Discussion
Hi all, first time posting here, apologies if it’s in the wrong place.
I’ve got a 2007 diesel RAV4, she’s overdue a service, no problem on that front.
My question is about the need to and effectiveness of cleaning the engine between oil changes?
Is it worth doing?
If yes, what should I use to do it?
Cheers,
Sam
I’ve got a 2007 diesel RAV4, she’s overdue a service, no problem on that front.
My question is about the need to and effectiveness of cleaning the engine between oil changes?
Is it worth doing?
If yes, what should I use to do it?
Cheers,
Sam
Flood23 said:
Hi all, first time posting here, apologies if it’s in the wrong place.
I’ve got a 2007 diesel RAV4, she’s overdue a service, no problem on that front.
My question is about the need to and effectiveness of cleaning the engine between oil changes?
Is it worth doing?
If yes, what should I use to do it?
Cheers,
Sam
Exactly what do you mean by "cleaning the engine"?I’ve got a 2007 diesel RAV4, she’s overdue a service, no problem on that front.
My question is about the need to and effectiveness of cleaning the engine between oil changes?
Is it worth doing?
If yes, what should I use to do it?
Cheers,
Sam
Where/when/how/who has told you about this requirement?
Ah sorry, should have been more specific.
Draining the oil out it comes out black, I’m just wandering if putting new oil straight in reduces its efficacy of the new oil or it doesn’t make any difference?
No one has told me I was just wandering, thinking about putting something clean into something dirty and whether it makes any difference or not.
Ta,
Draining the oil out it comes out black, I’m just wandering if putting new oil straight in reduces its efficacy of the new oil or it doesn’t make any difference?
No one has told me I was just wandering, thinking about putting something clean into something dirty and whether it makes any difference or not.
Ta,
Overdue (and overlong) service intervals allows excess carbon filth to build up inside the engine, i've seen engines and pictures of such engines and the carbon build up inside is something to behold, compare to well serviced vehicles with spotless insides.
Allowing the oil to drain overnight helps, some engines drain fully some don't, BMW engines we had in the family the oil is filthy again instantly.
If the engine is caked in filth it may not be the best idea to use a flushing agent, if that's what you were wondering, you don't want years of crud to suddenly be loosened, might be better to gradually clean things up by multiple short oil changes.
You could help things along by using Diesel specific oil for its better detergent properties, maybe buy a 20 litre tub and change it every 2000 miles a few times, new filter each time.
Doesn't have to be expensive stuff, dino is fine, £70 tops for 20 litres.
Have you had a look inside the EGR/intake, is the intake coked to hell and back, that isn't helping.
My 20 year old Prado keeps its oil clean for nearly 1000 miles after changing but it has been well looked after all its life, the 3 litre 1KD is an engine that drains fully if you leave it for several hours/overnight, i don't know if the Rav4 engine drains similarly.
Allowing the oil to drain overnight helps, some engines drain fully some don't, BMW engines we had in the family the oil is filthy again instantly.
If the engine is caked in filth it may not be the best idea to use a flushing agent, if that's what you were wondering, you don't want years of crud to suddenly be loosened, might be better to gradually clean things up by multiple short oil changes.
You could help things along by using Diesel specific oil for its better detergent properties, maybe buy a 20 litre tub and change it every 2000 miles a few times, new filter each time.
Doesn't have to be expensive stuff, dino is fine, £70 tops for 20 litres.
Have you had a look inside the EGR/intake, is the intake coked to hell and back, that isn't helping.
My 20 year old Prado keeps its oil clean for nearly 1000 miles after changing but it has been well looked after all its life, the 3 litre 1KD is an engine that drains fully if you leave it for several hours/overnight, i don't know if the Rav4 engine drains similarly.
Flood23 said:
I’ve got a 2007 diesel RAV4, she’s overdue a service, no problem on that front.
How far overdue?If you had a sludged-up engine that you're trying to recuperate then you might use a flushing oil. That would only be applicable if you had left the oil in far too long - some manufacturers specifically advise against using additives or flushing oils even in that situation. Far better to just change the oil as usual but reduce the interval to the next change. Frequent oil and filter changes are one of the best things you can do to preserve the life of an engine. Having said that, for a 2007 car overdue for a service that boat has probably sailed.
Edited by GreenV8S on Thursday 7th August 18:41
No need to do anything other than change the oil & filter.
Within a week the oil will be black again anyway.
One thing I did used to do with "keepers" is to drop oil, change filter & run a litre of fresh oil through with the drain plug off just to get a bit more sediment out of the sump.
Within a week the oil will be black again anyway.
One thing I did used to do with "keepers" is to drop oil, change filter & run a litre of fresh oil through with the drain plug off just to get a bit more sediment out of the sump.
