Engine Flush
Rock Crawling
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 447
Likes: 1
From: Northern Vermont
Seeing as the summer temps here in FL are pretty high I would like to keep with synthetic versus going back to Conventional.. Will the rotella 5w40 be ok down here or should I use the Total 10w50 full synthetic like I use in my Audi?
The Total 10w-50 would be good, so would a 20w-50.
I'd like to give my .02 on the whole ATF flush situation. First off, I would never put anything else BUT motor oil in my engine. ATF fluid does not have the lubrication properties of motor oil. It's like putting water in your crankcase.
Second, years ago many people did put ATF fluid in their engine to clean it. The procedure, however, was to add a half quart to your current motor oil, run it for 500 miles, then change it with 100% motor oil. Until I came here, I have never heard of putting 100% ATF fluid in your engine. It just doesn't have the lubrication properties of motor oil, and with the high mileage that our vehicles have, it can't be good for your vehicle.
It's also HIGHLY debatable whether ATF fluid actually cleans your engine. The whole concept came about mostly because mechanics noticed that transmissions were spotless on the inside, as opposed to engines, which were very dirty. They assumed that ATF fluid had some sort of cleaning ability. The fact of the matter, however, was that transmissions were so clean because they don't have blowby, carbon, and moisture build up like an engine. They have clutch friction material which gets filtered out, but its a sealed system in which no combustion takes place. There is nothing to make a tranny dirty in the first place, so people assumed that the fluid scrubbed it clean. ATF may clean your engine somewhat, but its because its the equivalent of 20wt oil, and it flows better in the nooks and crannies of the engine. The damage it does, however, probably exceeds its usefulness as a detergent.
Lastly, as far as motor oil, as long as you use the correct weight, almost any motor oil is OK to put in your engine, with maybe one or two exceptions. I prefer Mobile 1 high mileage. It is an excellent lubricant, and it has a good amount of detergents to clean your engine slowly, and thus minimizes the risk of breaking loose big globs of gunk that could potentially harm something else inside your engine. Rotella is also a good motor oil, but keep in mind most people use it because it's cheap, and you can get it in big jugs from Walmart.
Second, years ago many people did put ATF fluid in their engine to clean it. The procedure, however, was to add a half quart to your current motor oil, run it for 500 miles, then change it with 100% motor oil. Until I came here, I have never heard of putting 100% ATF fluid in your engine. It just doesn't have the lubrication properties of motor oil, and with the high mileage that our vehicles have, it can't be good for your vehicle.
It's also HIGHLY debatable whether ATF fluid actually cleans your engine. The whole concept came about mostly because mechanics noticed that transmissions were spotless on the inside, as opposed to engines, which were very dirty. They assumed that ATF fluid had some sort of cleaning ability. The fact of the matter, however, was that transmissions were so clean because they don't have blowby, carbon, and moisture build up like an engine. They have clutch friction material which gets filtered out, but its a sealed system in which no combustion takes place. There is nothing to make a tranny dirty in the first place, so people assumed that the fluid scrubbed it clean. ATF may clean your engine somewhat, but its because its the equivalent of 20wt oil, and it flows better in the nooks and crannies of the engine. The damage it does, however, probably exceeds its usefulness as a detergent.
Lastly, as far as motor oil, as long as you use the correct weight, almost any motor oil is OK to put in your engine, with maybe one or two exceptions. I prefer Mobile 1 high mileage. It is an excellent lubricant, and it has a good amount of detergents to clean your engine slowly, and thus minimizes the risk of breaking loose big globs of gunk that could potentially harm something else inside your engine. Rotella is also a good motor oil, but keep in mind most people use it because it's cheap, and you can get it in big jugs from Walmart.
Last edited by Eaglerover22; Apr 24, 2012 at 08:39 AM.
I'd like to give my .02 on the whole ATF flush situation. First off, I would never put anything else BUT motor oil in my engine. ATF fluid does not have the lubrication properties of motor oil. It's like putting water in your crankcase.
Second, years ago many people did put ATF fluid in their engine to clean it. The procedure, however, was to add a half quart to your current motor oil, run it for 500 miles, then change it with 100% motor oil. Until I came here, I have never heard of putting 100% ATF fluid in your engine. It just doesn't have the lubrication properties of motor oil, and with the high mileage that our vehicles have, it can't be good for your vehicle.
