Using diesel fuel to clean engine?

[wild_maxx]

I recently bought a used kaE with approx. 180k miles on it. THIS THING IS DIRTY INSIDE!!. I took the valve cover off and there is oil caked all over the inside head. i removed the oil pan and the same dark oil is caked all over inside. A mechanic i work with told me, once i install the motor, fill it up with diesel instead of oil and it will clean all that crap out. Diesel has about 30% oil in the fuel, so this should work? I had already thought about the seafoam in the oil, but i may need something stronger than that.

[AZhitman]

Ummmm, no.

Sounds like a better idea would be to pull the head and clean it, clean all the oil passages, and reassemble with new seals, new HG and new oil pump.

Basically, at 180K miles you're looking at a rebuild anyway.

If you just want it to run as long as possible without messing with it, do a series of 10-20 frequent oil changes.

Alternate between Seafoam and using a quart of transmission fluid (instead of one quart of oil).

That MIGHT reduce the sludge, but it's not gonna undo years of abuse.

[Kaikias]

I have heard of using diesel but only about a cup full. I know diesel will eat through some rubbers, like hoses. This would make me wonder if it would eat through such rubber gaskets like the front and rear mains as well as valve cover gasket. I would change the oil on like a weekly basis for a month and then use the seafoam afterward for every oil change.

Not to thread jack but I have heard of other solvents like seafoam pourd into the motor cause the oil passages to clog it the buildup is bad. Anyone ever heard of this?

[yellow_jacket]

Just to play, I have used some diesel to clean out some old motors that were trashed. It definetely cleaned the motor out, but all of the stuff that comes loose must go somewhere. Not only that, but it tends to aggravate oil leaks.

I definetely would not do it to anything I planned on driving for long. If you want the motor to last longer, just keep the oil changed and run it til it dies.

[pr240sx]

I used diesel on a old engine before (not Nissan though)I used the thinnest oil on the shelf, added one quart oe diesel (overfilling) to the engine. Be sure to have replacement seals ready and be warned that you can clog the oil pickup if you dont clean it afterwards. Warm up the engine (highway driving work the best)Drain the oil and add the new "mix" change the oil filter too!!Start the engine at the lowest rpm possible!If you can, prime the engine before.DO NOT DRIVE OR REV THE ENGINE THE CAR!!! Keep the engine running no more than 10 minutes.Drain all the crap and refill with normal viscosity oil. Restart the engine.Drain the oil and remove the oil pan, clean the oil pickup and oil pan.Change both front and rear seals.Fill with good quality oil.

Never did this on a KA. This was performed on a Buick engine (turbo) Engine had 120k miles back then.Engine still run good today!!Dunno if the KA is as reliable but I know for sure that removing the oil pan is not as easy!!

[Kouks]

Kerosene works good to clean parts on a rebuild. Cleaning the carbon off the pistons with kerosene and a thick paintbrush.