Why do you need flushing oil?

When is an engine flush necessary when changing the oil?

So should I flush the engine or not?

When can you do without washing?

In what situations is engine flushing necessary?

What types of washings are there and how do they differ?

And what kind of washing to choose?

How to properly flush an engine for five minutes?

How to use flushing oil?

How to flush an engine with regular oil?

It turns out that the desire for cleanliness can be harmful.

So should I flush the engine or not?

Only in some cases. If you use high-quality oil and replace it in a timely manner, flushing the engine is useless and sometimes even harmful.

Why is this?

The flushes contain aggressive components that wash away not only harmful dirt deposits, but also a film from additives that protects loaded engine components. And if there is a lot of dirt, it falls off in large pieces, clogging the oil channels and the oil receiver. And this leads to oil starvation, increased wear and even jamming of the engine.

In addition, flushing, like old oil, is never completely drained: 10–15% of the product inevitably remains in the engine. After replacement, fresh oil mixes with the remains of the aggressive flushing fluid, its properties deteriorate and its service life decreases.

This is why many motorists try not to use flushes.

When can you do without washing?

Then, when all three conditions are met:

1. You are the first and only owner of the car or you unconditionally trust the previous owner.
2. High-quality oil of the same brand was always used.
3. The oil was changed on time.

If any of this doesn't apply to you, consider flushing.

In what situations is engine flushing necessary?

You need to flush the engine if you:

1. We bought a used car with an unknown service history.
2. Are you planning to switch to a different type or viscosity oil?
3. Significantly exceeded the replacement period.
4. The engine overheated or low-quality oil was used.

In these cases, flushing will help reduce the risk of negative consequences from mixing oils from different manufacturers and the spread of deposits throughout the lubrication system.

What types of washings are there and how do they differ?

There are two types of detergents: active fast washes and less aggressive wash oils. But many car enthusiasts flush the engine with regular oil.

Five minutes

The most concentrated preparations with active additives, capable of dealing with carbon deposits and deposits in just 5 minutes. Such products are very aggressive: they wash away dirt in large pieces and can even break the tightness of the seals. The most affordable chemistry.

Flushing oils

These are gentle detergents based on mineral oils with special additives to dissolve deposits. They need 15-20 minutes of engine idling to take effect.

Due to the lower content of highly active substances, they clean gently: they wash out small particles of dirt, but do not affect the film of additives. Medium priced products.

Regular oil

Good oil contains a set of various additives, including detergents. Therefore, many drivers flush the engine with new oil of the brand they are going to use. Of course, the dirt is washed off worse, but almost no old oil remains in the engine. The most expensive option.

And what kind of washing to choose?

It all depends on the degree of contamination and the result you want to get.

1. “Five-minutes” should be used only in the most extreme cases, as a last chance for dirty or old engines.
2. Flushing oils are a standard cleaning option with a mild effect. As a rule, it is used when switching to another type of oil or after untimely replacement.
3. Conventional oils are more suitable for prevention, as well as when changing the type of oil.

How to properly flush an engine for five minutes?

Follow the manufacturer's instructions for flushing, and do not violate the recommendations in any way. Most likely you will need to do something like the following:

1. Warm up the engine to operating temperature.
2. Shake the can of rinse and pour it into the oil filler neck.
3. Start the engine and let it idle for 5 minutes.
4. Stop the engine and drain the used oil.
5. Replace the oil filter and fill with fresh oil.

How to use flushing oil?

Again, follow the oil manufacturer's instructions. Lifehacker gives only an approximate algorithm:

1. Warm up the engine to operating temperature and drain the old oil.
2. Fill the engine with flushing oil to the bottom mark on the dipstick.
3. Start the engine and let it idle for 15-20 minutes.
4. Stop the engine and drain the flushing oil.
5. Replace the filter and fill with new engine oil.

How to flush an engine with regular oil?

1. Warm up the engine to operating temperature and drain the old oil.
2. Replace the filter (possibly with a cheaper one) and fill in new oil of the brand you will use in the future.
3. Operate the car as usual for 1–2 thousand kilometers.
4. Warm up the engine and drain the used oil.
5. Replace the filter with the original one and fill in new oil.

Some drivers do not use a full-volume flush, but only pour 300–500 g of new oil into the engine after the used oil has drained. This allows you to remove the remaining old oil without spending money on buying an additional canister.

