The engine is not called the heart of every car without reason. Without it, the car will not go anywhere, so it is worth paying attention to how it is used and properly serviced. Since we are already using such a comparison, just as with a human organ, it needs to be especially well cared for. A frequently overlooked aspect is engine cleanliness - which is a serious mistake. Fortunately, these days we can support ourselves with innovative products such as engine flushes. We invite you to read on.
Engine oil flush - what is it for?
To begin with, we should of course explain what an engine flush actually is. It is a special product that is poured into the engine oil just before it is changed. It contains special detergents designed to dissolve and remove the contaminants remaining in the power unit. The base of most products available on the market is naphtha (kerosene), which can make up as much as 80% of the entire composition. The rest consists of performance-enhancing additives responsible for the effectiveness of the product, just as is the case in good engine oils. Their job is to improve the quality of the engine cleaning, as well as to protect it against the build-up of further contaminants.
Why is it worth using engine flushes?
While a combustion power unit is running, a very large amount of contaminants is produced. Of course, the engine oil itself already performs a cleaning function and is supposed to be responsible for dissolving deposits, which are then meant to settle on the filter. Many factors, however, contribute to the fact that not all unwanted substances are removed from the engine. It is precisely for this purpose that flushes were created, whose task is to get rid of the carbon deposits that are dangerous for the engine and that settle on the pistons, valves and internal surfaces of the combustion chambers.
Why is removing it so important? It disrupts the proper functioning of the power unit, causing:
- a reduction in chamber volume,
- cooling problems,
- uncontrolled ignition of the air-fuel mixture,
- loss of combustion chamber sealing.
Increased fuel consumption, uneven engine operation, and power drops that you observe may be a sign of an excessive build-up of carbon deposits. Ignoring this can lead to the rapid wear of most engine components, such as the engine valves, the turbocharger, the intake and exhaust manifolds, the EGR valve or the piston rings.
Carbon deposits are not the only contaminants appearing in the engine that can cause problems. As a result of a faulty crankcase breather or a damaged head gasket, sludge can form, because coolant will get into the oil gallery. It can contribute to reducing the diameter of the oil channels, hindering the flow of engine oil to the lubrication points. Dust and micro-contaminants also enter the engine along with the air. Everywhere the engine oil cannot cope on its own, flushes that stand out with a combination of very effective detergents and lubricating agents will work great.
Engine flushing - can it damage the engine?
When it comes to cleaning the engine, there are still die-hard opponents who believe that the oil itself is enough and that no other agents are needed. You can even find voices claiming that using flushes will have a negative effect on engine performance.
Although much more effective synthetic oil appeared on the market as early as the late 1990s and is now used by practically all drivers, we will still come across old, very high-mileage units in which mineral oil was used. Indeed, in the case of such engines, a one-time cleaning may turn out to be insufficient. This does not mean that these agents are ineffective - this operation should be repeated several times at short intervals, as recommended by the manufacturer, so that the oil filter does not become clogged.
There is really no need to worry about its effect on how our power unit operates. In the vast majority of cases, even a single use of a flush can increase engine efficiency - it helps to free up seized rings, which makes it possible to raise compression and at the same time reduce fuel and engine oil consumption. You don’t have to wonder whether there will be any negative effects. The formula of such products is specially researched and tested before it reaches the market. So you have to trust the numerous tests carried out by respected mechanics - you will find plenty of evidence on their social media accounts and in videos posted on YouTube.
For engine flushing to be safe, it must be carried out correctly in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. Improper use of such a product can indeed cause quite a few problems. Below we will briefly present what such a process looks like.
What does engine flushing look like?
Before using an engine flush, it should be thoroughly mixed by shaking the packaging vigorously several times. We carry out the oil flush directly before the oil change. We pour the prepared product into the engine’s oil system through the oil filler.
Contrary to what you may sometimes read, the engine should be warmed up to operating temperature first, not left cold. Cold oil is thick and does not reach everywhere evenly, so the product spreads unevenly and deposit in the cooler spots stays untouched. The fear of “thermal shock” is unfounded: a flush goes into the oil, not into the cooling system, and threatens no component.
Once the flush is in the oil system, the engine should be started. It should reach its normal operating temperature and run like that at idle for about 10-15 minutes. During this time, the product is thoroughly distributed, eliminating all the contaminants and deposits, which we can now remove together with the old oil. It is important that the car is outside or in a ventilated garage during this time, because exhaust fumes that are dangerous to health will be produced.
After everything, we switch off the engine and carry out the standard steps associated with an oil change. As you can see, cleaning the engine is a very simple matter that does not require any complicated steps and that can be done practically along the way.
How does a flush affect the engine in the long term?
