Guess you missed the thread a couple weeks ago that linked to
http://www.thecarconnection.com/Enthusiasts/Mechanics_Tale/Mechanics_Tale_The_Flushing_of_America.S281.A10297.html

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Kent Christensen
Albuquerque
'07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550. '01 Porsche Boxster
Two BMW motorcycles

Not to highjack the thread, but need to clear up what seems to me to be a mis-statement in that article. Flint says that brake fluid flushes were dreamed up by Honda, and suggests they are unnecessary. MB has recommended every-2-year flushing for many years now.

I also take issue with his remark about brake fluid being in a sealed environment. What happens when the fluid level in the reservoir drops due to normal wear of brake pads? The compensating air in the reservoir has to come from somewhere. That air will come with moisture, which in turn gets absorbed by the brake fluid.

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Steve
'93 400E

I learned from my clients many years ago that another way to get smoother performance and more pep out of a car is to wash the windows and vacuum the inside during an oil change. I can't count the # of follow up calls I got stated how much better the car ran after the C service ( oil change).

I see additives and flushes as a waste of money.

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Auto Zentral Ltd.

Funny but true. I once had a supervisor expound on that notion while at a conference for my hospital position I held a few years ago. He related that your car feels so much faster and performs seemingly better when it is cleaned...and that perception is akin to a hospital. If the hospital is always clean and tidy, everyone will think it is a better hospital. Of course, that all equated to him wanting those of us not in the maintenance field to pick up the tissues and such we find.

But, as relatively seasoned as I am, and while I know it has no bearing on the car's performance...a good wash and detail always does seem to make my car feel better.

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2004 Chrysler Crossfire

Same principal holds true for yourself.
You'll feel much better if you shower at least once a week.

But on a more serious note, I would only do an engine flush on a very old engine, that was retrieved from a barn.

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2007 C 230 Sport.

I understand its a waste of money to flush a well looked after engine. But I'm more so wondering if an engine flush is good preventive maintance as it would help signifigantly reduce the risk of a engine sludge problem, if one were to ever occur.... I do my own oil changes, but I've noticed that after I do an engine flush, my car runs alot better for the first couple K's. Also my oil changes are done every 6 000km, which is about 4000 miles.

That stuff is snake oil. I don't use it, never will.
You could eat off the valve trian in my 603, the cam, lifter's, and tops of the valves look brand new after 254k miles.

Thats on straight Mobil 1 for the past 25k miles, no idea what the PO used.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

In the shop we only sell engine flushes on the new 112, 113 motors when they begin to consume excessive amounts of oil. When the FFS intervals get ignored the engines begin to carbon up the piston rings leading to oil consumption. If flushed before the bores get beat they usually can return to service without issues.

As a preventative maintennace it's complete overkill. I wouldn't drive the car with it in the oil either. We run the car for 30 mins in neutral @2500RPM to flush them. The stuff is meant to thin the oil and dissolve gunk, not support your bearings under load.

I think it does more harm than good really.... A poorly maintained engine with sludge and varnish in it still runs..... Removing the sludge and varnish could damage the engine further by reducing compression if your sludge and varnish happened to be in an area where it was providing some kind of seal.....

Leave well enough alone..... Change your oil in a reasonable timeframe and leave the engine cleaning to the people who end up doing the overhaul when its time......

Just so you know my 1982 300SD reccomends ALL fluids to be flushed every year in the spring. Honda was a very small car company in 1982.