Flushing the engine when changing the oil: good or bad?

Pre-sale preparation recipe from a classic

Then they poured oil into the engine, the thickest oil that could be found. The cylinders were not the best and knocked slightly. This was compensated for by the thickness of the lubricant; the engine ran surprisingly quietly.

Erich Maria Remarque

Fierce debate between supporters and opponents of engine flushing when changing the oil has recently intensified due to the fact that much fewer new cars are sold in the country than used ones. That is, citizens sell cars to each other, and the renewal of the fleet, which everyone was so hoping for, has slowed down significantly. Meanwhile, a used car, as we know, is a pig in a poke. What is the age and quality of the substance that was splashing in the engine at the time of sale - only God knows.

This immediately follows the thesis about the need for flushing.

When is flushing not required?

• You are the first and only owner of your car;
• Have you always changed your engine oil on time (or better yet, more often);
• You are confident in the service center where the work was carried out (the service technicians did not cheat by not changing the oil at all or replacing it with their own, cheaper one);
• On a long journey you never had to top up anything.

When is the best time to wash?

You should think about washing when purchasing a car second-hand, and even with an opaque service history. There are examples of engines in which deposits from the upper part of the engine can literally be removed with a shovel. To do this, it is advisable to look into the oil filler neck with a flashlight, and to the side: cunning sellers may well wipe the visible areas of the cylinder head parts with a rag.

Another case is changing the type of oil base, for example, when switching from mineral water to synthetic.

Flushing options

There are several ways to flush the engine.

Five minute wash. It is poured into the engine before changing the oil, thus mixing with already used oil. Next, let the engine idle for five (or ten) minutes, drain the waste, fill in fresh oil and install a new filter.

Flushes with which you can travel some distance. 100 km before the expected oil change, the drug is poured in, and during this run they try not to be particularly reckless. Next is a standard oil and filter change.

Flushing oil. With this method, the used oil is drained and a special flushing oil is poured in instead. Allow the engine to idle and drain the flush. Install a new filter and fill in new oil.

Extra oil. A method especially recommended when changing the type of oil base, for example, when switching from mineral to synthetic. It can also be recommended for fairly dirty engines, washed using one of the three methods above. After draining the old product, fill in the oil on which the engine is supposed to be used for further operation.

The amount of oil can be minimal (two liters), just so that the oil pressure lamp goes out. In this case, it is also recommended to run the engine at idle speed. This volume is then replaced with new oil and a new filter installed. For especially careful owners, there is a modification of this method: replace the oil and filter with new ones, drive for a short time, and then carry out another replacement. In this case, at the intermediate stage, oil will need to be filled no less than to the bottom mark.

General tips for cleaning

Monitor the oil pressure when the engine is running on all the cocktails described above, except perhaps in the case of filling in an extra portion of oil. Be especially careful when flushing diesel and supercharged engines - their specific loads are usually somewhat higher and oil starvation is completely unacceptable.

Cheap - cheerful

On the Internet, numerous forums suggest flushing engines with diesel fuel, both pure and diluted in half with engine oil. I am of the opinion that fuel is fuel, and it is better to flush the engine using one of the above methods. A solar bath can be very harmful to oil seals and other rubber seals of the engine. This liquid is very aggressive.

Some useful tips when changing the oil at a service center

• Try to keep your vehicle in sight during this procedure. This way you will be sure that you have filled in new oil and installed a new oil filter.
• If you were unable to follow the previous advice, then when you receive the car, check the oil level on the dipstick. The oil should reach the top mark and be light enough. Although in gasoline engines, even after a short period of operation, it may darken somewhat, and in diesel engines it may even turn black. And yet it will be much lighter than before the replacement.
• Try to determine if the filter has been replaced. On some cars it is visible from above, on others it is accessible only by removing the mudguard or engine protection. In this case, check whether these elements show signs of dismantling.

From personal experience

I somehow bought a Renault Logan from a good friend. Mileage - about 100 thousand km. I knew the history of the car very well, as I often helped with repairs. There were suspension malfunctions (bearings and shock absorbers), the rear brake cylinders were “candied,” and the driver’s seat was sagging. But now, having become the owner, I decided to look into the engine and adjust the valves. The gaps had to be touched only on a few valves, and then only a little at a time. And most importantly: I was shocked by the complete absence of deposits under the valve cover. The parts were only slightly covered with a light golden coating. And I also teased the previous owner about how he changes the oil more often than he fills the gas tank.

