Oil Flush

No.

A "flush" is never a good idea, under any circumstances.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(adam1991 @ Apr 5 2007, 10:12 AM) [snapback]418142[/snapback]</div>

There is never a reason for an oil flush.

I've never done one, and never will.

For example, on the first oil change, I went with full synthetic oil. There is no need to do any oil flush when switching between synthetic and conventional oil.

By the way, the motor oil that came in my Prius looked like synthetic, or a synthetic blend.

Harry

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Earthling @ Apr 5 2007, 10:21 AM) [snapback]418145[/snapback]</div>

Harry,
How can one tell if the oil looks synthetic or not? Thanks.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ScottY @ Apr 5 2007, 09:42 AM) [snapback]418245[/snapback]</div>

There are no dino bits in the synthetic B) .

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ScottY @ Apr 5 2007, 12:42 PM) [snapback]418245[/snapback]</div>

I could be wrong, but it had that "less black, more slippery feel" that I am used to. Maybe it smells different. Anyway, the oil in all my motors, including my Briggs & Stratton lawn mower engine get nothing but full synthetic oil.

Harry

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Earthling @ Apr 5 2007, 04:29 PM) [snapback]418400[/snapback]</div>

You know, this is similar to the "how often should I change my oil" discussion.

Full synthetic in a lawnmower is overkill, just like 3K oil changes are overkill. But they're both cheap insurance--very cheap.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Earthling @ Apr 5 2007, 03:29 PM) [snapback]418400[/snapback]</div>

Some engines just don't do much to an oil, and some oils look lighter, some darker. Castrol's current version of GTX, their baseline dino, is a very pale blonde formulation (using it for a couple OCI in my wife's new Avalon). By contrast, the best synthetic, even a true PAO/ester, if used in a diesel, will be gross sooty black within minutes of being installed. You really can't tell much about an oil by the look.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(adam1991 @ Apr 5 2007, 04:48 PM) [snapback]418412[/snapback]</div>

Actually this is not true as it isn't cheap insurance. It costs more in the long run by changing good oil.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rest @ Apr 8 2007, 07:11 AM) [snapback]419768[/snapback]</div>

If you know it to be good.

If you don't know--and without an analysis, you don't--then it's cheap insurance.

 

No nO NO!!

Never nEVER NEVER!!!

Dont' Flush!! Never Flush!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(adam1991 @ Apr 5 2007, 04:48 PM) [snapback]418412[/snapback]</div>

Not really. What kind of oil pump, and oil pressure do you have in a Briggs and Stratton motor? If anything, full synthetic is needed more in the lawn mower than anywhere else. I've noticed lawn mower engines don't last very long at all with conventional oil. The conditions are terrible: no oil pressure, and they run very hot, a recipe for short engine life. Full synthetic helps those tortured engines last longer.

As far as cost, I think the lawnmower holds 0.6 quarts, and I change the oil once a year.

Harry

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rangerdavid @ Apr 8 2007, 07:24 AM) [snapback]419780[/snapback]</div>

I'm admittedly dumb. Now, I have never flushed a car's oil ... but ... whay don't you want to do this?

Just curious.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(snowdog650 @ Apr 9 2007, 02:15 AM) [snapback]420132[/snapback]</div>

Snowdog650: I don't think the flush will cause any harm, it's just completely unnecessary!! It's one of those dealer "recommended" items that they make money on and take the customer for a ride. With the Prius, one would have to put well over 150,000 miles on the vehicle to even seriously consider the need for an oil flush, since our ICE only runs part of the time, and not all the time like regular vehicles. Additionally, the flush is supposed to remove engine sluge, which actually won't even occur if one changes the oil as recommended.

Unsuspecting people, and trusting people have been taken advantage of from service departments for years with unnecessary services like this. That's why all of us are saying when you hear the term "flush" from a service dept., Run!!...