Engine Sludge Clean Up: Silly Question?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 463
Likes: 4
From: Park City, UT
Engine Sludge Clean Up: Silly Question?
So there I was, picking up a new breaker bar at the autoparts place when the subject of engine sludge build-up (from not having a catch can or escape path for the oil blowby) came up.
Gues what the guy who "owned a shop back in Oklahoma" recommended...
Transmision Fluid!
Yep, Transmision Fluid. He recommended 1 Qt of Trans Fluid, to fresh oil and check the color every hundred miles or so. When the oil starts to turn dark, change it. Then repeat the process until you can run at least 1K miles without discoloration.
I mentioned my concerns for gaskets, internal components, etc. but he seemed to beleive there were no issues.
Having heard this, I couldn't wait to run it past the brightest minds I knew. They weren't available so I thought I'd post the question here. (Just kidding!).
So, has anyone ever heard of or done such a thing?
If so, what was the result?
Gues what the guy who "owned a shop back in Oklahoma" recommended...
Transmision Fluid!
Yep, Transmision Fluid. He recommended 1 Qt of Trans Fluid, to fresh oil and check the color every hundred miles or so. When the oil starts to turn dark, change it. Then repeat the process until you can run at least 1K miles without discoloration.
I mentioned my concerns for gaskets, internal components, etc. but he seemed to beleive there were no issues.
Having heard this, I couldn't wait to run it past the brightest minds I knew. They weren't available so I thought I'd post the question here. (Just kidding!).
So, has anyone ever heard of or done such a thing?
If so, what was the result?
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,276
Likes: 5
From: Ambler Pa.
So there I was, picking up a new breaker bar at the autoparts place when the subject of engine sludge build-up (from not having a catch can or escape path for the oil blowby) came up.
Gues what the guy who "owned a shop back in Oklahoma" recommended...
Transmision Fluid!
Yep, Transmision Fluid. He recommended 1 Qt of Trans Fluid, to fresh oil and check the color every hundred miles or so. When the oil starts to turn dark, change it. Then repeat the process until you can run at least 1K miles without discoloration.
I mentioned my concerns for gaskets, internal components, etc. but he seemed to beleive there were no issues.
Having heard this, I couldn't wait to run it past the brightest minds I knew. They weren't available so I thought I'd post the question here. (Just kidding!).
So, has anyone ever heard of or done such a thing?
If so, what was the result?
Gues what the guy who "owned a shop back in Oklahoma" recommended...
Transmision Fluid!
Yep, Transmision Fluid. He recommended 1 Qt of Trans Fluid, to fresh oil and check the color every hundred miles or so. When the oil starts to turn dark, change it. Then repeat the process until you can run at least 1K miles without discoloration.
I mentioned my concerns for gaskets, internal components, etc. but he seemed to beleive there were no issues.
Having heard this, I couldn't wait to run it past the brightest minds I knew. They weren't available so I thought I'd post the question here. (Just kidding!).
So, has anyone ever heard of or done such a thing?
If so, what was the result?
I knew an older guy who insisted on 1 qt of atf in the crankcase every oil change.He had a 51 chevy truck, straight 6, over 150,000 miles on it. The motor had never been opened and it was silent! I have used atf with oil as a flush or to free up a sticky lifter, but then changed to all oil thereafter.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 735
Likes: 3
From: New Harmony IN
St. Jude Donor '09
Back 25 years or so our garage (had a fleet of 50-60 trucks) they would throw in a qt of tranny fluid with every oil change. Especially on the 351 ford motors they would have some lifter issues and this is what would calm them down. Seems like they ran either a 10-40 or 15-40 at the time and had some sludge issues also as these trucks were used and abused. Idling a lot with a lot of stop and go driving on dusty country roads.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 457
Likes: 1
From: Lawrenceville Georgia
I refuse to do a flush on my Corvette. On my previous turbo cars, the two times I had a turbo failure were due to an engine flush. (all that crap circulating clogged the oil feed line of the turbo).
Besides, we run full synthetic from the factory. As long as your oil is changed regularly there should NEVER be sludge inside your engine. Now inside your intake manifold might be a different story
Besides, we run full synthetic from the factory. As long as your oil is changed regularly there should NEVER be sludge inside your engine. Now inside your intake manifold might be a different story
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 27,420
Likes: 64
From: San Clemente CA
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
You have an oil bypass done so there is no reason to worry about building up anything up top.
Also, blow-by (oil getting past rings) isnt affected by catch cans or breather cans because with blow by the oil gets into the combustion chamber past the rings and there's no way to catch it in a can or otherwise.
As far as crank case build up, change the oil when you're supposed to before it breaks down and leave trans fluid for the trans.
Also, blow-by (oil getting past rings) isnt affected by catch cans or breather cans because with blow by the oil gets into the combustion chamber past the rings and there's no way to catch it in a can or otherwise.
As far as crank case build up, change the oil when you're supposed to before it breaks down and leave trans fluid for the trans.