It is best to change the oil at least every 7.5 thousand km, that is, twice as often as most automakers recommend. In this case, regardless of operating conditions (city or village), you are guaranteed to avoid accelerated wear of engine parts. Only those who have a “new” car should immediately follow this rule, and second-hand owners should first carry out washing operations, as indicated above, and then follow the same recommendations.

More information about motor oil and additives is in the selection of publications “Behind the wheel” “Motor oil: what kind and why should you pour it?”

Dear readers! In the comments, tell us about your attitude to engine flushing. Is it necessary, in your opinion? Do you carry it out?

Is it necessary and with what to flush the engine when changing the oil?

The question of whether an engine flush is necessary when changing the oil worries not only novice motorists, but also experienced drivers, mechanics and service station technicians. What are more advantages or disadvantages in this procedure? What will the car enthusiast encounter after completing it: improved engine performance or damage?

Different opinions

If you look at the service station price list, the price of flushing the engine when changing the oil is one of the most expensive operations and, therefore, the most difficult. Moreover, the need for its implementation causes constant controversy. Opponents of engine flushing argue their point of view by the fact that the correct choice of fuel, engine oil, and timely maintenance are a guarantee that deposits, soot, and other slag formations will not form and accumulate inside the unit.

Proponents of flushing the engine before changing the oil argue that the fuel at Russian gas stations is not of a high enough quality level, so the operation must be carried out regularly.

All this applies to servicing a car that you have owned for several years. If you purchased a used car, then the first thing you should do is change the engine oil. And in this case, the question of the need to flush the engine when changing the oil arises most acutely.

So, when is the procedure necessary?

• When buying a used car, you cannot be sure of the quality of the consumables used, and the regularity of their replacement is also a controversial issue.
• If you often travel or travel, you fill up with fuel from different suppliers.
• When you decide to change the type of oil, for example, synthetic material to mineral water or semi-synthetic.

If you have purchased a completely new car, carefully monitor its condition, fill only high-quality fuel from a trusted manufacturer, undergo timely maintenance, and use only expensive synthetic oils, then flushing the engine is hardly necessary.

How to wash?

The modern market offers a wide range of all kinds of auto chemicals, differing in their properties, characteristics, and purpose. Sometimes it’s time to decide what to flush the engine with.

Even an experienced, knowledgeable motorist cannot. At the same time, most motor oils contain various additives, additives that not only provide an optimal level of viscosity, but also help clean the inside of the power unit, remove carbon deposits, and prevent deposits from accumulating. A competent car enthusiast, seeking to maximize the service life of the engine, adds all the necessary components to everyday consumables used. Flushing the engine before changing the oil can be done in several ways.

Standard fluids

Many drivers consider the most effective cleaning method to be the use of regular standard motor oil. The essence of the entire procedure is to gradually free the parts from accumulated sludge. High-quality lubricant is poured into the engine, and the vehicle is used as normal. After approximately a third of the period (kilometers traveled) has passed during which the manufacturer recommends using the oil (about 3000 km), it is drained.

During this time, a high-quality product is able to wash all the insides of the engine, remove dirt and carbon deposits from parts, and free up the oil channels and oil receiver. At the same time, such a gentle cleaning regimen, without adding aggressive drugs, does not harm the engine. Step-by-step cleaning prevents clogging of channels and filters with deposits that are washed away and enter the oil.

Then this contaminated liquid is completely drained and new oil is poured into the engine, which can now be safely used throughout the entire period specified by the manufacturer. It can range from 8,000 km to 10,000 km depending on the type of unit (diesel, gasoline).

Alternative methods

But not all car enthusiasts accept such a slow cleaning method. They use other options on what and how to flush the engine when changing the oil. The drugs used for this are divided into several classes.

• Special fluids
• Engine flushing oil
• Five-minute liquids
• Using a Vacuum Pump
• Cleaning a disassembled engine
• high efficiency of engine cleaning;
• non-aggressive towards rubber parts;
• Full compatibility with oil from this manufacturer;
• restores engine compression;
• ensures lubrication of all internal surfaces and reduces their wear;
• significantly reduces oil and fuel consumption.

