OK gone and done a dumb thing here. Whacked a whole pile of this STP engine flush in the car but now can't complete the oil change. It says don't drive with the stuff in, obviously I'm taking that pretty seriously but how far can I chance driving it (in this case to take it to help)?

 

Anybody have some experience and/or advice? 

It might help if you said what engine you have in your car.

I wouldn't drive with it in at all. As far as I'm aware most of these product are designed to be used at idle for about 10 or 15 mins and then the resulting thinned down soup of oil and dissolved contaminants drained off.

If you have a PD engined fabia I wouldn't even start the engine with it in.

1.4L petrol. 

What's the reason for not completing oil change?

Why do you suggest not starting the pd engine with flush present?

It might help if you said what engine you have in your car.

I wouldn't drive with it in at all. As far as I'm aware most of these product are designed to be used at idle for about 10 or 15 mins and then the resulting thinned down soup of oil and dissolved contaminants drained off.

If you have a PD engined fabia I wouldn't even start the engine with it in.

You're not meant to use engine flush in PD engines at all. PD engines require oil with a high resistance to shearing. If you put engine flush (detergent) in the oil it will break down the properties preventing it from protecting the engine.

If you use the proper oil and change it and the filter at regular intervals you should never need to flush.

Thanks, the pd engine seems highly strung ...

On the contrary. If serviced correctly it's pretty bullet proof engine.

If you can not complete the Oil Change because of problems with the sump plug or oil filter,

then vacuum suck out the oil via the Dip stick tube.

 

george

^^^ what he said. I use a vacuum extractor for all my oil changes. I got one at screwfix for about £35 I think.

Thanks. Vacuum extractor is how I'll fix it then.

Make sure the oil is warm when you use the extractor, it's much easier then.

OK gone and done a dumb thing here. Whacked a whole pile of this STP engine flush in the car but now can't complete the oil change. It says don't drive with the stuff in, obviously I'm taking that pretty seriously but how far can I chance driving it (in this case to take it to help)?

 

Anybody have some experience and/or advice? 

 

Well you put the STP in just prior oil change then run engine till warm stop engine and drain then refill with fresh oil you must start the engine for it to circulate and work.

I too always use a vacuum  extractor but I am never sure whether all the old oil is fully removed, is it best to have the car, tilting backward, level or tilting forward ?

 

DB

I have mine slightly tilting forward. I believe the dipstick entry to the sump is towards the front of the sump, therefore having the car tilting forward is best.

I believe I get pretty much all the oil out, I extracted 4.5L last time. Don't forget to stick the extractor pipe down into the oil filter housing as well and down into the cooler.

Ooops I used engine flush on my vrs just after buying it. I've since done 2 oil and filter changes in the 7000 miles i've drove the car.

 

All seems well but I won't be doing that in the future.

All fixed with no hassles so far, thanks to all. Those vacuum extractors are awesome. Just for the record.

Link to the version you purchased?

I've used this one for the past few years

 

http://www.screwfix.com/p/laser-oil-fluid-extractor-6ltr/21663

 

Pela also do one that looks the same, which is quite a bit cheaper at the minute.

 

http://www.marinescene.co.uk/product/131/pela-6000-oil-extractor-vacuum-pump

The absolute best thing to flush any engine with is clean fresh engine oil of the correct spec. do that regularly together with the oil filter and you'll never have any problems.