Date: Tue, 9 Jan 2007 19:31:08 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject: Re: Flushing the crankcase
In-Reply-To: <de48c0be0701091403q69d9c375xa7a2e785255943d9@mail.gmail.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
I was being sarcastic about the benefits!
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
mordo
Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2007 5:04 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Fwd: Flushing the crankcase
I wa specifically thinking about possible damage to seals and cranking
without an oil film. I suppose if one suspected a blocked passage, it would
be best to deal with it locally rather than by flushing with solvent.
50K miles worth of wear doesn't seem like a benefit, Dennis. ;)
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: dhaynes@optonline.net <dhaynes@optonline.net>
Date: Jan 9, 2007 4:37 PM
Subject: Re: Flushing the crankcase
To: mordo <helmut.blong@gmail.com>
Cc: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
The major benefit is that is short order you put about 50,000 miles or more
wear on the bearings and if the engine is full of gunk, you can loosen it
and clog the inlet screen for the oil pump. On engines with removable pans,
the screen can be cleaned but in the Water Boxer, you are looking at a full
rebuild. Also, the solvents can do some damage to the seals. Even just
cranking, once the oil film is washed off the bearings, wear will begin.
Solvents will also remove the dry lube or boundary lubrication additives
that provide lubrication until oil under pressure fills the bearings.
Todays oils have enough detergents and additives that flushes are not
required or beneficial. Neither are most additives. Change the oil more
often if needed. If there is stuff inside the galleys or corners of the
crankcase, so what? Leave it there. If you want to improve lubrication, use
better oils, synthetics. As for oil condition, appearance does not really
tell you much. Oil analysis is the way go. Oil sampling kits are available
at Caterpillar dealers for ~ $15. Often they have the kits on sale for less
if you are wiling to go for quantities of 10 or so. The also have coolant
test kits. Oil testing will give an idea of oil life and detect even
minute amounts of antifreeze getting into the oil.
Dennis
----- Original Message -----
From: mordo
Date: Tuesday, January 9, 2007 3:16 pm
Subject: Flushing the crankcase
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Okay, here's one for eveyone's amusement:
>
> Would there be a benefit to draining the crankcase of oil,
> filling with
> mineral spirits, letting it soak for a few hours, disabling the
> spark and
> then cranking the engine to work it around? Seems to me it could
> help to
> remove some gunk from the case and galleys.
>
> Anyone tried this or something similar?
>
> --
> mordo
> 1990 Carat
>
--
mordo
1990 Carat
