to flush or not to flush, aye, that is the question!

[captainluigi]

1996 q45t, 103k miles, always dealer maintained with dealer recomended oci. now has HLA ticking, not always but most always. have switched to 10w30 valvoline syn. would it be a good idea to flush eng and if so with what and how? have read MANY threads and and still dont know what to do. what do the infiniti techs suggest? thanx for any input.

[elwesso]

Id skip it... Id go with some BG quick clean or something like that.....

[Q451990]

Fresh conventional oil... add a half can... drain, repeat, drain... then fresh oil. That would be my first step. There's a lot more danger in flushing too agressively vs. not flushing at all. You don't want to loosen up too much stuff too fast and plug up the oil pick-up.

I have also heard good things about the Envirolution flush - so if this doesn't I'd try that next. If it's reasonably economical I might even skip the BG Quik Kleen and go straight to an Envirolution type flush...

Heath

[Q45denver]

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

[Q451990]

Those clumps of sludge in the filter on that site scare me! Clumps are bad! Slow is good in this case...

Heath

[captainluigi]

i was of the same mind but become confused when differing opinions abound. guess thats why tere called opinions. no local BG products available, what is your take on Seafoam? similar? plenty of it on the shelves. thanx for the prompt response.

[Q45denver]

Just add half a bottle instead of a whole one at first. Then a couple ounces at each oil change.

Those clumps of sludge in the filter on that site scare me! Clumps are bad! Slow is good in this case...

Heath

.

[Q45denver]

Fresh conventional oil... add a half can... drain, repeat, drain... then fresh oil. That would be my first step. There's a lot more danger in flushing too agressively vs. not flushing at all. You don't want to loosen up too much stuff too fast and plug up the oil pick-up.

I have also heard good things about the Envirolution flush - so if this doesn't I'd try that next. If it's reasonably economical I might even skip the BG Quik Kleen and go straight to an Envirolution type flush...

Heath

Probably wouldn't be a bad idea to install an oil pressue gauge. At least you'd have some warning that your engine is about to seize instead of the idiot light which just tells you that your engine is toast.

[captainluigi]

i LIKE the oil press. gauge idea. have one on every other eng. i own, 6.5 onan gen + both 7.4liter gm,s. however i have no idea where i would take it from or to. any ideas?

[Q45denver]

Yes, either piggyback or install in lieu of oil pressure sensor. Fitting is NPT 28.

[elwesso]

id just bypass the idiot light...... When you unplug it the light isnt on...

[maxnix]

http://www.envirolution.com

Call Tom Mackin (206) 550-2914 and he will help you find a shop that can do it.

Read the oil thread, and you will discover various high detergent oils for rapid cleaning with aggressive changes.

Member's standards vary - Q45tech

[qship96]

try Redline 5w-30 for a 5,000 mile interval before spending a ton on a engine flush- very high detergent synthetic ester based oil that cleans and keeps engines clean{been using it on my 96q for the last 70,000 miles} and used mobil 1 for the first 100,000 miles- engine is spotless when looking thru filler hole.

[Jesda]

A Bilstein or Envirolution machine flush will circulate a heated chemical through your engine multiple times. A chemical flush or a cleaning agent poses the risk of loosening debris and clogging your oil passages.