Oil Great product for diesel engines.

[damianscott71]

Hard driving has meant that the car has been running a bit sluggishly for the past week or so, so I've just added Comma Diesel Engine Flush to the oil, and will be putting the car in for a service in a week or two.

I've used Comma flush before and it's helped no end in sorting out sluggish engines and poor starting. Plus it's safe to leave in the engine while you drive.

It's already feeling a lot better and the engine is making all the right noises (can hear the turbo coming on-boost nice and clearly again). It's quieter at idle, and the MPG's are creeping up. Acceleration feels like it should again, too.

Should feel better still when it comes back from it's 2nd service. I'm going to insist that the dealer uses 0w30 oil rather than the 10w40 that they palmed me off with last time. I'm considering moving my service intervals to 10k miles rather than 12.5k because of my rather spirited driving style.

So, if you've got a diesel, get some Comma flush in there and run it for a week before your service.

That's today's top tip.

[TTDegs]

get tip

3 weeks too late

[damianscott71]

Originally Posted by TTDegs

3 weeks too late

Tsk! Isn't that always the way? Actually you can put it in your engine at any time and leave it, but I'd rather put it in a few days before a service.

If there are any doubters out there (there always are) regarding putting the flush in and leaving it, it says you can on the bottle and I called Comma tech support department to double check.

[itullberight]

Originally Posted by damianscott71

Tsk! Isn't that always the way? Actually you can put it in your engine at any time and leave it, but I'd rather put it in a few days before a service.

If there are any doubters out there (there always are) regarding putting the flush in and leaving it, it says you can on the bottle and I called Comma tech support department to double check.

Can’t say I agree with you! Flushing oil is not too bad for new engines, but is a definite NO NO for older ones as they fall apart after treatment.

Rather than put in flushing oil I would check with the dealer if they are using Semi-synthetic or fully-synthetic, my best advice is that you should insist on them using fully-synthetic, this oil is proven to clean and lubricate better and reduce carbon and sludge deposits; and there will be no need for flushing agents.

As for being sure that it is ok to leave in because it says so, on the bottle and this was reinforced by the tech support, you are a much more trusting person than me! After all they are only interested in one thing, selling you there product! And if it damages your engine you have to prove that it was the product that caused the damage; not easy and not cheep either.

Pay a few quid extra and get the best oil, (what you pay for the flushing oil will probably be the same) and you should have no problems, as I was always told “oil is cheaper than metal”

[damianscott71]

Originally Posted by itullberight

Can’t say I agree with you! Flushing oil is not too bad for new engines, but is a definite NO NO for older ones as they fall apart after treatment.

Rather than put in flushing oil I would check with the dealer if they are using Semi-synthetic or fully-synthetic, my best advice is that you should insist on them using fully-synthetic, this oil is proven to clean and lubricate better and reduce carbon and sludge deposits; and there will be no need for flushing agents.

As for being sure that it is ok to leave in because it says so, on the bottle and this was reinforced by the tech support, you are a much more trusting person than me! After all they are only interested in one thing, selling you there product! And if it damages your engine you have to prove that it was the product that caused the damage; not easy and not cheep either.

Pay a few quid extra and get the best oil, (what you pay for the flushing oil will probably be the same) and you should have no problems, as I was always told “oil is cheaper than metal”

Can't say that I mentioned flushing oil and have NEVER skimped on oil when I've bought it myself.... As expected, the first of the nay-sayers.

Why should I doubt the word of the tech support guys at Comma? It would be they who would be stumping up for the cost of a replacement engine should the worst happen. They're not a snake oil supplier and engine flushes have been used successfully for many years. I must admit that some garages rather over sell the service of oil flushes, but that's their perogative.

Next you'll be telling me that you've worked on diesel engines for the past 20 years...

[CID]

Originally Posted by damianscott71

Hard driving has meant that the car has been running a bit sluggishly for the past week or so, so I've just added Comma Diesel Engine Flush to the oil, and will be putting the car in for a service in a week or two.

I've used Comma flush before and it's helped no end in sorting out sluggish engines and poor starting. Plus it's safe to leave in the engine while you drive.

It's already feeling a lot better and the engine is making all the right noises (can hear the turbo coming on-boost nice and clearly again). It's quieter at idle, and the MPG's are creeping up. Acceleration feels like it should again, too.

Should feel better still when it comes back from it's 2nd service. I'm going to insist that the dealer uses 0w30 oil rather than the 10w40 that they palmed me off with last time. I'm considering moving my service intervals to 10k miles rather than 12.5k because of my rather spirited driving style.

So, if you've got a diesel, get some Comma flush in there and run it for a week before your service.

That's today's top tip.

I would be interested to know why your engine has become sluggish after hard driving as you say? I always assumed that it was the opposite particularly for diesel engines.
Are your journeys mainly short ones in traffic? I too have a superchipped engine to 185bhp and was initially concerned that my very short journeys to work each day (1.5 miles each way) might cause sluggishness as you report (obviously nothing to do with the superchip of course).
However, I have had no such running problems and the engine has been flawless with no oil loss whatsoever! I do give it a good blast on the motorway or favourite A road from time to time though!

