Engine sludge removal

[Jason Hudson]

I noticed a couple of weeks ago, someone talking about how well there Max is doing after they got there engine and transmission flushed.  In reading about how well the car was performing, I also started looking at getting it done.  Today, I was in a local auto shop browsing around and saw this stuff called "Prep Up" (or something like that and something similar for the transmission as well).  According to the directions, you are to add this formula to the crankcase, drive the car or let it idle for about 10 minutes, or you could drive it for a couple of days as well, and supposedly, this stuff will suspend all that sludge and varnish and all that "good" stuff in the oil so that the filter will catch it, then you have your oil and filter changed.  You aren't supposed to drive over 250 miles after adding this formula.

 

I am wondering if anyone has heard of this or if they have, is it a good alternative to having the engine flushed?  According to the box, if you use it regularly over time, it will supposedly hook your engine up good.  Any information would be helpful.  Obviously, nothing will replace a professional engine flush, but could this also be used at oil changes to make the engine cleaner?

[David Efflandt]

On Fri, 14 Jul 2000, Jason Hudson <jhu...@interconnect.net> wrote:
>This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

Ouch!

>I noticed a couple of weeks ago, someone talking about how well there =
>Max is doing after they got there engine and transmission flushed. In =
>reading about how well the car was performing, I also started looking at =
>getting it done. Today, I was in a local auto shop browsing around and =
>saw this stuff called "Prep Up" (or something like that and something =
>similar for the transmission as well). According to the directions, you =
>are to add this formula to the crankcase, drive the car or let it idle =
>for about 10 minutes, or you could drive it for a couple of days as =
>well, and supposedly, this stuff will suspend all that sludge and =
>varnish and all that "good" stuff in the oil so that the filter will =
>catch it, then you have your oil and filter changed. You aren't =

>supposed to drive over 250 miles after adding this formula.
>

>I am wondering if anyone has heard of this or if they have, is it a good =
>alternative to having the engine flushed? According to the box, if you =
>use it regularly over time, it will supposedly hook your engine up good. =
> Any information would be helpful. Obviously, nothing will replace a =
>professional engine flush, but could this also be used at oil changes to =
>make the engine cleaner?

All modern motor oils have detergents that keep junk in suspension so your
oil filter can remove it. If you change your oil at recommended intervals
or more frequently, and transmission fluid or gear lube occasionally, you
should not need such products. But it may be a good idea if you get a
used vehicle with undermined maintenence. I remember my uncle W.A. from
Atlanta whose first car was probably a new Model A. Some time in the 70's
he had a Ford LTD with 43,000 miles on it and he said "You don't have to
change the oil in these new cars do you?"

--
David Efflandt effl...@xnet.com http://www.de-srv.com/
http://www.autox.chicago.il.us/ http://www.berniesfloral.net/
http://hammer.prohosting.com/~cgi-wiz/ http://cgi-help.virtualave.net/

[Michael Lewis]

I seen the tv ad on this stuff it's looks good

"Jason Hudson" <jhu...@interconnect.net> wrote in message news:9RKb5.344924$VR.51...@news5.giganews.com...

I noticed a couple of weeks ago, someone talking about how well there Max is doing after they got there engine and transmission flushed.  In reading about how well the car was performing, I also started looking at getting it done.  Today, I was in a local auto shop browsing around and saw this stuff called "Prep Up" (or something like that and something similar for the transmission as well).  According to the directions, you are to add this formula to the crankcase, drive the car or let it idle for about 10 minutes, or you could drive it for a couple of days as well, and supposedly, this stuff will suspend all that sludge and varnish and all that "good" stuff in the oil so that the filter will catch it, then you have your oil and filter changed.  You aren't supposed to drive over 250 miles after adding this formula.

 

I am wondering if anyone has heard of this or if they have, is it a good alternative to having the engine flushed?  According to the box, if you use it regularly over time, it will supposedly hook your engine up good.  Any information would be helpful.  Obviously, nothing will replace a professional engine flush, but could this also be used at oil changes to make the engine cleaner?

[Dave]

I've read somewhere that these "engine flushes" aren't that good cuz
they remove too much dirt all at once. There is the possibility of a
large piece of sludge dislodging itself and blocking an oil passage.
What I did for my Nissan Truck with (at the time) 120k miles on it was
to switch to synthetic. Sythetic is supposed to slowly clean your
engine better than conventional oils. The first time I switched, my
oil was about the same color after 1500 miles than conventional oil at
3k.

Dave :|

[Mister Mike]

Sythetic is supposed to slowly clean your
> engine better than conventional oils. The first time I switched, my
> oil was about the same color after 1500 miles than conventional oil at
> 3k.
>

Dave, that last part confused me. Could you elaborate (i.e., "Splain it to
me Loocy!").
Thanks.

Mister Mike

[Dave]

The way I see it, when oil gets darker it means there are suspended
particles (dirt/sludge) in your oil, which is a good thing. If your
oil isn't suspending particles, it mean that the particles are
sticking somewhere in your engine. I'm making the assumption that
your engine naturally deposits particles and that you have a good oil
filter.

So the first time I switched to synthetic, it "cleaned" out the engine
and suspended the dirt in the oil. That's why it got darker faster
than usual. On the second oil change my oil stayed cleaner cuz
synthetic doesn't break down as fast.

When using synthetic, you can extend the length of your oil change
(compared to conventional) assuming that you use a good oil filter. I
personally change my oil every 5k miles cuz I have an older engine
that doesn't run as clean and I do a fair amount of city driving.
Some companies claim that their oil will last up to 25k miles if you
change your filter regularly.

It is suggested that if you switch a high mileage car to synthetic you
should change the oil earlier than usual. This is because of the
extra dirt in your oil that the synthetic removed. Synthetics might
also cause oil leaks on older cars. This is because it cleans out the
sludge that was previously "sealing" the leaks. I switched my Nissan
truck at 120k miles with no problems. Some say that synthetic isn't
compatible with seals on older cars, but I guess my 86 Truck isn't
"old enough", so I have no experience with that.

Dave

[Mister Mike]

Thanks for the info. I have 148k on my '92 SE and I think I'm going to give
the synthetic a try. Can you recommend any particular brand?
Mister Mike

Dave <bea...@san.rr.com> wrote in message
news:39760C40...@san.rr.com...

[Dave]

I use Mobil 1. I don't know if its better than other brands, but
there seem to be a consensus that Mobil 1 is the better one. There
are more expensive ones like Redline and Amsoil, but I haven't tried
them. I read somewhere that Redline is not good for a daily driver
cuz its a racing oil and doesn't have the necessary detergents. Don't
know about Amsoil, but I know it costs around $9 a quart. I've only
tried Mobil 1 and I'm sticking with it cuz its not good to mix
synthetic oils with other oils. Mobil 1 should cost around $4. I buy
mine at Wal-Mart when they have a sale on the 5 quart container for
$15.

While your add it, let me know if your engine runs a little bit
quieter or if you get better gas mileage.

Dave