I have a 15 year old Diesel Citroen C3.
I change the oil and filter every year and it's black the next day..
Last month I did a garage clear out and got together about 12 litres of part filled oil containers along with a new 5 litre one . I bought two filters and went about 4 or 5 oil changes in the same number of days. Left the bottom tray off and finished with a second new filter and the final oil .
It did get cleaner after number three by far . Number four was very clean. I stopped at number 5 . A month later and it dark but not black as the others have been.
I also have an 18 year old Diesel Honda. The oil always stays a good colour never soot black like the Citroen.
I change the oil and filter every year and it's black the next day..
Last month I did a garage clear out and got together about 12 litres of part filled oil containers along with a new 5 litre one . I bought two filters and went about 4 or 5 oil changes in the same number of days. Left the bottom tray off and finished with a second new filter and the final oil .
It did get cleaner after number three by far . Number four was very clean. I stopped at number 5 . A month later and it dark but not black as the others have been.
I also have an 18 year old Diesel Honda. The oil always stays a good colour never soot black like the Citroen.
GreenV8S said:
Flood23 said:
I’ve got a 2007 diesel RAV4, she’s overdue a service, no problem on that front.
How far overdue?If you had a sludged-up engine that you're trying to recuperate then you might use a flushing oil. That would only be applicable if you had left the oil in far too long - some manufacturers specifically advise against using additives or flushing oils even in that situation. Far better to just change the oil as usual but reduce the interval to the next change. Frequent oil and filter changes are one of the best things you can do to preserve the life of an engine. Having said that, for a 2007 car overdue for a service that boat has probably sailed.
Edited by GreenV8S on Thursday 7th August 18:41
te gets loosened and gets into the oilways and galleyways, gum up the oil pump etc. Better to put boggo oil in and new filer, run it for a 500 miles with plenty of long runs and change it out for decent oil and fresh filter. Do that every other oil change.
Over on Rennlist and AlfaBB, a few oil types ( the Yanks are obsessed with oil and sending their oil samples off for testing) have said the engine cleaners can be a bit searching and not good for seals.
E-bmw said:
No need to do anything other than change the oil & filter.
Within a week the oil will be black again anyway.
One thing I did used to do with "keepers" is to drop oil, change filter & run a litre of fresh oil through with the drain plug off just to get a bit more sediment out of the sump.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsUAbnqzsfoWithin a week the oil will be black again anyway.
One thing I did used to do with "keepers" is to drop oil, change filter & run a litre of fresh oil through with the drain plug off just to get a bit more sediment out of the sump.
[quote=Flood23]I did a full service last January, oil and all the filters, so six-seven months over.
It had a service every year from new so this is potentially the latest it’s been.
It's a machine, so service intervals should be measured in hours, not time. So many posters fail to mention mileage, which gives a rough idea of how many hours the machine has been working. For a mundane engine with mundane use, an oil and filter change every 10,000 miles or so is a good rule of thumb. Best to do it yourself to ensure the right oil is used, particularly important for modern timing 'belt in oil' engines for which a cheapo jugful from the garage's bargain basement barrel is not good enough. Also, leave it to drain overnight into a fresh tray - you might be surprised by the amount of crud which has slithered off the engine's innards (like tomato sauce draining from the side of the bottle). No garage will do such a clean change.
It had a service every year from new so this is potentially the latest it’s been.
It's a machine, so service intervals should be measured in hours, not time. So many posters fail to mention mileage, which gives a rough idea of how many hours the machine has been working. For a mundane engine with mundane use, an oil and filter change every 10,000 miles or so is a good rule of thumb. Best to do it yourself to ensure the right oil is used, particularly important for modern timing 'belt in oil' engines for which a cheapo jugful from the garage's bargain basement barrel is not good enough. Also, leave it to drain overnight into a fresh tray - you might be surprised by the amount of crud which has slithered off the engine's innards (like tomato sauce draining from the side of the bottle). No garage will do such a clean change.
Marine and aero engines tend to run at a steady rpm for many hours. Cars aren't like that.
What really matters is your overall use cycle, not the mileage or even the time, and the manufacturer recommendation is just their "best guess for typical use". I vary my oil change interval up or down depending on what the cars have been doing. Modern engine oils are astounding stuff.
What really matters is your overall use cycle, not the mileage or even the time, and the manufacturer recommendation is just their "best guess for typical use". I vary my oil change interval up or down depending on what the cars have been doing. Modern engine oils are astounding stuff.
E-bmw said:
Leveret]lood23 said:
It's a machine, so service intervals should be measured in hours, not time.
???? Aren't hours a measure of time any more then?Edited by Leveret on Sunday 10th August 15:44
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