Engine Cleaning

Hi, can anyone advise of the best way of cleaning the inside of my engine. I have a MK 1 Cabrio which has done 75k. Tappets are a little noisy, nothing major, but I wanna stop them progressing further. I am a bit wary of using oil flushes, someone said about doing an oil change and then mixing the oil with a quart of transmission fluid as this "gently" cleans the engine?
Many thanks, Jeannie

Hartchez said

Hi, can anyone advise of the best way of cleaning the inside of my engine. I have a MK 1 Cabrio which has done 75k. Tappets are a little noisy, nothing major, but I wanna stop them progressing further. I am a bit wary of using oil flushes, someone said about doing an oil change and then mixing the oil with a quart of transmission fluid as this "gently" cleans the engine?
Many thanks, Jeannie

Indeed, you can use ATF as an alternative to engine flush. Important point is that you do if before the oil change, not after, and use it in the same way as an engine flush, ie add it to the oil, run the engine gently, then do the change.

Why are you wary of using an engine flush? If anything I'd have thought a proper flush is better than the ATF trick, hence I always do a flush on every oil change.

Hi Paul, thanks for your quick reply and advice, the following link gives info on oil flush fluids/oils v's ATF.  

http://autotechrepair.suite101.com/article.cfm/040206

Wary as I dont think the car has ever been flushed before and is some 20 years young! thought it may cause problems so was looking at a more subtle cleaning method.

Thanks for you help/continued comments, much appreciated.  Jeannie

The link refers to a different kind of flush - some kind of machine which connects up and forces flushing solvents through at high pressure. "Oil flush" as I interpret it, is a little (250ml or so) can of stuff which you add to the old engine oil just before its changed. I'd not recommend the kind of flush described on that website.

Couple of extracts:

The only ones who do recommend flushing as a maintenance procedure are the companies that sell the flush machines and the shops that buy them.

Hmmm, typical $$$ capitalism here…..

I know this since I recently appeared as a witness in a lawsuit where a person was sold an engine flush that destroyed his engine.

$$$ x 3 hmmmm…..

Blimey! that was quick…..think you are right, many thanks for your help.
Kind regards, Jeannie