After draining the old, used oil, specialized flushing materials are poured into the engine. They are based on mineral oils, the composition of which is enriched with alkali, active additives and additives. For 10-15 minutes, the unit idles, repeatedly driving liquid through the entire internal part and oil channels, washing away all dirt from the surfaces. After the set time has passed, the drug is drained and any type of oil is poured into a clean engine. This method is considered absolutely harmless. In this case, the only question is whether it is possible to purchase funds of this type, since their cost is usually high.

It, as in the first case, is filled immediately after the waste is drained. For about 3 days you will have to drive your car in a gentle mode, with maximum caution. After that, the engine flushing oil that has served its purpose is removed and a quality product is added. The main problem that complicates the procedure is the need to visit the service station twice. For many drivers, this is quite difficult.

Such products are concentrated liquids containing a set of detergent additives. They are poured into old oil immediately before changing it. The engine should run for 10-15 minutes. During this time, the preparations clean the engine from the inside, removing all accumulated contaminants from the surfaces of parts. After draining the oil that has served its purpose, a new product is poured into the engine.

It would seem that everything is fine, but... These products are, for the most part, a mixture of diesel fuel, cleaning solvents, and aggressive additives. Many consumers, not without reason, believe that their action negatively affects gaskets, seals, and other rubber parts. In addition, no matter how carefully the liquid is drained, some of it will still remain inside the engine. Mixed with the newly added oil, it will change its composition for the worse.

This method is usually used by service stations in order to quickly pump out all waste from the engine without any residue. Many mechanics claim that this removes all dirt deposits and carbon deposits. It all depends on the power of the equipment used. In most cases, this is not enough to thoroughly clean all hidden cavities that have settled on the internal surfaces of the particles. Therefore, flushing the engine before changing the oil may not cause harm, but it is not always effective.

Whichever of the above methods you use, you should keep in mind that they cannot rid the engine of thick, resinous, waxy waste. The most effective, in this case, will be the mechanical method. The implementation of this method includes operations such as removing the pan, valve cover and many other actions.

Only an experienced driver who knows the internal structure of the car and engine can cope with such a task independently. Therefore, it is better to leave its solution to service station specialists. They will remove the engine, disassemble it, carefully use gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel, and other safe liquids to wash all the parts, clean all surfaces, then assemble and install it in place. This option for flushing the engine will not only allow you to ideally clean all elements before changing the oil, but will also make it possible to objectively assess their condition and replace damaged parts.

This method is used only on cars with high mileage. For new cars that have had a short service life, it is enough to fill in high-quality oil and, in order to avoid the accumulation of resins, wash the unit after 10,000-20,000 km.

How to choose a flushing fluid?

In addition to motor oils, almost every manufacturer’s product range also includes flushing fluids. The French company Motul has also developed a special tool for flushing the engine before changing the oil, which can be used for any type of unit: diesel, gasoline, turbocharged, equipped with or without a catalytic converter.

The manufacturer recommends using MOTUL ENGINE CLEAN, a flushing fluid for the engine oil system, in conjunction with fuel system cleaners FUEL SYSTEM CLEAN or DIESEL SYSTEM CLEAN, depending on the type of engine (gasoline or diesel). This allows you to significantly reduce the emission of harmful emissions into the atmosphere from a running engine, which is especially important when passing technical tests. inspection.

The process of using flushing fluid is very simple. You need to add it to the old oil that you are going to change and let the unit run for 15 minutes at idle speed. Depending on the volume, it may require 1 (5 liters) or 2 (6 liters or more) bottles of MOTUL Engine Clean. During this time, the active detergent-dispersant additives that are included in the preparation will grind the deposits to the state of microparticles, turning the liquid into a suspension. When draining the waste, all harmful elements will be removed from the system.

The main advantages of MOTUL flushing fluid:

Using MOTUL ENGINE CLEAN, the motorist does not have to worry that some of the liquid will remain in the system and mix with lubricating fluids, because its chemical composition is completely compatible with them.

Flushing the engine when changing the oil: is it necessary and how to do it

Flushing the engine is recommended before changing lubricants in a number of other cases. How and when should this be done?

