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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: rock_rebel on September 10, 2010, 08:22:27 AM

Title: Flushing oil from engine
Post by: rock_rebel on September 10, 2010, 08:22:27 AM
I would like to get rid of all traces of previous oil/residue that might be still inside my engine. Is there some kind of engine flush I could use to do this?
Title: Re: Flushing oil from engine
Post by: zirconx on September 10, 2010, 08:31:45 AM
This isn't usually a good idea, why do you want to do it?

The auto store will sell "engine flush" stuff that you dump in, run the engine for a bit, then do an oil change.  Plain old transmission fluid is sometimes used as a "flush" too.
Title: Re: Flushing oil from engine
Post by: Big Rich on September 10, 2010, 01:25:07 PM
I've used about a 1/2 quart of kerosene before. Just add it to the crankcase, run it for 5 minutes and change the oil.
Title: Re: Flushing oil from engine
Post by: rock_rebel on September 11, 2010, 07:55:33 AM
Quote from: Big Rich on September 10, 2010, 01:25:07 PM
I've used about a 1/2 quart of kerosene before. Just add it to the crankcase, run it for 5 minutes and change the oil.

Put it in the oil chamber? Not really an important reason why I want to do this, but I thought maybe after years and years of changing different brands of oil that it might affect the performance of the engine. I get Suzuki brand oil from the dealer as it's one of the cheapest in the city. It's just basic oil though, not synthetic.
Title: Re: Flushing oil from engine
Post by: Big Rich on September 11, 2010, 10:24:22 AM
Yep, right in the oil chamber. I work on older engines (older than the GS's) and it helps to get that sludge that hides in the corners of the engine.

And if you run kerosene heaters in the garage like me, a little bit is always handy.
Title: Re: Flushing oil from engine
Post by: rock_rebel on September 15, 2010, 02:22:47 PM
Would I do this and then start the bike? Wouldn't the kerosene ignite?
Title: Re: Flushing oil from engine
Post by: johnny ro on September 15, 2010, 05:14:13 PM
No. You pour it in where the oil goes. Not where the gas goes.
Title: Re: Flushing oil from engine
Post by: ohgood on September 15, 2010, 05:40:47 PM
i'd be afraid of loosening up some crap that would end up pluggin up somehting important.
:dunno_white:
Title: Re: Flushing oil from engine
Post by: burning1 on September 15, 2010, 05:59:34 PM
If you want to clean out your engine, run a good ester based oil for a few changes. I strongly suspect that solvents will do more harm than good.
Title: Re: Flushing oil from engine
Post by: sledge on September 15, 2010, 06:06:01 PM
I know someone who tried flushing a 400/4 with kerosene, within 2 minutes it developed a big-end knock and the clutch plates swelled so much it wouldnt disengage. The benefits (if any) are far outweighed by the risks.......I say dont do it.
Title: Re: Flushing oil from engine
Post by: GI_JO_NATHAN on September 16, 2010, 05:23:45 AM
Yeah I say just first try to change the oil with the bike as hot as you can stand to try to get as much out as possible.
Title: Re: Flushing oil from engine
Post by: scratch on September 16, 2010, 10:38:31 AM
Do 2 oil changes back to back in the same day.

Warm up the engine, drain the oil, then dump half a quart of oil in there after it been draining for a while.
Change the filter and add oil.
Go for a ride.
Let it cool for an hour, change the oil and filter again (maybe dump the other half in there to flush it out again).