Motor flush??

[cat0020]

Has any Boxer engine bike owner tried using Motor flush type products prior to changing their oil??

If so, at what milerage?

-Results?

-Drawbacks?

-Would you do it again?

:dunno:dunno :dunno :dunno

I'm ready to switch from BMW oil to Mobil 1 synthetic on my 02 R1150RS with 15000 mile.
Just wondering if the Motor Flush would be a good idea before I do the oil/filter change.

[DarkCloud]

Different oils have different specific gravity weights. One oil will float on top of another oil when they are cold. Generally, the old oil will be on top, so in your sight glass you will have some black nasty stuff on top of the new oil. Your not going to like that. If Mobile One has more detergent than the oil you are using, it will turn all the oil black. It will take about three oil changes to get all the old/dirty oil out of the engine.

You'd have about the same amount of residual engine flush left in the engine as dirty oil. Since you always have the same amount of oil left in the engine after you drain it, unless your oil cooler held some up, you are able to see the old oil. I'd prefer old oil to engine cleaner. JON

[basketcase]

What Jon said.

I've never been too hep on the "motor flush" idea. Primarily, it seems that a very thin lubricant with a high concentration of detergent could risk the bearings in a way oil never would. Maybe I am all wrong on that, but I prefer to err in the direction of caution when it comes to the engine.

Why not just close the gap between oil changes for a half dozen changes, or so? You would accomplish the same thing without the risk.

Next, when I switched the K75 (2 motorcycles ago) from dino to synthetic, I made the switch at 12 k, and subsequently changed the oil and filter again at 1,500 miles. After that, I routinely changed the oil at 2,500 mile intervals.

The first owner of the K11 I am now on switched it over at about the same odometer reading, and since I acquired it, I do the oil changes on the same type of schedule.

[Chickenman_26]

Modern oils are so good that sludge hasn't been a problem for years, not even with extended oil drain intervals. And sludge removal is the only real reason to use an engine flush. With only 15K on your bike, you don't need any engine flush.

Engine flush products are often little more than kerosene with some detergent added. They're unnecessary and can actually thin the oil film enough to create wear on sliding parts. As for the viscosity differences between oil types, that's about as significant as the difference between tap water and bottled water. Yeah, there'll be a bit of old oil mixed with the new, but don't worry. They'll mix thoroughly and won't cause problems, even when switching from petroleum to synthetic.

Stu