Engine Sludge
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Janesville, Wisconsin
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Vehicle: 01 Tiburon
Engine Sludge
What should I get to clean up engine sludge in my engine. I try to change the oil routinely but there has been a couple of times where I went past the scheduled times and I think the engine developed a little bit of sludge inside. So I would like to clean it all out if possible.
#2
Administrator
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Lacey, WA
Posts: 12,515
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Vehicle: Two Accents, Mini, Miata, Van, Outback, and a ZX-6
Use an engine oil flush. I use one made by Gunk. I put it in right before an oil change, run the engine for a while like it says in the directions, then just change your oil like normal.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,682
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Vehicle: 1991 Impulse RS
I try to stay away from engine "flushes". Those flushes can't be good for the seals and gaskets inside the motor. If I were you I'd change my oil using some cheap dino oil, drive for 100 miles or so then change it again with some good stuff. Kinda rinse the motor out.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Illinois
Posts: 1,021
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Vehicle: 2010 Genesis Coupe 2L track
Get some Auto-RX, two bottles if you can. It's an enzmye like additive that breaks down the carbon sludge and encapsulates it so the filter stops it.
Woks like they say but takes a while. All you do is add it and drive, change filter halfway through your normal OCI then use some straight oil for a couple thousand, then add another bottle.
http://auto-rx.com/
Woks like they say but takes a while. All you do is add it and drive, change filter halfway through your normal OCI then use some straight oil for a couple thousand, then add another bottle.
http://auto-rx.com/
#5
Super Moderator
The Gunk flush product will not harm your engine or any seals. If the engine would be leaking but for the sludge build-up, the flush will show you that, but the flush is not the source of a problem. I've run several flushes (about due for one again come to think of it) just as preventative maintenance every couple of years.
If you want to not worry about sludge, use a quality synthetic oil like Pennzoil Platinum or Mobil 1 and change it every 4-6k miles. Also only use OEM or other high quality filters (read: not the cheap FRAM) to prevent top-end oil starvation. A high quality oil will keep your engine clean, even if you go a little long on the oil change interval.
If you want to not worry about sludge, use a quality synthetic oil like Pennzoil Platinum or Mobil 1 and change it every 4-6k miles. Also only use OEM or other high quality filters (read: not the cheap FRAM) to prevent top-end oil starvation. A high quality oil will keep your engine clean, even if you go a little long on the oil change interval.