How to get the Gunk Out of my Engine.

[RobertK]

In conjunction with my recent oil cooler seepage I noticed that my oil gets very dirty very quick after I change it.

A few weeks ago when I changed out my oil pan gasket I noticed that the oil pan had tons of gunk as so did the crank. This was probably do to the fact that the lady who owned it just dumped any oil (various weights and brands) she had around to keep it going.

I was able scrub out the gunk in the oil pan by hand before I put it back it though I was curious as to what some of you use to clean the gunk out of you engine.

[Scott314]

In conjunction with my recent oil cooler seepage I noticed that my oil gets very dirty very quick after I change it.

A few weeks ago when I changed out my oil pan gasket I noticed that the oil pan had tons of gunk as so did the crank. This was probably do to the fact that the lady who owned it just dumped any oil (various weights and brands) she had around to keep it going.

I was able scrub out the gunk in the oil pan by hand before I put it back it though I was curious as to what some of you use to clean the gunk out of you engine.

Some oil companies make a thin oil thats designed only for flushing out your engine. There's quite a bit of sludge build-up in my engine that I noticed the first time I pulled the valve cover off, so I was looking around for various ways of getting rid of all the gunk build-up in my engine. The only thing I'd be worried about would be having a big chunk of stuff break off and clog up an oil passage or screw up a rod bearing...

[RobertK]

I wouldn't think that it would come off in chunks. Is there any oil additive or cleaner I can run through it right before I change the oil?

[Scott314]

I wouldn't think that it would come off in chunks. Is there any oil additive or cleaner I can run through it right before I change the oil?

One of them is Motor Clean, by Lubro Moly. It's supposed to remove sludge and laquer buildup in your engine. And no, I doubt it's *supposed* to come off in chunks, but that doesn't mean it *can't*. Apparently my car was only filled with dino oil (and fairly infrequently from having a look at my valvetrain), and since I got it I've only used Mobil 1. You can see patches where sludge and varnish have been washed away now...

[RobertK]

One of them is Motor Clean, by Lubro Moly. It's supposed to remove sludge and laquer buildup in your engine. And no, I doubt it's *supposed* to come off in chunks, but that doesn't mean it *can't*. Apparently my car was only filled with dino oil (and fairly infrequently from having a look at my valvetrain), and since I got it I've only used Mobil 1. You can see patches where sludge and varnish have been washed away now...

If that's the case I'm thinking that it might be safer to just let the Royal Purple clean it out over time.

[Scott314]

If that's the case I'm thinking that it might be safer to just let the Royal Purple clean it out over time.

I dunno. I'll let you know how my valvetrain looks in a couple days when I adjust the valves again. It would be nice to get all that varnish and hardended gunk out of my engine, but I've heard horror stories about people having engine problems right after that. Maybe if someone else here has done this, they could chime in, and put my fears to rest...

[turnofftheradio]

I have used seafoam on a few cars. It succesfull freed up sticky lifters, and succusfully stopped an injector leak. both on non bmw's. I ran it through the eta before I tore it apart. it looks dirty inside still, but I imagine better than it did before...

I have never had any negative effects to date from it, the 3 cars I ran it through still run nicely 10k later.

[Aznhiga]

You can search this forum for something on a "Hot Soak" It works pretty well and is hella fun when you drive down your neighborhood, right after doing it. Overall good results. Not sure though if it does a thorough clean. Just look up on that.

[silversleeper]

seafoam is fun. i duno how effective it is, but i do like loading my motor up with it, and running up and down the streets blinding everyone in black smoke.
i believe my car was run wit dino oil as well for a great majority of its life, but when i popped the valve cover, the shit was spotless!
i just did a complete oil change and am running LubroMoly 0w40 (its a bit nippy here this time of year).

[Scott314]

seafoam is fun. i duno how effective it is, but i do like loading my motor up with it, and running up and down the streets blinding everyone in black smoke.
i believe my car was run wit dino oil as well for a great majority of its life, but when i popped the valve cover, the shit was spotless!
i just did a complete oil change and am running LubroMoly 0w40 (its a bit nippy here this time of year).

I think it's more the fact that using dino oil + not changing your oil at the right intervals = more sludge. There's nothing wrong w/ dino oil as long as it's changed regularly. Frequent oil changes w/ Mobil 1 seems to have helped my engine out quite a bit, but I'm still looking into engine cleaners...

[arthurc]

Consider trying http://www.auto-rx.com/

[RobertK]

Does seafoam go in your gas tank or your crank case?

Consider trying http://www.auto-rx.com/

I'm weary of products that claim to clean you engine AND stop leaks. It's like saying that you can scrub a wound till it heals because most engine cleaners have detergents which loosen up gunk and debris that is built up around your seals and gaskets. So using an engine cleaner is like picking a scab it might clean up the wound but it's still gonna bleed.

I'm a firm believer that if you have an oil leak you should either fix it or live with it. Stop leak additives may slow the leak temporarily at the cost of gunking up you engine even more.

[Scott314]

Does seafoam go in your gas tank or your crank case?



I'm weary of products that claim to clean you engine AND stop leaks. It's like saying that you can scrub a wound till it heals because most engine cleaners have detergents which loosen up gunk and debris that is built up around your seals and gaskets. So using an engine cleaner is like picking a scab it might clean up the wound but it's still gonna bleed.

I'm a firm believer that if you have an oil leak you should either fix it or live with it. Stop leak additives may slow the leak temporarily at the cost of gunking up you engine even more.

I think you can use seafoam in either your gas tank, crank case, or suck it through a vacuum line while your engine is running. And I would stick to products from reputable companies like Lubro Moly, instead of mystery oils that claim to stop leaks, improve your gas mileage by 20%, and cure cancer all at the same time.

[RobertK]

Putting an engine cleaner in my gas tank won't really help clean the crank case, crank, and rods where most of my gunk is.

Sucking a flush product into a vacuum line or letting it run through you gas sounds like something you would do to clean up carbon deposits instead of gunk and sludge build up.

[cahomey]

Go to Napa autoparts, buy your self two bottles of sea foam. Put half in your crankcase, suck the other half through your vacuum line. Then repeat with the second bottle. Then change your oil and filter.