Engine cleaning internal in car
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 205
Likes: 70
From: Phoenix AZ
Engine cleaning internal in car Quick story to tell:
2001 Camaro Z28 LS1 six speed manual see signature for details / mods.
150,000 miles on this car mods done at 140,000 using Rotella T6 5/40 synthetic motor oil.
Fresh oil change and after 300 to 500 miles normal driving oil is black. Wanted to clean engine internals so here are the steps I took.
1. Added 1/2 quart of Dextron ATF to crankcase drove car for approximately 200 miles over multiple short trips.
2. Drained above mixture while hot and filled crankcase with 3 quarts 10w/30 supertech from Walmart and 1 quart ATF and 1/2 quart of diesel fuel. Drove car gently under 3000 RPM for approximately 10 miles.
3. Car on ramps drained above mixture while hot. Added 2 quarts 10w/30 supertech and 2 quarts diesel fuel to crankcase.
Started car on the ramps and let idle for approximately 30 seconds / turned off upon hearing lifter ticking.
4. Drained above fluid and installed new filter and 5 quarts 5w/40 Rotella T6.
Now after approximately 1500 miles oil is still a nice brown color - just off of right out of the container.
Just wanted to share internal engine cleaning success.
ATF has a high detergent quantity. Diesel fuel I have commonly used to clean motorcycle crankcases runnng the engine for a short time.
Thanks just wanted to share, looking forward to any comments.
2001 Camaro Z28 LS1 six speed manual see signature for details / mods.
150,000 miles on this car mods done at 140,000 using Rotella T6 5/40 synthetic motor oil.
Fresh oil change and after 300 to 500 miles normal driving oil is black. Wanted to clean engine internals so here are the steps I took.
1. Added 1/2 quart of Dextron ATF to crankcase drove car for approximately 200 miles over multiple short trips.
2. Drained above mixture while hot and filled crankcase with 3 quarts 10w/30 supertech from Walmart and 1 quart ATF and 1/2 quart of diesel fuel. Drove car gently under 3000 RPM for approximately 10 miles.
3. Car on ramps drained above mixture while hot. Added 2 quarts 10w/30 supertech and 2 quarts diesel fuel to crankcase.
Started car on the ramps and let idle for approximately 30 seconds / turned off upon hearing lifter ticking.
4. Drained above fluid and installed new filter and 5 quarts 5w/40 Rotella T6.
Now after approximately 1500 miles oil is still a nice brown color - just off of right out of the container.
Just wanted to share internal engine cleaning success.
ATF has a high detergent quantity. Diesel fuel I have commonly used to clean motorcycle crankcases runnng the engine for a short time.
Thanks just wanted to share, looking forward to any comments.
Saw this post and just knew you had used mineral oil to clean out...joking of course.
How thing is 2 quarts of oil and 2 quarts of diesel mixed together? Not judging just asking. I'd be worried about eating a lifter or spinning a bearing. Any concerns or worries about the diesel or ATF harming seals or gaskets?
Had a friend in college in the 1980's who did similar cleanings. Get motor hot, drain oil, fill up with 1 gallon of diesel and idle for 30 seconds then drain. Replace filter and refill with oil. Never harmed anything I know of. He'd learned the procedure from his dad who'd done itsince the 1960's/1970's and never hurt anything.
How thing is 2 quarts of oil and 2 quarts of diesel mixed together? Not judging just asking. I'd be worried about eating a lifter or spinning a bearing. Any concerns or worries about the diesel or ATF harming seals or gaskets?
Had a friend in college in the 1980's who did similar cleanings. Get motor hot, drain oil, fill up with 1 gallon of diesel and idle for 30 seconds then drain. Replace filter and refill with oil. Never harmed anything I know of. He'd learned the procedure from his dad who'd done itsince the 1960's/1970's and never hurt anything.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 205
Likes: 70
From: Phoenix AZ
No mineral oil - LOL 
oil / diesel fuel mixed in crankcase.
Engine idled only with this mixture. Did hear lifter noise / ticking and shut engine off.
As stated use of diesel in motorcycles was very common and do not rev engine with this mixture
to preserve bearing. These were motorcycles that had not been run for years.
oil / diesel fuel mixed in crankcase.
Engine idled only with this mixture. Did hear lifter noise / ticking and shut engine off.
As stated use of diesel in motorcycles was very common and do not rev engine with this mixture
to preserve bearing. These were motorcycles that had not been run for years.
No mineral oil - LOL
oil / diesel fuel mixed in crankcase.
Engine idled only with this mixture. Did hear lifter noise / ticking and shut engine off.
As stated use of diesel in motorcycles was very common and do not rev engine with this mixture
to preserve bearing. These were motorcycles that had not been run for years.
oil / diesel fuel mixed in crankcase.
Engine idled only with this mixture. Did hear lifter noise / ticking and shut engine off.
As stated use of diesel in motorcycles was very common and do not rev engine with this mixture
to preserve bearing. These were motorcycles that had not been run for years.
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 22,290
Likes: 3,615
From: Central Cal.
On using diesel fuel, I agree with its use, but maybe not so much, even just idling, that endangers the bearings/lifters. Maybe half or 2/3 the amount stated?
I totally agree with ATF with its very high detergency.
A little off subject, I remember in the 70's putting a quart of ATF in a full (20 gal or so) tank of gas to blow carbon out of an engine driven too easily to keep it cleaned out. Not sure it worked...
I don't know why people do this. It provides no benefits whatsoever and introduces variables that wouldn't otherwise be there.
The risk isn't worth the reward
That sludge and grime has to go somewhere, wanna guess where it goes? It clogs the pickup screen and starves the engine for oil.
The risk isn't worth the reward
That sludge and grime has to go somewhere, wanna guess where it goes? It clogs the pickup screen and starves the engine for oil.
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