Let's start from the opposite. So, when is this procedure unnecessary? Experts believe that you can neglect it if you are the first owner of the car, who always changed the oil according to the regulations or even more often, and did not add God knows what to the engine. That is, you have a fully serviceable unit, operating on high-quality oil, the tolerances and recommendations of which comply with the manufacturer’s instructions. But, given that a new car is not affordable for everyone and often people have to buy older vehicles with an unclear past, flushing can be considered almost mandatory at least during the first oil change after the previous owner.

Be that as it may, before the procedure, consult with specialized service specialists - they will tell you whether it is worth flushing the engine based on its condition.

What if you don't wash it?

It’s your choice, but don’t forget - when operating in the city, it is recommended to change lubricants at least once every 7 thousand kilometers and, of course, not extend the interval to 15 thousand kilometers, as is recommended by many manufacturers. Practice shows that not everyone exactly follows the well-known instructions that preserve the health of the engine, and as a result, various deposits accumulate in the unit. This also happens when overheating provokes decomposition of the lubricant, as well as hot gases from the combustion chamber entering the crankcase. In addition, the engine should be flushed when switching from mineral oil to synthetic oil, that is, when changing the oil base.

In general, flushing is recommended in case of untimely oil changes and driving on lubricants of dubious quality, contamination by deposits, antifreeze and fuel getting into the oil (in this case we are talking about engine malfunctions), as well as when there is a need to decarbonize the piston rings. However, an important caveat should be made here - if the engine is very dirty and, figuratively speaking, there is tar inside it, then flushing can be harmful. There are known cases when deposits softened and went “free floating”, clogging the oil system and leading to failure of the unit. Before washing the inside of the engine, look into the oil filler neck with a flashlight. In particularly advanced cases, what you see discourages you from flushing the engine - at least partial disassembly of the internal combustion engine is required, followed by mechanical cleaning of wear products.

Engine flush options

Firstly, this is the so-called “five-minute” or five-minute special wash with a high concentration of detergent components, which is poured into old oil. The name of such engine flushing products hints at the method of application - just let the unit run for five to ten minutes at idle, and then drain the used engine oil, change the filter and refill with fresh one.

Secondly, there is flushing oil, which acts as an intermediate link between the old and new material. After the waste is drained, flushing oil is poured into the engine, the unit is allowed to idle for some time (under no circumstances should the unit be loaded at this time), and then it is replaced with a “permanent” lubricant. It is easy to guess that the volume of such oil (flushing) is similar to the amount of constant oil.

When flushing the engine, monitor the oil pressure, especially when it comes to engines with a supercharger system and diesel units, which are usually especially sensitive to oil starvation.

Another way

There is a set of actions that some experts consider the best way to flush the engine. It's not cheap. And it consists in adding an intermediate oil change. Let's say the unit was washed and the base lubricant was added. After a thousand or two, it is drained, after which fresh oil is poured into the engine, and the replacement interval is increased until it corresponds to operating conditions.

Is diesel fuel not an option?

In the CIS countries, the “folk” garage method of washing the engine using diesel fuel or kerosene is known, which has both fans and opponents. It is usually practiced with old Soviet equipment and, according to experts, is dangerous for modern machines. First of all, diesel fuel is aggressive, and therefore has a detrimental effect on seals, oil seals and rubber connections. In addition, some experts point out that fuel that gets into the engine may not dissolve contaminants, but will cause them to peel off and clog the system. Some of the diesel fuel remaining in the engine - and when replacing all the oil is not completely drained, and some of it remains in the engine - will begin to deteriorate the properties of the fresh lubricant.

Pros and cons of flushing the engine before changing the oil

Nowadays, a car has long moved from a luxury item to the category of practically necessary things for every family, and everyone knows that any vehicle needs quality care. The engine, as the most important element of the car, requires regular scheduled maintenance, especially oil changes. Each routine change of fluid in the engine is almost always accompanied by the question: is it necessary to flush the engine when changing the oil, since this procedure has both pros and cons, which will be discussed in this article. We'll tell you what the point of flushing the engine is, how important this process is, and in what situations without it changing the oil is ineffective to improve engine performance, and consider the possible consequences of this procedure.

What is engine flush and flushing oil?

