Engine Oil Flush
Discussion
Question for the DIY'ers, does anyone use an engine oil flush before dropping their old oil out?
Have always liked Forte products. Mate o mine worked for them and to cure my sceptism chucked me some. Car then, an Alfa 155 twinny, happened to need a service on two ocassions prior to a trip down the country. Used their oil flush and "Gas Treatment" and back when you could sit at 90 all day long, I got 5mpg better of a tankful both times.
However, just spoken to Aston Martin Works who looked after my early V8 Vantage and they never use a flush.
Opinions please, cheers, Quad
Have always liked Forte products. Mate o mine worked for them and to cure my sceptism chucked me some. Car then, an Alfa 155 twinny, happened to need a service on two ocassions prior to a trip down the country. Used their oil flush and "Gas Treatment" and back when you could sit at 90 all day long, I got 5mpg better of a tankful both times.
However, just spoken to Aston Martin Works who looked after my early V8 Vantage and they never use a flush.
Opinions please, cheers, Quad
Flushing oil is not normal engine oil (a statement of the blindingly obvious) and my understanding is that the flushing oil is intended to flush out the residues of the old engine oil before you refill with fresh engine oil. So rather than have a sump of fresh oil contaminated with a little bit of old oil of the correct type, you'll have a sump of new oil contaminated with a small amount of flushing oil.
If the engine has been serviced and run regularly and hasn't be subject to some oil contamination or ageing that definitely needs to be removed before the engine is run again, I wouldn't bother with flushing oil. And, as your Vantage is a dry sump system, unless you actually run it on the flushing oil (definitely not recommended) it's not going to be flushing large parts of the oil system anyway. Just my opinion.
edited to add
Here's one website that supports my view
http://mygarageairdrie.ca/services-pricing/mainten...
note the reference to the GM warning. Now I agree that there are many websites that also advocate flushing (some that will even sell you the oil - what a surprise) so there are other opinions.
If the engine has been serviced and run regularly and hasn't be subject to some oil contamination or ageing that definitely needs to be removed before the engine is run again, I wouldn't bother with flushing oil. And, as your Vantage is a dry sump system, unless you actually run it on the flushing oil (definitely not recommended) it's not going to be flushing large parts of the oil system anyway. Just my opinion.
edited to add
Here's one website that supports my view
http://mygarageairdrie.ca/services-pricing/mainten...
note the reference to the GM warning. Now I agree that there are many websites that also advocate flushing (some that will even sell you the oil - what a surprise) so there are other opinions.
Edited by LTP on Tuesday 21st March 18:50
you are supposed to "run" the engine on the flushing oil in order top properly flush all the galleries and pump. By "run" thats not to say thrape the pants off it, a prolonged idle up to temp or a mile or so gentle drive to get thinks flowing is not going to do any harm
I always run a flushing oil through any car when I first get it before I start a regime of regular changes with decent oil.
I have also recently become a convert to Seafoam treatment in the old oil for a few hundred miles to loosen things up before flushing
I always run a flushing oil through any car when I first get it before I start a regime of regular changes with decent oil.
I have also recently become a convert to Seafoam treatment in the old oil for a few hundred miles to loosen things up before flushing
In other cars I have always used an engine oil flush product before dropping the oil. I've regularly used "Wynn's Engine Flush" and you can really see the difference if you ever have to strip part of the engine at all; no sludge, carbon, etc. I've never had any problems by using it.
My Aston is a 4.3 with the dry sump lubrication system and I recently asked my local AM specialist if there was any reason I shouldn't use a flush product when changing the oil. He said it was fine, and actually recommended using Forte products, although he said any good quality one should be okay. He certainly had no concerns on it causing any damage to seals, etc.
I know opinions are divided on whether flushing is necessary if you use a good quality oil, and change it regularly. But as long as it doesn't do any harm (which apparetly it doesn't) I think it is a no-brainer - especially if you don't have full confidence on previous oil change intervals or products used.
My Aston is a 4.3 with the dry sump lubrication system and I recently asked my local AM specialist if there was any reason I shouldn't use a flush product when changing the oil. He said it was fine, and actually recommended using Forte products, although he said any good quality one should be okay. He certainly had no concerns on it causing any damage to seals, etc.
I know opinions are divided on whether flushing is necessary if you use a good quality oil, and change it regularly. But as long as it doesn't do any harm (which apparetly it doesn't) I think it is a no-brainer - especially if you don't have full confidence on previous oil change intervals or products used.
Edited by Percy Penguin on Tuesday 21st March 22:03
Don't use "flushing" agents. Snake oil / Paraffin. 