A good engine flush has no negative effect on its properties, and its use brings more benefits than side effects - one of them being getting rid of the carbon deposits that accumulate from used oil. Regular use of a flush helps maintain “cleanliness” inside the engine and get rid of unwanted and dangerous deposits. Over a longer period of time, we will definitely see an improvement regarding:
- an increased service life of individual engine components,
- increased engine compression,
- protection of the entire system,
- increased vehicle performance,
- improved lubrication of the surfaces inside the engine.
Engine flush and problems with the crankcase breather
The crankcase breather is the colloquial name for the system responsible for ventilating the crankcase. Blow-by between the piston and the cylinder wall causes an increase in pressure in the crankcase and the entry of a greater amount of oil into the intake system. Using a flush can reduce leakage by freeing up the rings.
What does regular use of a flush give you?
The flush thus keeps the engine clean, which also translates into a longer service life of the power unit. By using this type of product, we ensure better condition for our car over a long period of time.
You can immediately guess what effect regular engine flushing has on the economic aspect of using a vehicle. Firstly, there will be no need to constantly replace worn parts, which often do not cost little money. Secondly, we will avoid quite a number of failures directly caused by contaminants, which will help save on visits to mechanics. And thirdly, the car will run more efficiently, which will translate into lower running costs - lower oil and fuel consumption.
Engine flush and the turbocharger - the one accessory it genuinely reaches
Start with something few people keep in mind: a turbocharger is lubricated by engine oil. Pressurised oil enters the bearing housing through a feed line and drains back to the sump by gravity through a return line. That is the same circuit an engine flush works in, which makes the turbo the one piece of ancillary equipment the treatment actually touches. Not the particulate filter, not the injectors, because those sit in the exhaust and in the fuel system.
The mechanism that kills turbochargers is simple and not widely known. After a hard run the turbo housing sits at several hundred degrees. Switch the engine off immediately and the oil pump stops while oil remains in the feed line against that hot housing. It starts to coke. Each time a thin layer is left behind, the bore of the line narrows, and after years the bearings receive less oil than they should.
The owner then sees a “dead turbo”. The workshop fits a new turbocharger, but unless the coked feed line is cleaned or replaced, the new unit runs into the same conditions and ends the same way.
The return line behaves similarly. Once it stops draining freely, pressure in the bearing housing rises and oil starts escaping past the seals into the intake or the exhaust. The symptom is smoke and oil consumption, and the diagnosis is usually “worn turbo seals”, although the cause sits in a restricted drain.
This is where a flush makes sense, because it works in exactly that place. Solvent with detergent circulates through the bearing housing and the lines along with the oil, lifting fresh deposits before they harden. Used regularly, it slows carbon build-up at the hottest point of the lubrication system.
There is no point overpromising, though. A feed line coked solid, down to a narrow channel, needs replacing rather than flushing. Here a flush is a tool for prevention and for removing fresh deposits, not a rescue after the fact.
It works best alongside a habit that costs nothing: after a hard run, let the engine idle for a minute before switching it off. The oil pump then carries heat away from the turbo housing, and no oil is left standing in the line at peak temperature.
What engine flushes can we find on the market?
If effective and safe operation matters to you, you should look for products coming from trusted manufacturers of chemical agents for the automotive industry. Currently, there is access on the market to a really wide offering from brands such as TEC 2000 (Engine Flush 2000), Liqui Moly (Engine Flush), K2 (Motor Flush), Millers Oils (Engine Flush), Bizol (Oil Clean Plus) or Motul (Engine Clean).
Engine flush for petrol engines
For petrol engines, one of the best available products is the TEC 2000 engine flush, which provides better compression, reduces oil burning, and also restores the proper engine parameters. All thanks to the improved throughput of the oil channels brought about by getting rid of deposits, carbon, soot, as well as used oil. It can also be successfully used as an engine flush for diesel engines. It is regarded by users as one of the most effective products for cleaning the inside of the engine, having enjoyed an excellent reputation among customers for 20 years.
Engine flush for motorcycles
The different characteristics of a motorcycle engine require the use of a special agent. Here we recommend IPO ENGINE CLEANER, which eliminates all deposits and blockages in order to restore the riding comfort of the original engine. After use, it removes solid particles, deposits and blockages, makes it easier to start a cold engine, increases acceleration and allows you to recover the motorcycle’s original power. It also helps to reduce exhaust smoke emissions and reduce oil and fuel consumption.
Engine oil flush - how much does it cost?
A single package of engine flush costs from 10 to 80 zł, depending on the manufacturer the product comes from. The range may seem large, but it is worth reaching for higher-grade products with a refined formula - we recommend being guided by the opinions available on the internet.
Laying out such an amount with every oil change is not a great expense, especially considering products that will effectively reduce fuel and oil consumption. Once you become aware of the costs involved in power unit repairs, it is easy to conclude that it will be cheaper to prevent than to cure.
