does it make any sense to do an engine oil flush as part of the next oil change??? or is changing the oil every 3k sufficient? i want to make sure i avoid sludging.

 

If the car has been getting oil changes at a reasonable interval, with a quality oil and filter, I don't think you have to worry about sludge, gelling, or need a flush.

If otherwise, you might want to pull the valve covers and see how things look.

I have been doing/getting oil changes at 3-3.5K-mi intervals with a quality oil and filter and am not worried.

 

Every time I change my oil, after I have drained the oil pan completely I pour in one quart to in effect do a slight flush before I tighten the drain plug and re-fill it. I might not be necessary but it makes me feel good to see the color change from dark used engine oil to lighter, clearer new oil coming out of the drain plug.

 

For high mileage car 100K above. Did anyone using oil flush additive? like Liqui Moly or Gunk oil flush?
it's necessary to use these product if you are maintenance oil change in every 5k interval?
I did flush out my engine once a while using extra quart of oil like Partywave.

 

I don't recommend using oil flush additives. The only one I would ever think of using is Auto-RX.

Stick with a quality synthetic oil for a 5k OCI, and it'll be fine. That's what I do, and when I pulled my valve covers it was clean enough to eat off of. I wouldn't suggest it, but it's possible lol

 

My answer would be change oil regularly, use high quality oil and filter and DO NOT use an oil flush product!!! Period! It only flushes the money from your pocket and MAY damage the engine by clogging the oil pick-up screen. Voice of experience! BTW, what is Partyware??? Why would ANYONE put something called Partyware in their engine, even in Va.?

BTW, Auto RX suggested by Hypervish IS NOT and oil flush, completely different, and yes it DOES work.

 

Yes, I meant to say the only additive I would ever think about using is Auto RX. I did not mean to make it sound as though that was an oil flushing product. Thank you for clearing that up.

 

No Partywave is a member comment above mine, he flushes the engine by wasting one quart of oil. Sorry fat finger!
Oh by the way I am using mobil1 5w30 synthetic since 2001 when we purchase it new. Good price at Costco. Thanks!

 

Sorry about the "Partywave". I noticed that when I re-read it tonight. I got a good chuckle (at my own expense). I personally wouldn't waste a quart of good oil that never gets to do it's job. Detergent oil IS SUPPOSED to come out dirty (somewhat anyway) or it isn't doing it's job. You HOPE it holds the dirt in suspension and drains it out with the oil. If your oil comes oiut clean you better check to see what the inside of your engine looks like because that's where the dirt will be.
I do shop at Costco but don't pay a lot of attention to the oil prices. I buy Mobil1 at Wal Mart in the 5 qt. jug at about $26. for the jug. That's the only thing they carry the 0-20W in which is what the '11 Camry 4 cyl. calls for. Not much over $5. a qt. and 5 qts. is what it uses.

 

I thought Toyota issued a TSB advising against engine flushes. For what it's worth, I change my oil every 4,500 miles with regular old conventional oil 5W30 - not synthetic and not high mileage. I believe the OCI in the manual is 5,000 miles.

 

Well after doing some research online and taking to Mechanics, there no need for me to do any oil flush for my engine since I been using 5w30 Mobil1 syn and doing oil change every 5k. Thank everyone for your input. This forums ROCK!!!!

 

Bought my 2001 Rx300 last year with 135k. Was well aware of the engine slugging and tranny issues going in. To my dismay the engine oil was 1/2 quart low and the transmission fluid black. Drove great, stated that the last oil change was 8500k ago with none added and the price was right. I bought it with some trepidation and promptly did an AutoRx treatment on both the engine and transmission. Following those I put Pennzoil Ultra 5w-30 with a Baldwin filter in the engine and did a double fluid exchange and filter change on the tranny with Wolfs Head synthetic. Happy to report 12000 miles later it is shifting great and doesn't use a drop of oil. Not sure that my approach made this happen, but it sure made me feel better! Quality synthetic oil and reasonable intervals are the best medicine.

Scott

 

+1 on regular oil changes and no flushing. Although I had an old Corolla once that leaked a fuel pump diaphragm and gasoline got into the oil pan. I came to buy the car and found oil level twice as high, liquidy and gas-smelling. Needless to say, I repaired the car before driving it and then bought it. I have never before seen an engine from which the oil would drain clear as vegetable oil after 5,000 miles. This lasted for about 3 oil changes, then it started getting dirty again. That gasoline-filled oil sure did clean out all the internals on that engine.

 

hooray for democracy. the super majority rules. NO engine flush, ever. regular changes with good oil, probably synthetic. i liked the comment about "if the oil comes out clean you better believe the crud is still in the engine." by the way, speaking of crud, i had a diesel years ago and changed the oil myself! i'm still trying tro get my nailbeds clean, 30 years later.

 

Didn't you realize that diesels PRODUCE "lamp black"? I think that if you changed the oil and stabbed it to check it before you even started it, it would still be coal black. Pretty much the nature of the beast. The interesting thing about synthetic is that it stays much cleaner than conventional oil. I change the oil on my SIL's '07 F-150 Ford P.U. I switched her to Pennzoil Synthetic and went to 10K mi. changes from 5K mi. changes with Motorcraft Semi- synthetic. The Pennzoil Full synthetic is quite a bit cleaner at 10K than the Semi was at 5K. Also was pretty much on full. Synthetics don't usually tend to burn like conventional does. Pretty much ALL synthetic oils now are just more highly refined crude, not true synthetic like they once were, but they act like synthetic. You've got it! NO engine flushes, ever!