bl52krz This is my second home Rover 75 cdt club + Rover 2.5 KV6 Conni SE Join Date: May 2008 Location: Birmingham Posts: 11,396 Thanks: 6,587 Thanked 2,262 Times in 1,729 Posts	Hi Andy. No harm is done if people want to flush out the engine oil with oil, or in some circumstances a mixture of diesel? Eh, and lubricating oil, just that I think in my experience it is really a waste of time and money. __________________ Great Barr, Birmingham.

28th December 2018, 18:09	#3
MSS This is my second home Rover 75CDT, Jaguar XF-S 3.0V6, V'xhall Omega V6 Estate, Twintop 1.8VVT, Astra Estate and Corsa 1.2 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Suffolk Posts: 7,085 Thanks: 283 Thanked 624 Times in 440 Posts	Whenever I acquire a new car, I just do an oil/filter change and repeat it a few hundred miles later. In my opinion that is the safest type of oil flush for any car and worth doing.

28th December 2018, 18:13	#4
COLVERT This is my second home R75 Saloon. Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: France/or Devon. Posts: 14,003 Thanks: 3,851 Thanked 2,167 Times in 1,816 Posts	The oil in a diesel Rover does its own flushing if changed at sensible mileages.--( Max. 10,000 miles or less. )

28th December 2018, 19:43	#8
Les4048 This is my second home Rover 75 Tourer/ MG ZT-T 400 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Lhanbryde Posts: 3,278 Thanks: 2,627 Thanked 1,523 Times in 869 Posts	We’ve started flushing our tractors at work and the guys have noticed after filling the engine with fresh oil and after starting it up and checking the dipstick the oil is much cleaner. So I’m assuming the flush is doing it’s job and loosening all the impurities and removing them from the engine

28th December 2018, 20:11	#9
tantallon Gets stuck in ROVER 75 SALOON Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Peterborough Posts: 597 Thanks: 386 Thanked 316 Times in 144 Posts	Be careful with flushing .It tends to loosen the crud and can block oilways .Modern oils if changed as per specification will be fine .More important is the using of good quality oil .Along with quality filters .Dont scrimp on either!