[jimbo]

The most important issue , when you have the oil changed in your engine , is that the correct viscoscity oil is used , using a 10w 40 , instead of a 0w30 oil in an engine which is designed to run on a 0w30 will have a noticeably detrimental effect on fuel consumption and performance due to increased drag from an oil with a higher viscoscity . On some vehicles , filling the engine with an oil of the wrong viscoscity can invalidate the warranty , if your dealer has done this I would threaten them with takeing the matter up with Honda . Why should you have to pay more for your fuel , simply because your dealer has chosen to save money on his consumables when servicing Your Car ???
Jimbo

[Charley Farley]

Damianscott

Just a personal opinion, but from my experience engine flushes are optional. I would only use a flush if the oil was particulary dirty. It would seem so far that the I-CDTI engine is very clean for a diesel. Also if you use a diesel specific oil it has the additives to cope with the by products of diesel combustion. Millers fall into this category. The problems I have had with diesel engines in the past is dirty injectors which lead to poor running.
A combintion of Slick 50 injector cleaner and Forte injector cleaner has cured this problem. However it took 3 months to erradicate the carbon fouling.

[damianscott71]

Guys, it was 5w40 that was used by the dealer, not 10w40 as stated earlier... Apologies!

I think that the amount of miles that I rack up, plus hard driving takes it's toll on the oil. On my last-car-but-one, I used to drop the oil ever 5k miles to keep it running sweet. Certainly, the addition of the Comma flush has livened up the engine (just a touch, but noticable).

I expect that once the oil is replaced during the service (with 0w30 this time) that my economy will start to creep up slightly.

Charley, you mentioned Millers Oils, and yes, they make some great products. I've used their oils religiously when doing oil changes myself in my VW Passat TDI in the past. For the record, I've decided not to do my own oil changes on the Civic, for the time being.

I've also used Millers Diesel Power Plus in previous cars, but haven't used it in the Civic.... Yet... Hmmm... might try that! It's a bit of a myth that driving a diesel car hard keeps the injectors clean, so a bit of extra TLC in that dept probably wouldn't go amiss.

Finally, CID, why do you even have a car if you live 1.5 miles from work? Walk, get the bus or ride a bike mate! I do approx 90 miles a day, and drive the car quite hard. IMHO it's unrealistic to compare how my car's oil will perform to yours. My car covers 30 times the miles that yours does and would probably benefit from a service interval that reflects this.

[Charley Farley]

Hi Damianscott71

Yes I agree. These modern 16 valve diesels do like to be thrashed. I thrash mine about 3 or 4 times a week. I also put the new millers plower plus 4 which is even better than the old one. I think it raises the cetane value 4 or 5 points. I think its a combination of the two that keeps the engine running sweetly.

[itullberight]

Originally Posted by damianscott71

Can't say that I mentioned flushing oil and have NEVER skimped on oil when I've bought it myself.... As expected, the first of the nay-sayers.

Why should I doubt the word of the tech support guys at Comma? It would be they who would be stumping up for the cost of a replacement engine should the worst happen. They're not a snake oil supplier and engine flushes have been used successfully for many years. I must admit that some garages rather over sell the service of oil flushes, but that's their perogative.

Next you'll be telling me that you've worked on diesel engines for the past 20 years...

If you wish to split hairs then carry on ‘so I've just added Comma Diesel Engine Flush to the oil’ flushing oil, flushing additive, all the same to me.

Nay-sayer is that because I don’t agree with you I am automatically a nay-sayer, I thought the idea of these forums were for people to discuss ideas and see things from different angles but obviously I am wrong because I don’t agree with you!

Yes it would be them ‘stumping up the cost of a replacement engine’ if as I explained, YOU proved that it was there product that was at fault, as explained this can be a costly business.

Obviously you believe everything you are told, have you ever heard of Thomas Midgley? He invented a product called tetraethyl lead introduced for use in 1923 (the lead used to stop petrol engines knocking) almost instantly the problems of this product became apparent, but it took nearly 70 years before we stopped using it, because Mr Midgley and his company told every one it was safe, or do you believe the tobacco companies when they say smoking is safe, or the asbestos companies who said that there product was also safe, all I am saying is it pays to be cautious (unless you have more money than sense and if that is the case knock yourself out)

Lastly its 27 years (180 years if you count all my colleagues who agree with me)

[damianscott71]

Originally Posted by itullberight

Lastly its 27 years (180 years if you count all my colleagues who agree with me)

Hey itullberight, let's not not fall out. I suppose that we're here to contribute & help each other....

I don't hold myself up to be an expert on these issues, but know how engine flushes have had noticable benefits for me in the past.

However, it's always good to have experts, like yourself on the forum as it helps to broaden the knowledge base. What's your background?

[itullberight]

Originally Posted by damianscott71

Hey itullberight, let's not not fall out. I suppose that we're here to contribute & help each other....

I don't hold myself up to be an expert on these issues, but know how engine flushes have had noticable benefits for me in the past.

However, it's always good to have experts, like yourself on the forum as it helps to broaden the knowledge base. What's your background?

No problem I have thick skin and it takes a lot to upset me!

My background, I left school at 16 and did my apprenticeship in HGV garage; I then moved around different dealers working my up to workshop foreman in a Scania dealership and workshop controller in a Mercedes-Benz car and commercial dealership.
Seven years ago I decided I needed a change and started teaching, I am now a lecturer in a technology college teaching motor vehicle studies (I don’t know what I did in a past life but it must have been bad!).

[damianscott71]

V.Interesting Itulberight, I bet you've seen a few changes over the years? Especially as far as diesel engines are concerned!