We all know what happens when the cooling system and the lubrication system meet through a crack in the head gasket, head or engine block. It's a mess in both cooling and lubrication systems. My question is: how do we clean thoroughly both systems?

Flush, flush and flush again plenty of water

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Somehow I believe you don't use that method when you wash the grease from your dishes...

Not to mention I don't see how you flush 'with water' the lubrication system. The mayo is all over. Do I need to show a photo of an oil cap inside too?

Edited 13 February, 201511 yr by RicardoM

Hello,

from what I have seen before in our old Peugeot 204, after the mechanics solved the mayonnaise issue for good, my dad flushed the cooling system several times including one flush with a flushing liquid on the market then. As for the lubrication system, he idled the engine with the oil cap removed to let the remainder of the water evaporate as heat builds up inside the engine. IT WORKED

As for the lubrication system, he idled the engine with the oil cap removed to let the remainder of the water evaporate as heat builds up inside the engine. IT WORKED

The coolant is not water. Heating that mayonnaise will not magically restore the engine oil.

Furthermore, running the engine at idle with that gooey stuff as lubricant didn't do good to the crankshaft/camshaft bearings, piston rings, valve guides, etc.

 

I've read on the Internet that indeed there are flushing solutions for the cooling system on the market, basically they are detergents. Some people used a vinegar solution, but that was harmful to water pump seals.

 

But for the lubrication system I didn't read of any solution other than dismantling the engine and cleaning all oil passages. Thank God that didn't happen to me!

 running the engine at idle with that gooey stuff as lubricant didn't do good to the crankshaft/camshaft bearings, piston rings, valve guides, etc.

 

 

After fixing the mixing issue, the engine is serviced with new engine oil and filter, driven for like 2 to 3 days then it gets another fresh oil and filter change. This worked as far as I remember and nothing happened thereafter with that tough peugeot

You can get specialist cooling system flushing fluid from most motor accessory stores, but it is very expensive, normally it's a alcohol solvent based fluid which breaks down the oil residue, the idea is you leave it in a day or so, then flush it out with massive amounts of water.

Sounds ridiculous, but washing powder is perfect for cleaning oil out of cooling systems. I've used it plenty of times and it really does work. You don't need a lot, and obviously you need to flush it out with clear water. With about half as much powder as you'd use to do your washing in the cooling system with clean water, run the engine, get the heater hot and the rad hot enough for the fan to run, let the engine cool, drain and flush with clean water before refilling with a proper coolant mix.

 

For goodness sake don't put washing powder in the oil!!

Sounds ridiculous, but washing powder is perfect for cleaning oil out of cooling systems. I've used it plenty of times and it really does work. You don't need a lot, and obviously you need to flush it out with clear water. With about half as much powder as you'd use to do your washing in the cooling system with clean water, run the engine, get the heater hot and the rad hot enough for the fan to run, let the engine cool, drain and flush with clean water before refilling with a proper coolant mix.

 

For goodness sake don't put washing powder in the oil!!

 

Take it for a short spin?

For goodness sake don't put washing powder in the oil!!

I won't As I said, I am not in that unpleasant situation. I just wanted to clear an unknown.

So basically a detergent or a mild degreaser plus hot water plus stirring equals success.

I like it when we can use cheap household solutions. What is even better is you tested it many times.

 

One last thing. Will it be enough to drain the mayo like in a regular oil change? I imagine that some oil passages will still have goo inside.

I think draining from bottom will do for the last drop and changing the oil filter as well and using cheap oil to run with few days and change agian with good one will clean the engine

When I had this, I took the expansion tank off and cleaned it seperatlty. Most oil/ Mayo floats. I then used a bought engin flush ( a caustic substance) followed instructions about running, times and flushing. Washed expansion tank second time. Flushed whis water second time and was clean. Took a lot of time.

Forgot to say. I did not drain befor taking tank off.