To understand the concept of “engine flushing”, you need to have an idea of ​​the operating technology of the motor itself. During operation, the power unit is responsible for the functionality of the vehicle, ensuring its operation thanks to a complex technical design. The engine operates under temperature and operational loads, during which the parts come into contact and rub intensively, and as a result, waste elements in the form of soot, scale, small grains of dirt, dust, and metal can form on the internal walls of the unit and in hard-to-reach places.

When draining the engine oil during its routine replacement, components negative for the unit are not completely removed from the system, remaining in small quantities on its internal surfaces and in the system passages. In order to completely eliminate them, flushing the system is necessary. Cleaning the inside of a motor is not an easy task, and there is a lot of controversy about it. They mainly concern the aspect of whether this procedure is necessary, and if so, what to use as a washing emulsion. In fact, there are many options for liquids used for this purpose: special additives designed to clean the engine, diesel fuel, like the old-fashioned method, fresh lubricant for the engine, flushing oil and much more.

The most effective option today is considered to be the use of flushing oil to clean the engine. This is a special liquid that is sold in many car dealerships; it is designed to remove blockages and slag elements from the internal working components of the engine. This product is intended for direct pouring into the motor after removal of waste and operation of the machine with lubricant filled for some time - in each specific case, the manufacturer indicates the period during which the liquid should be in the system. At this time, the machine must be operated, however, without stress on the engine, sudden starts and stops, overheating and intensive driving, since the technological properties of the flushing oil do not provide adequate lubrication of the unit components. During the operation of the car, due to the presence of special microelements in the emulsion, hard-to-reach channels and engine interiors are cleaned of accumulations.

Flushing emulsions simultaneously contain both aggressive components that perform the function of peeling and breaking down scale, and a decent coefficient of gentle additives that soften the impact of hard elements on the unit to the maximum. At the end of the flushing period, the liquid is drained from the system along with contaminant particles, and fresh engine oil is poured into the engine. Manufacturers claim that after cleaning the engine with flushing oil, the operating period of the engine will increase, and the unit itself will work “like a watch,” reliably and uninterruptedly.

Is it necessary to flush the engine when changing the oil?

The debate about whether an engine flush is necessary before changing the oil has been debated by experts and specialists for many years. The first take the position that it is necessary to clean the engine before adding new lubricant, while others argue that this procedure will do more harm to the engine than prolong its service life. And the most interesting thing is that each side has indisputable evidence that they are right. According to opponents of the theory, who, when asked whether to flush the engine when changing the oil, say a categorical “no”, flushing oils cause significant harm to the engine due to the following factors:

1. The aggressive components present in the composition of flushing emulsions, “corroding” scale elements, simultaneously damage the structure of the internal surfaces of functioning components, which threatens their deformation and failure of the power unit.
2. The presence of detergent additives in the flushing oil is dangerous due to the cleansing of contacting parts from lubricant, which during operation of the machine is fraught with a decrease in the wear resistance of the mechanisms; their operation “dry” provokes the formation of scuffing and affects the operational characteristics of the mechanisms.
3. When carrying out routine maintenance of the machine and using only high-quality motor oils for the engine, engine clogging is practically reduced to zero, which contradicts the need for flushing and its expediency.

However, the question of whether it is necessary to wash the engine before changing the oil also has adherents who note the effectiveness and necessity of this procedure:

1. In practice, every car owner who personally changes the engine oil can make sure that the amount of fluid entering the engine differs significantly from the displacement prescribed in the car manufacturer’s regulations. This suggests that the waste is not completely removed from the system when it is drained; about ten percent of the emulsion remains in the unit. After filling in new motor oil, the lubricants are mixed, during which an unexpected chemical reaction may occur, the consequences of which can only be guessed at.
2. During operation of the machine, small particles and carbon deposits form in the power unit, which tend to settle on surfaces, clogging thin, hard-to-reach passages with a durable coating. If the system is not flushed, slag accumulations will only increase, which sooner or later will lead to oil starvation of individual components of the system and will result in a major overhaul of the motor as a result of its failure. There is no way to cope with such deposits without special cleaning agents.

Since each side has strong arguments in favor of its theory, the car owner most often has to decide for himself whether a flushing procedure is necessary for the engine of his car. In this case, the decision must be individual and justified in each specific case. Let's consider further what situations are a 100% indicator for flushing the engine, and when this procedure can be dispensed with.

