Car service - engine flush & fuel treatment - opinions

[anonymous-user]

I have just booked Mrs. Topbox's car in for a service with the supplying dealer. It's a 5 year old little 1.3 hatch run about.

The dealer 'recommended' an engine flush (after dropping the oil and before refilling with oil) and a fuel treatment.
This service is £40 for both. I declined the fuel additive because a bottle of Redex is about £3! The engine flush, I'm pretty indifferent about so took the easy option and said fine.

Now without commenting on the fact that I am having her car serviced at the main stealer what are your opinions on:

Engine flush at £22
Fuel additive at £18.

I self service my other vehicle and never perform an oil flush, I just refill. I also don't use any fuel treatments.

Thanks.

[sparks_E39]

When I asked about an engine flush a few years back on here the resounding answer was don't, cue many horror stories.

[anonymous-user]

I think I may have read that thread.

I believe it involves turning the engine over with the flusher in it? Sounds a bit risky but it will be a main dealer performing the job, so if they break it, they fix it.

[sparks_E39]

Or they blame something else and it becomes a nightmare. I wouldn't say it needs it.

[Condi]

Ive done an engine flush twice, once with a 1987 Mazda 626, and once with a 306 with 150k on the clock. A 5 year old run about certainly shouldnt need it.

[Wacky Racer]

Don't waste your money...although I used to run Comma flushing oil through my Triumph Spitfire and Ford Capris for five minutes in the seventies, I don't suppose it made any difference really.....

The engines didn't blow up though, so it must have been OK....

[Spangles]

Topbox said:

I think I may have read that thread.

I believe it involves turning the engine over with the flusher in it? Sounds a bit risky but it will be a main dealer performing the job, so if they break it, they fix it.

Try and ask the manufacturer themselves if they recommend it, I suspect it'll be a resounding no and the warning that any warranties will be invalidated.

[Slobberchops]

Engines are perfectly capable of running well for hundreds of thousands of miles as long as they have regular oil and filter changes. Therefore the flush is not needed.

[MG CHRIS]

Ive seen many a car saved with a engine flush and oil change specially on corsa with rattling timing chain. Also on a very dirty transit with oil that hasn't been in 5 years an oil change and flush.

But on a newish car that has regular oil changes no, we use it in work with fuel treatments aswel and in most times is a waste of money.

[anonymous-user]

The dealer 'recommended it' . When I queried the fuel treatment and asked what they used because a bottle of Redex that will treat 2 cars is a fiver, the lady told me the product that they use is not available to the public and is industrial strength.

This did make me laugh. I'm confident I don't want industrial strength fuel treatment being run through Mrs. Topbox's engine!

[KTF]

100% snake oil to increase their profits. Avoid.

[GBTurbo]

Save yourself the £40. Take your mrs for a pub lunch or something.

Spend it on hookers?

Engine flush my arse

[anonymous-user]

Thanks guys. I'll go with a no, but only after asking a few questions to entertain me for a few mins!

[KTF]

GBTurbo said:

Engine flush my arse

Well if you insist

[1441]

GBTurbo said:

Engine flush my arse

[GBTurbo]

I usually use milk but I'm all out

[Mound Dawg]

KTF said:

100% snake oil to increase their profits. Avoid.

This.

When I worked for a main dealer we got a visit from the people who sold this stuff. The chat was all about increasing earnings and very little about any benefits to the customer.

As service people we got a small bonus every time we sold one of these things, not much but then it was only a tenner a go then so twenty total. I think the dealer got it for about two quid a bottle.

It was nothing to do with the car manufacturer, just the dealer's parent company maximising profits.

Don't bother.

[MJK 24]

I wouldn't worry about the engine flush damaging your engine as I'd say it's highly unlikely it'll happen. They'll still add £22 on the bill though.

There's no way on earth I'd drain the oil in an engine, fill it up with something that isn't oil and start it up and run it for a few minutes! Complete madness! I'd consider a small amount of 'something' you add to your existing oil and drive for 10 miles before draining but it's really not necessary on a regularly serviced engine.

[balls-out]

GBTurbo said:

Save yourself the £40. Take your mrs for a pub lunch or something.

Spend it on hookers?

Engine flush my arse

£40 on hookers? - clearly a man of expensive tastes....

[D_G]

MJK 24 said:

There's no way on earth I'd drain the oil in an engine, fill it up with something that isn't oil and start it up and run it for a few minutes! Complete madness! I'd consider a small amount of 'something' you add to your existing oil and drive for 10 miles before draining but it's really not necessary on a regularly serviced engine.

That's what they do, add to old oil, let it run for a bit and then empty the lot. You only need this stuff if you are trying to save an old engine that's sludged up.