If you want to look after your engine:
Change your oil more often, even if you don't change the filter (although changing the filter would be good)
Get it hot, so that water and oil evaporate
Rev it, so that you flush out crankcase gases
Change your Air Filter regularly and make sure your intake system is air tight (easy on AMs). Very fine "Dust" is the quickest killer of engines.
Don't let your engine idle to warm up. Valve-train loads are highest at this speed. Start it and drive at moderate speed and load.
That's it.
No manufacturer ever, has used or tested an aftermarket cleaning product when validating what your receive.
I've been testing engines for various OEMs for 25+ years now. Including durability and performance assessment of differing oils.
If you want to look after your engine:
Change your oil more often, even if you don't change the filter (although changing the filter would be good)
Get it hot, so that water and oil evaporate
Rev it, so that you flush out crankcase gases
Change your Air Filter regularly and make sure your intake system is air tight (easy on AMs). Very fine "Dust" is the quickest killer of engines.
Don't let your engine idle to warm up. Valve-train loads are highest at this speed. Start it and drive at moderate speed and load.
That's it.
No manufacturer ever, has used or tested an aftermarket cleaning product when validating what your receive.
I've been testing engines for various OEMs for 25+ years now. Including durability and performance assessment of differing oils.
V8V Quadcamboy said:
Question for the DIY'ers, does anyone use an engine oil flush before dropping their old oil out?
Have always liked Forte products. Mate o mine worked for them and to cure my sceptism chucked me some. Car then, an Alfa 155 twinny, happened to need a service on two ocassions prior to a trip down the country. Used their oil flush and "Gas Treatment" and back when you could sit at 90 all day long, I got 5mpg better of a tankful both times.
However, just spoken to Aston Martin Works who looked after my early V8 Vantage and they never use a flush.
Opinions please, cheers, Quad
Used to every time. Can of Wynn's engine flush, in reality it was probably expensive diesel or paraffin. That was always on older higher mileage cars. Have always liked Forte products. Mate o mine worked for them and to cure my sceptism chucked me some. Car then, an Alfa 155 twinny, happened to need a service on two ocassions prior to a trip down the country. Used their oil flush and "Gas Treatment" and back when you could sit at 90 all day long, I got 5mpg better of a tankful both times.
However, just spoken to Aston Martin Works who looked after my early V8 Vantage and they never use a flush.
Opinions please, cheers, Quad
I don't these days. Just use the best oil I can get and don't do the extended drain intervals some manufacturers suggest. That's on newer cars where I know the history so in theory nothing to flush out.
I do not own an Aston, but in the past with some cars I never used a flush product, I was to scared it would flush to good and leave some flush stuff behind.
So what i did to get the black oil rest out, was buy some cheaper oil, say from action, put some in and let it run for a while, then get it out and repeat that, does not need to be topt full, just to clean, but with 'normal' oil.
then after that you can use the good stuff, or what you think is the good stuff (oil) for your car.
So what i did to get the black oil rest out, was buy some cheaper oil, say from action, put some in and let it run for a while, then get it out and repeat that, does not need to be topt full, just to clean, but with 'normal' oil.
then after that you can use the good stuff, or what you think is the good stuff (oil) for your car.
ridds said:
Don't use "flushing" agents. Snake oil / Paraffin.
If you want to look after your engine:
Change your oil more often, even if you don't change the filter (although changing the filter would be good)
Get it hot, so that water and oil evaporate
Rev it, so that you flush out crankcase gases
Change your Air Filter regularly and make sure your intake system is air tight (easy on AMs). Very fine "Dust" is the quickest killer of engines.
Don't let your engine idle to warm up. Valve-train loads are highest at this speed. Start it and drive at moderate speed and load.
That's it.
No manufacturer ever, has used or tested an aftermarket cleaning product when validating what your receive.
I've been testing engines for various OEMs for 25+ years now. Including durability and performance assessment of differing oils.
This.If you want to look after your engine:
Change your oil more often, even if you don't change the filter (although changing the filter would be good)
Get it hot, so that water and oil evaporate
Rev it, so that you flush out crankcase gases
Change your Air Filter regularly and make sure your intake system is air tight (easy on AMs). Very fine "Dust" is the quickest killer of engines.
Don't let your engine idle to warm up. Valve-train loads are highest at this speed. Start it and drive at moderate speed and load.
That's it.
No manufacturer ever, has used or tested an aftermarket cleaning product when validating what your receive.
I've been testing engines for various OEMs for 25+ years now. Including durability and performance assessment of differing oils.
Good post.
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