Do you own a car? Are you interested in the automotive world? Or maybe you simply heard a phrase like engine flush at some point? No matter which group you belong to - it is worth knowing what exactly this term means. In today’s article we will explain the concept of flushing the power unit and answer the question that has been troubling drivers for years: is an engine flush safe? We invite you to read on!
Engine flush - what is it?
Before we move on to whether you should flush your engine or not, let us briefly explain what exactly this procedure is.
It is a maintenance operation that consists of cleaning the engine of contaminants accumulated inside the unit, among which we can list, for example, carbon deposits, sludge, slime and soot. Some people believe that such a procedure does nothing - numerous tests, however, tell us otherwise, which we will discuss in the following paragraphs.
When should you flush the engine?
When can an engine flush be carried out? We will not do it on the spot, for example in a parking lot before setting off on a trip. Such cleaning of the unit takes place during an engine oil change (before adding the new oil). So how often you flush the engine depends on the number of oil services. There is no rule about the intervals at which to do it - in this case we can follow established standards, that is once a year or every 15,000 kilometers driven. Some people decide to flush the engine every other oil service - this solution is also fine, although there is nothing stopping you from using a flush every time you change the oil.
Is it worth flushing the engine before an oil change? Isn’t the oil service itself enough?
If you are a driver or someone interested in the automotive world, you will certainly not be surprised to learn that every oil change = getting rid of contaminants. And this is where voices appear: if you have already decided to change the oil, why pay extra for an engine flush as well?
It is true that draining the old oil also removes dirt. If a regular oil change were enough, however, the world would be simpler - in reality, though, the oil is not able to carry away all the contaminants. And those - as you are probably aware - can be dangerous for the engine’s condition. Carbon deposits, sediment and sludge - all of this sticks to the metal components of the engine - in this case an oil service is not enough.
What does an engine flush do?
And this is where the engine flush in question comes in, the task of which is to remove all contaminants and deposits that have managed to settle on the individual components of the system and negatively affect the engine’s performance, and thus the car’s output.
A contaminated engine interior is, however, something more. First - the presence of contaminants in the system leads to faster engine wear (sometimes even a durable oil film is not enough). Second - an excess of carbon deposits, soot and other dirt can lead to serious - and, most importantly, costly - faults. This is something every driver would rather spare themselves, which is why, as a conscious vehicle owner, it is worth taking an interest in the benefits an engine flush brings, among which we can highlight, for example:
- increasing the service life of individual engine components, including seals, piston rings, valves, manifolds and the catalytic converter,
- increasing engine compression,
- protecting the system,
- increasing the car’s performance,
- improving lubrication of the system.
How do you flush an engine? A good engine flush is the foundation
Flushing the engine, contrary to appearances, is nothing new. Just over a dozen years ago, kerosene was used to get rid of contaminants from the unit. Today you can still come across people who are fans of this solution, although as history shows, it is not particularly effective (firmly adhering deposits still remain on the walls of the components).
A flush can in fact be carried out using water, but is the result sufficient? We cannot say that it is. So how do you flush an engine?
For this purpose it is worth using a special flushing product, that is a flush (from the English flush). Products of this type contain, among other things, kerosene (the exception is Engine Flush from TEC 2000), solvents, as well as highly concentrated ingredients with excellent dispersing properties, thanks to which they remove contaminants from the engine perfectly, protecting it from premature wear and costly breakdowns.
The engine flush is added before draining the old oil (the detergent mixes with it). The engine is then started - during this time the product spreads throughout the system and thoroughly cleans all the components that come into contact with the oil. After a dozen or so minutes of running, the engine should be switched off and the used oil drained. After all this, we change the oil filter and add new oil.
To flush the engine or not? Is it safe?
“Engine flush - is it worth it” - if you have typed in this or a similar phrase, you are in the right place. As we mentioned at the beginning - some people are skeptical and believe that an ordinary oil service is enough. Here, the question of safety comes to the fore - there are voices that using a flush can cause the engine to lose its seal and thus cause leaks.
In most cases such situations do not occur. In the case of new engines with relatively low mileage, this is out of the question - the only thing we must mention is flushing older designs. In their case, a single use of a flush is not enough (mainly due to the use of mineral oils rather than synthetic ones) - in such cases the engine should be “flushed” two or even three times at short intervals. This will prevent the oil filter from clogging and allow you to enjoy worry-free driving throughout the whole season.
Should you flush the engine before an oil change? Won’t it worsen the condition of the unit?
Mainly on the Internet we can come across opinions saying that by using an engine flush product, we are lowering the engine’s performance of our own accord (a drop in cylinder pressure, oil seeping into the combustion chamber).
In reality, however, it looks quite the opposite - by getting rid of contaminants from the system, the engine flush product improves the quality of compression rather than worsening it. What is more, by using a high-quality flush whose composition includes packages of lubricating additives, we additionally safeguard and protect the engine from premature wear.
Regardless of whether you have a gasoline or a Diesel engine - flushing the unit is a solution that will improve the car’s performance and protect the unit from contaminants.