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Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,712
Likes: 3
From: TEXOMA
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
hmm, the only atf ive used not in a transmission, was to pour in the spark plug holes of my rx7's rotary motor,, couple squirts and some bumps to the starter, would free an otherwise complete stuck apex seal, saving me a rebuild,, also done once a year to remove carbon, let it sit over night, fired it up, watched it smoke like a BIZZZATCH! ,, then changed the plugs. good as new!!
older oils didn't have detergents that trannys have, new oils do have detergents, so doing that today, is just a waste
-carl
older oils didn't have detergents that trannys have, new oils do have detergents, so doing that today, is just a waste
-carl
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
hmm, the only atf ive used not in a transmission, was to pour in the spark plug holes of my rx7's rotary motor,, couple squirts and some bumps to the starter, would free an otherwise complete stuck apex seal, saving me a rebuild,, also done once a year to remove carbon, let it sit over night, fired it up, watched it smoke like a BIZZZATCH! ,, then changed the plugs. good as new!!
older oils didn't have detergents that trannys have, new oils do have detergents, so doing that today, is just a waste
-carl
older oils didn't have detergents that trannys have, new oils do have detergents, so doing that today, is just a waste
-carl
Ive had numerous LS engines opened up. Ive NEVER seen any SLUDGE! The castrol GTX commercials try to play on your fears to take cash out of your pocket. Use a GOOD synthetic changed when the DIC tell you to and you will NEVER have any S L U D G E issues!
BC
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: King George VA
If you are really worried, I'd use this which is actually designed for this application and you don't have to run around with it in your car:AMSOIL Engine Flush (product code AEFCN)
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2019 Z06 2LZ A8 Coupe
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Atlanta GA
So there I was, picking up a new breaker bar at the autoparts place when the subject of engine sludge build-up (from not having a catch can or escape path for the oil blowby) came up.
Gues what the guy who "owned a shop back in Oklahoma" recommended...
Transmision Fluid!
Yep, Transmision Fluid. He recommended 1 Qt of Trans Fluid, to fresh oil and check the color every hundred miles or so. When the oil starts to turn dark, change it. Then repeat the process until you can run at least 1K miles without discoloration.
I mentioned my concerns for gaskets, internal components, etc. but he seemed to beleive there were no issues.
Having heard this, I couldn't wait to run it past the brightest minds I knew. They weren't available so I thought I'd post the question here. (Just kidding!).
So, has anyone ever heard of or done such a thing?
If so, what was the result?
Gues what the guy who "owned a shop back in Oklahoma" recommended...
Transmision Fluid!
Yep, Transmision Fluid. He recommended 1 Qt of Trans Fluid, to fresh oil and check the color every hundred miles or so. When the oil starts to turn dark, change it. Then repeat the process until you can run at least 1K miles without discoloration.
I mentioned my concerns for gaskets, internal components, etc. but he seemed to beleive there were no issues.
Having heard this, I couldn't wait to run it past the brightest minds I knew. They weren't available so I thought I'd post the question here. (Just kidding!).
So, has anyone ever heard of or done such a thing?
If so, what was the result?
Use a good synthetic oil, and don't use any additives. Modern detergent oils changed regularly will keep the motor clean.
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Lexington KY
It is not a silly question. While modern engines don't have much of a sludge issue, I still see engine failures/turbo failures on premium vehicles due to engine sludge/blocked oil ports, even though the engines use quality full synthetic oil (petro-based synthetic, that is).
Yes, there are engine flushes available, but if done properly, and with enough precaution, using ATF to flush an engine can be highly effective.
As was stated, getting all that junk loosened up and moving can be potential restrictions, but that is where precaution comes in.
Never letting things get to this point is ideal, but it's a practice that when needed can be effective.
Yes, there are engine flushes available, but if done properly, and with enough precaution, using ATF to flush an engine can be highly effective.
As was stated, getting all that junk loosened up and moving can be potential restrictions, but that is where precaution comes in.
Never letting things get to this point is ideal, but it's a practice that when needed can be effective.
Last edited by Holistic Performance; Jul 5, 2009 at 10:14 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
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From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
I dont think GM is the be-all engine designer and I definitely dont think that they designed the best engine for the current corvette. Current blunders of GM's include: An oil return system that allows the engine to ingest huge amounts of oil causing massive amounts of carbon build-up, a gas gauge that jumps between full and empty, a delaminating top, a harmaonic balancer that falls off the engine because it didnt fit, an active handling system that goes bad because they put a bad connector in the streering column, and lets not forget the famous steering column lock that just locks on some cars when they are being driven. I have even seen some cars filing for servioce because the active handling system made them hit the car to the side of them in another lane when it locks up a single wheel's brake.
I'm sorry if I dont think GM does it best.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,642
Likes: 9
From: Dalllas/Ft Worth Area TX
You're right, GM is a slow learner!
When GM needed a head design for the 1995 4 valve heads they went to Lotus. When they wanted an improvement to the heads on the LS1 they went to Lingenfelter.
I dont think GM is the be-all engine designer and I definitely dont think that they designed the best engine for the current corvette. Current blunders of GM's include: An oil return system that allows the engine to ingest huge amounts of oil causing massive amounts of carbon build-up, a gas gauge that jumps between full and empty, a delaminating top, a harmaonic balancer that falls off the engine because it didnt fit, an active handling system that goes bad because they put a bad connector in the streering column, and lets not forget the famous steering column lock that just locks on some cars when they are being driven. I have even seen some cars filing for servioce because the active handling system made them hit the car to the side of them in another lane when it locks up a single wheel's brake.
I'm sorry if I dont think GM does it best.
I dont think GM is the be-all engine designer and I definitely dont think that they designed the best engine for the current corvette. Current blunders of GM's include: An oil return system that allows the engine to ingest huge amounts of oil causing massive amounts of carbon build-up, a gas gauge that jumps between full and empty, a delaminating top, a harmaonic balancer that falls off the engine because it didnt fit, an active handling system that goes bad because they put a bad connector in the streering column, and lets not forget the famous steering column lock that just locks on some cars when they are being driven. I have even seen some cars filing for servioce because the active handling system made them hit the car to the side of them in another lane when it locks up a single wheel's brake.
I'm sorry if I dont think GM does it best.