It's also HIGHLY debatable whether ATF fluid actually cleans your engine. The whole concept came about mostly because mechanics noticed that transmissions were spotless on the inside, as opposed to engines, which were very dirty. They assumed that ATF fluid had some sort of cleaning ability. The fact of the matter, however, was that transmissions were so clean because they don't have blowby, carbon, and moisture build up like an engine. They have clutch friction material which gets filtered out, but its a sealed system in which no combustion takes place. There is nothing to make a tranny dirty in the first place, so people assumed that the fluid scrubbed it clean. ATF may clean your engine somewhat, but its because its the equivalent of 20wt oil, and it flows better in the nooks and crannies of the engine. The damage it does, however, probably exceeds its usefulness as a detergent.
Lastly, as far as motor oil, as long as you use the correct weight, almost any motor oil is OK to put in your engine, with maybe one or two exceptions. I prefer Mobile 1 high mileage. It is an excellent lubricant, and it has a good amount of detergents to clean your engine slowly, and thus minimizes the risk of breaking loose big globs of gunk that could potentially harm something else inside your engine. Rotella is also a good motor oil, but keep in mind most people use it because it's cheap, and you can get it in big jugs from Walmart.
Second, years ago many people did put ATF fluid in their engine to clean it. The procedure, however, was to add a half quart to your current motor oil, run it for 500 miles, then change it with 100% motor oil. Until I came here, I have never heard of putting 100% ATF fluid in your engine. It just doesn't have the lubrication properties of motor oil, and with the high mileage that our vehicles have, it can't be good for your vehicle.
It's also HIGHLY debatable whether ATF fluid actually cleans your engine. The whole concept came about mostly because mechanics noticed that transmissions were spotless on the inside, as opposed to engines, which were very dirty. They assumed that ATF fluid had some sort of cleaning ability. The fact of the matter, however, was that transmissions were so clean because they don't have blowby, carbon, and moisture build up like an engine. They have clutch friction material which gets filtered out, but its a sealed system in which no combustion takes place. There is nothing to make a tranny dirty in the first place, so people assumed that the fluid scrubbed it clean. ATF may clean your engine somewhat, but its because its the equivalent of 20wt oil, and it flows better in the nooks and crannies of the engine. The damage it does, however, probably exceeds its usefulness as a detergent.
Lastly, as far as motor oil, as long as you use the correct weight, almost any motor oil is OK to put in your engine, with maybe one or two exceptions. I prefer Mobile 1 high mileage. It is an excellent lubricant, and it has a good amount of detergents to clean your engine slowly, and thus minimizes the risk of breaking loose big globs of gunk that could potentially harm something else inside your engine. Rotella is also a good motor oil, but keep in mind most people use it because it's cheap, and you can get it in big jugs from Walmart.
I have been thinking about this, maybe if a guy used 5w-20 motor oil as a engine flush if one was so inclined?
It is very thin and would hit all the nooks and crannies, and flush over everything like a solvent.
Put that in, run it for a day and then change the oil again?
It is specifically designed for hybrids which tend to sludge up because of the constant start/stop of the engine.
Just a thought.
Recovery Vehicle
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 8
From: NNJ
No sir, 0w20 will do nothing to clean your engine. The last 4 family trucksters i had for the wifey used that oil. They use that in Japanese engines, usually with the v-tech, vvt, etc. helps with higher revving engines, increased fuel economy, etc. All were performance based SUVs with more hp than torque, vs the opposite on the rovers. 04 Acura MDX, 07 Infiniti FX, 09 Mazda CX-9 and now a 12 Acura MDX. All larger V6 engines between 3.5 and 3.7 liters with 265-300hp.
If you want to clean it, throw in some Seafoam 100 miles before you change it, or some Marvel Mystery Oil. Both intended for the purpose. Oil turns dark quickly.
BTW...what the heck Audi engine you running oil that thick in?
If you want to clean it, throw in some Seafoam 100 miles before you change it, or some Marvel Mystery Oil. Both intended for the purpose. Oil turns dark quickly.
BTW...what the heck Audi engine you running oil that thick in?
Thank you Snafu.
Ford uses the 5w-20 in everything except diesels, including the V8, I think the Cobra and GT use something different but not sure.
My mom's Escape calls for the 5w-20, I use Rotella 5w-40 in it, it is quieter.
I personally dont believe in engine flushes unless you are a problem.
Ford uses the 5w-20 in everything except diesels, including the V8, I think the Cobra and GT use something different but not sure.
My mom's Escape calls for the 5w-20, I use Rotella 5w-40 in it, it is quieter.
I personally dont believe in engine flushes unless you are a problem.