i was just over at the saab web site and someone said they heard
you could flush a car by putting diesel fuel in instead of oil... and
let it run for awhile...

now i know diesel is a lubricuant and it is also an oil?


what do you think.

In a very short answer: NO!
If you really value your engine and want to keep it clean inside, use a good syn. oil like Mobil Delvac 1 (Mobil Truck & SUV).

Long answer: Yes it is an oil, but it's far too thin to use as an engine lube in an OM617. People have said to use all sorts of things to "flush" their engine. Diesel, kerosene, veggie oil, gasoline , etc.

There are a few engine oil flush kits for sale at your local auto store. BG Quick Clean and BG Engine Purge are the best for cleaning. http://www.bgprod.com/products/engineoil.html

Diesel fuel only? That is a good way to flush the engine all the way to the junk yard! Dont do it and dont flush it with ATF either. Use a recommended flush that you can buy, which by the way has kerosene in it. But it is a small amount that is added to the oil, not in place of it.

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1981 300D 147k
1998 VW Jetta Tdi 320k
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 141k
1979 300D 234k (sold)
1984 300D "Astor" 262k(sold)
Mercedes How-To and Repair Pictorials
I love the smell of diesel smoke in my hair

You can do it on a gas engine (although I would only do it on an old clunker) I wouldn't do it on a Diesel or any turbo engine.

__________________
1985 300D Turbo ~225k
2000 F350 (Powerstroke) 4X4, SWB, CC, SRW, 6spd ~148k
1999 International 4900, DT466e (250hp/660 ft/lbs), Allison MD3060 ~73k

I would highly advise NOT doing that. Diesel is no where nearly as lubricating as motor oil(it pretty much doesn't lubricate at all compared to motor oil). I would fear a runaway engine actually, that would end things quick.

Conclusion: Use only Diesel Approved Engine Lubricant Oil in the engine!

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

i used to hear that one.

i wouldnt ever do it myself.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Wow, 5 responses to a new thread in less than 9 minutes. A new record?

I have heard of people flushing diesel fuel through the engine with it off and oil pan off. Very messy and not very effective in my opinion.

__________________
1981 300D 147k
1998 VW Jetta Tdi 320k
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 141k
1979 300D 234k (sold)
1984 300D "Astor" 262k(sold)
Mercedes How-To and Repair Pictorials
I love the smell of diesel smoke in my hair

well i would never flush a diesel with diesel fuel...
cause of the runaway issue...

but i am facinated with it for a gasser....

i know the engine flush we use is made of kerosene....
and when you flush an engine you only run it for 5 minutes....

Yes and you are only using a quart of the stuff, not 8 quarts.

__________________
1981 300D 147k
1998 VW Jetta Tdi 320k
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 141k
1979 300D 234k (sold)
1984 300D "Astor" 262k(sold)
Mercedes How-To and Repair Pictorials
I love the smell of diesel smoke in my hair

Absolutely stupid idea! Some old-timers used to recommend flushing with Kero.

This was common in the early days when cars were splash-lubed,ran babbit bearings on wide journals,had no oil filters and maxed out at say 2,500 rpm.
Yet some still swear by this,not realising that the tremendous advances in engine design and construction.

Today's bearings are very thin,engines are generally precisely balanced and fully pressure lubed and run to really precise tolerances,the crankshaft and big ends literally"float"on a film of precisely metered oil.I recall a "mechanic"I worked with who flushed a filthy 289 with kero for 5 minutes....after he "drained"the kero out of the oilpan and put in 30 weight it spun a rod bearing an hour later.

If you have a really filthy,sludgy crankcase use some bargain priced multi-weight detergent oil to flush out the crap,run it on the highway for an hour THEN drain it hot and put in synthetic,not forgetting a new filter as well,this procedure I have always followed,as have many foreign car mechanics I've worked with.

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i agree i think the best engine flush is mobil 1....

Its best not to flush an engine at all.

A member over at MBworld thought it would be a great idea to flush his euro gasser V8 with kerosene. After about three oil changes doing this his engine blew up.

It did "blow up", for lack of a better term, it sounded like the timing chain snapped and the engine self destructed.


If you do this please post pic's so when can see the aftermath!

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

i agree.

just change the oil sooner for a while.

i would never try the kero or diesel oil flush thing.

tom w

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Recommendations I've heard for really dirty, poorly maintained engines is to use conventional oil and change it/filter every 500 miles or so for several changes. This apparently GRADUALLY removes the built up much, instead of getting a whole bunch of crappola off at once to clog up the oil pathways and galleries, and thereby interfere with the normal circulation of oil in the system, sort of like a heart attack. Brings meaning to the analogy of oil being the lifeblood of one's engine (and the oil system being the vessels, which can get atherosclerosis and the oil pump being the heart, which can have a heart attack...oh, I'll just break this analogy off at this point).

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Der Panzermann und Fraulein Fahrvergnuegen

1991 420SEL 201K "The Big Blue One"
1985 300DT 205K chassis/285K engine nee California emissions "Goldbug"
1983 300TDT 255K "The Womble"
1983 300 DT 214K "Sea Sprite"-Rear-ended a truck
1983 300SD 285K "The Donor" Gave his life so that others can live
1980 500SL Euro 105K "Der Panzer"