Is this something worth trying, on a Honda engine? Preferably, a Prelude engine I know people use this method on Toyota's but Hondas, I'm not too sure. What do you guys think? And for the folks who have done it, how effective is it? Also, often is it done? And, how long have you done it for? How many miles does your engine have?
Thanks.

 

Honda recommends against flushing of engines and transmissions, I've seen it kill a high mileage engine as it knocked loose sludge deposits that end up clogging the oil pickup in the pan.

 

+1 to that^^^

Every time ive added something to a high mileage motor like Lucas Oil treatement, or Gunk Engine Cleaner, etc there have only been problems. The best results I've had personally with my hobbies (hondas) and professionally (fords) is an fuel system service like SeaFoam, that is introduced into the intake side as a liquid and is vaporized before entering the cylinder head. On high mileage motors I know to be weak (my old H23) I even used water instead of seafoam to clean the valves and combustion chambers via the intake manifold (NEVER add water to your engine oil or fuel!)

 

Only way to flush a Honda is to just change the oil or fluid more frequently, no additives or machines that force fluid through it.

Using Mobil1 5w30 every 5k has made my head look like it just came back from the machine shop when I removed my valve cover so your choice of oil has a good deal to do with it as well as changing it on time.

 

He's talking about adding trans fluid to the intake tract just like you would seafoam. Its an old trick alot of old school guys still use. It supposedly cleans the valves, piston tops etc. Mostly it just makes a hell of alot of smoke!

OP what is going on with your car that you think you need to do something like this? Maybe you just need a good tuneup?

 

I'm currently, looking to buy a 99 Base with m/t, it has 189k and it looks like it could use a lot of cleaning from oil not being changed on time. So, I was thinking of running some Atf with the engine oil to get rid of some of the gunk, Or so I was told.

 

Yes I have heard from automotive teachers this can work. Just idle engine for a few minutes with ATF instead of oil. Then change, maybe even flush some regular oil throught it. This should clean the engine interals due to the detergents and cleaning agents in ATF, I've used it to clean some white shoes.
Negative effects can result like mini said however

 

Just change the engine oil every 2k, use a good filter and change it when the engine is hot from a long drive, the heat helps break down the sludge.

 

I 've use a product to clean the internal called to be the best one on the market. I got good results.

The brand name is FORTE.

 

Where did you buy it?
Thanks.

 

I have a really big problem with this. Transmission fluid causes rubber and certain plastics to expand and breaks down the resilience to heat/ pressure. Unless you want to re-seal an entire engine I would be very cautious of adding trans fluid to the crank case. My .02.

 

This is also something I worried about... thats why I have never tried it... Instead I just rebuilt and use fully synthetic motor every 2,000 miles.... 30,000 later the engine is shinning like some rappers chrome teeth upon tear down.

 

Mobil one is junk, Napa has some stuff called Lube moly and it wors pretty good.. you cant go wrong with BG products

 

Every autopart should have it, dont really remember where I've buy it exactly...buyed few months ago.

 

Wouldnt going on a long drive help with sludge. Long interval warmth should burn sludge then change oil. Just got my Lude 66k changed oil Mobil Special 5w30 full tune up and valve adjust (engine was disgusting) due to old owner skimping on oil changes. Shes at around 68k and oil is pretty dark only after 2k no burning tho Hopefully every 4k will clean up.

Been using Mobil Special for 3 cars now 99.5 Pathfinder 134k 01 CR-V 89k and my Lude 68k.
Gf father been using it before me on his 04 4Runner which he changes every 2 weeks averages over 100 miles a day.

 

^That's the safest way to 'flush' the engine, change the oil more frequently and do it after a good drive so the heat can break down the sludge.

 

Agree .

 

I've heard to just buy double the amount of oil and filter . Change it as u normally would oil and filter after a long drive (hot) then floor it around the block a few times with that fresh oil in there to heat up all the sludge and crap in the engine and hurry up and change it again right away with new filter and oil . And that should do it

 

Oil is not going to dislodge sludge that has built up in a neglected engine. You can perform multiple oil changes and will yield very little in terms of cleaning out the sludge. Transmission fluid is an old trick that has been used for years. Trans fluid is very heavy in detergents and worked well in the past for cleaning up sludge, carbon, and breaking free the oil control rings. However that was days of old. There are multiple variations of transmission fluids available today and they all have different additives that can possibly be harmful to your engine. I suggest using Seafoam. It is a proven,reliable cleaner and will not harm your engine. Be warned though, you may cause oil leaks or an oil burning issue once you clean out the sludge. If the engine is in really poor shape the sludge may be masking other problems....