P38A 2.5d engine oil flush method

RangeRoller dt · May 10, 2019

This oil drop I was going to flush the engine with fresh cheap oil and some supermarket white diesel (full of detergent and diesel is oil).

Tesco are selling cheap 10w40 @£5 2L so I’m going to drop the old stuff, add cheap fresh + cleaning agent, run it for 20mins on Tickover, then drop it straight out and put decent stuff in. This should get the most crap out of it and hopefully solve the knocking.

I then realised I have about 2L of Red ATF in shed and it has been mentioned before I could use this. Do you think this is a good alternative?

Thoughts welcome good or bad, it is your guys/gals opinions I value.

Henry_b · May 10, 2019

A far better less likely to ruin an already wounded engine would be to Fill her full of fresh oil and replace a litre of frsh with some ATF it'll clean her right out and with ATF being an oil, no harm will be done, certainly better than those watery solvant based things that are sold by the hundreds in motorfactors.

I wouldn't use diesel, personally.

Run her around for about 100mi and drain.

D
However..

When did this knocking start?

RangeRoller dt · May 10, 2019

Aww you didn’t vote

Diesel worked fine on other doozles for me, it’s just I got this ATF from flushing my Tbox shame to waste and if it don’t harm anything inside an auto. Just not sure itl do the job as good?

Like a ticking tappet sound started just before Xmas when water pump blew. No sign of head problems, no mayo in cap or oil
In water. Oil changes have been vastly disregarded for some time by PO by looks of things

. Changed oil few months ago it’s had good run and absorbed a lot of black, looking through oil cap it is looking cleaner in there but oil is filthy for what it’s done

Henry_b · May 10, 2019

RangeRoller dt said:
Aww you didn’t vote

Diesel worked fine on other doozles for me, it’s just I got this ATF from flushing my Tbox shame to waste and if it don’t harm anything inside an auto. Just not sure itl do the job as good?

Like a ticking tappet sound started just before Xmas when water pump blew. No sign of head problems, no mayo in cap or oil
In water. Oil changes have been vastly disregarded for some time by PO by looks of things

. Changed oil few months ago it’s had good run and absorbed a lot of black, looking through oil cap it is looking cleaner in there but oil is filthy for what it’s done

Derv oil goes black almost instantly.

I'd be inclined to just change the oil,

Or if you're desperate, what i've suggested above..

jamesmartin · May 10, 2019

RangeRoller dt said:
Aww you didn’t vote

Diesel worked fine on other doozles for me, it’s just I got this ATF from flushing my Tbox shame to waste and if it don’t harm anything inside an auto. Just not sure itl do the job as good?

Like a ticking tappet sound started just before Xmas when water pump blew. No sign of head problems, no mayo in cap or oil
In water. Oil changes have been vastly disregarded for some time by PO by looks of things

. Changed oil few months ago it’s had good run and absorbed a lot of black, looking through oil cap it is looking cleaner in there but oil is filthy for what it’s done

just change it again ,frequent changes will keep engine more than clean enough

RangeRoller dt · May 11, 2019

The off the shelf additives I believe to be waste of time

tomcat59alan · May 11, 2019

Keep changing your oil and filter. Its a detergent oil, its meant to hold carbon in suspension so it will be black. If its tapping then adding DERV or any "cleaning agent "will speed its demise.

tomcat59alan · May 11, 2019

tomcat59alan said:
Keep changing your oil and filter. Its a detergent oil, its meant to hold carbon in suspension so it will be black. If its tapping then adding DERV or any "cleaning agent "will speed its demise.

I've just voted but I couldn't find a "I don't care what you do its not my engine vote"

Datatek · May 11, 2019

Full synthetic oil is known for loosening old carbon deposits. Personally I wouldn't put ATF anywhere near an engine.

Grrrrrr · May 11, 2019

Extra oil changes gets my vote. It isn't the exhaust gasket leaking, is it? Bit of bog-paper on a stick?

landowner · May 11, 2019

I used half a litre of kerosene (heating oil) in with the oil, ran for five mins or so. Changed oil and ran for a few mins then checked it, couldn't find oil level it was that clean, took a couple of days to go grey and isn't completely black after 1500 miles

kermit_rr · May 11, 2019

Question, not a suggestion, what about running fresh oil mixed with some super/premium diesel that has all the extra cleaning agents in, until it gets warm, then drain and replace?

landowner · May 11, 2019

kermit_rr said:
Question, not a suggestion, what about running fresh oil mixed with some super/premium diesel that has all the extra cleaning agents in, until it gets warm, then drain and replace?

Your fresh oil will go black as soon as you start the engine so might as well use the stuff that's in and add your favorite flush agent, mines kero

kermit_rr · May 11, 2019

Fair enough, derv will have more additives than heating oil though

landowner · May 11, 2019

kermit_rr said:
Fair enough, derv will have more additives than heating oil though

All I know is that it works and all my engines oils are clean as they can be, none of the diesels are black, the oil is more dirty grey
must add that the filter has to be changed after flush and the sump should be allowed to empty for as long as you can.

RangeRoller dt · May 11, 2019

tomcat59alan said:
I've just voted but I couldn't find a "I don't care what you do its not my engine vote"

If that were true you wouldn’t have replied

Good man for voting. It is appreciated
Alternative is get a V8 and vote on Henry’s option

Or get a FL

kermit_rr said:
Question, not a suggestion, what about running fresh oil mixed with some super/premium diesel that has all the extra cleaning agents in, until it gets warm, then drain and replace?

Yes can ATF be used instead of -white detergent rich diesel- for this exact purpose I s what I am trying to decide

RangeRoller dt · May 11, 2019

@landowner stuff in there now is stinking, will drop black out, fill with fresh + cleaner then drop more black out and fill with good quality and new filter. May take sump off to clean out pickup and make sure as much out as possible. P38 has oil cooler with lots of pipes so never get it all out

kermit_rr · May 11, 2019

If you can get the sump off easily enough then you'll find a lot of sludge in there. Better than wasting oil etc trying to wash it out

landowner · May 11, 2019

RangeRoller dt said:
@landowner stuff in there now is stinking, will drop black out, fill with fresh + cleaner then drop more black out and fill with good quality and new filter. May take sump off to clean out pickup and make sure as much out as possible. P38 has oil cooler with lots of pipes so never get it all out

2.5 td 100k old oil was black after staring up after first oil change. flushed with kero 500 miles later and filter change. Picture is new oil after 1500 miles taken just now, no need to take sump off

RangeRoller dt · May 11, 2019

If I can get anywhere near that clean I will be happy. I will show my results as always

P38A 2.5d engine oil flush method

Should I flush my engine with ATF?

Yes it will clean it out great

No you maniac you will ruin your engine

What do I care I have a V8

I don’t know, I’m from the Freelander section but still want to vote :)

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