Situations when flushing the engine is a mandatory procedure

Every car owner should decide whether the engine should be flushed before changing the oil carefully, based on the preliminary operational history of the car and the quality of previous services. There are situations when flushing the engine is, although radical, a necessary procedure.

Such situations include a radical change in the type of lubricant poured into the engine. The fact is that different manufacturers add various additives, additives and microelements to motor oil, which may be incompatible with each other. In an engine, when switching to another type of oil, the components of the new lubricant may enter into a chemical reaction with the ingredients of the used motor oil. This can affect both the quality characteristics of the fluid and the performance of its tasks, and also have an aggressive effect on the surfaces of the motor, causing their deformation. There are also pitfalls in this situation: is it necessary to flush the engine if the transition is to another brand of oil, the technological characteristics of which are identical to the previously used types of lubricant? In this case, the car owner needs to study the composition of lubricants in detail in order to make a rational decision, however, in most cases, the answer to the question about the need for flushing is positive.

Overhaul of the engine is the second factor that determines the need to clean the engine using flushing oil. During the process of dismantling the unit and its reassembly, foreign components may enter the system, which negatively affect the operational characteristics of the unit. In this case, flushing is mandatory and should be carried out immediately after the overhaul. Severe clogging of the engine oil, which can be clearly identified when draining the waste, or the fact that foreign liquids enter the system during vehicle operation are also indicators for flushing the power unit.

Cleaning the engine after buying a car secondhand is no longer a mandatory procedure, but a precautionary measure for the new owner to eradicate the “negative consequences” of the previous operation of the car. Whether it is necessary to perform a flush when changing the oil in this situation, or to trust the words of the previous owner of the car - this is an individual decision. It is almost impossible to check how truthful the information of the former car owner is, so the new owner of the car should either rely on intuition, or still flush the engine and be sure of its further normal operation. Experts recommend taking action rather than taking your word for it. If the car was purchased at a dealership, service work is carried out according to regulations and efficiently, then the need to flush the engine of your vehicle may never arise.

Possible negative consequences of flushing the power unit

Flushing the internal combustion engine is an extreme and radical measure for cleaning the power unit, which may not only not be useful for your car, but also cause a lot of trouble in the future, even to the point of failure. If there are no direct indications for flushing, then it is better to abandon this idea and change the oil without additional cleaning of the unit. Before making a positive decision whether it is necessary to flush the engine when changing the oil, carefully weigh all the pros and cons of this procedure, and a list of possible negative consequences of flushing will help you do this:

1. Flushing emulsions, as well as waste, can remain in the system after draining, which is dangerous due to the mixing of residual components with new oil. This negatively affects the quality of the oil, reduces its protective properties, which accelerates the wear of parts and reduces their service life.
2. The detergent components included in the washing products are characterized by the active action of an aggressive plan. When mixed with new oil, these ingredients continue to affect the parts, progressively corroding the sealing elements of the system, which results in their deformation, violation of the tightness of the system, and the occurrence of oil leaks.
3. Engine breakdown is a common consequence of flushing it when changing the oil. Often, the flushing emulsion does not have time to completely cope with the existing deposits within the allotted period, significantly softening them, but not removing them from the system. When new oil is added, which also contains detergent components in moderate quantities, the softened scale peels off and its circulation begins along with the liquid through the system. During circulation, these particles clog the filter and thin lines, which leads to oil starvation of individual engine components, which results in disruption of the operation of the unit, and sometimes completely disables it.

As you can see, flushing the engine can become not only a useless procedure for the engine of your car, but also dangerous for its functionality.

Let's sum it up

Flushing the power unit is a procedure that is sometimes very necessary for a vehicle engine, however, it hides pitfalls. On the one hand, the procedure helps to cleanse the internal system of the engine from accumulations that arise during its operation, on the other hand, it poses a threat to its functionality in the form of unforeseen consequences. Deciding whether to flush your engine can sometimes be very difficult. In such situations, it is better to contact specialists who can diagnose the operation of the system and give practical advice, and even better, carry out such procedures only at a service station. If you are confident in your abilities, and the need for flushing is obvious, take a responsible approach to the procedure itself, as well as to the choice of liquid with which you will clean the unit.