Author Topic: To Flush or not to Flush!  (Read 4161 times)

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Marrtyn

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on: September 24, 2009, 08:52:09 pm
Just done a second oil change. This will be the third in total. (now at nonly 1300 + miles.) One done at recall.
Still noticing gunge/foreign matter in the mag. strainer, And I am wondering if the engines should be flushed with a propriority flushing oil say after 3500/4000 miles, when the filter and oil is again renewed.
If I am finding gunge in the stainer -then what about the filter etc.?
Any thoughts lads?


ace.cafe

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Reply #1 on: September 24, 2009, 11:18:21 pm
Well, I never actually tried flushing the oil system in the engine with a flushing solution, but I don't really see the need for it if you use a detergent oil.
The detergent oil is designed to keep particulate matter in suspension, so that it circulates to the filter.
I would think that  should work all by itself.
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REpozer

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Reply #2 on: September 25, 2009, 12:12:59 am
If I had concern ,I would double up on oil changes, satisfied.

Not sure how to flush.
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ScooterBob

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Reply #3 on: October 02, 2009, 03:17:04 pm
Well, I never actually tried flushing the oil system in the engine with a flushing solution, but I don't really see the need for it if you use a detergent oil.
The detergent oil is designed to keep particulate matter in suspension, so that it circulates to the filter.
I would think that  should work all by itself.

ACE - You are quite right on this one. MOST "engine flush solutions" have all sorts of evil solvents in them that will dissolve seals in a flash. If a fellow did ANYTHING to flush one out, I'd think a 50/50 mix of 10W oil and kerosene, run for about 15 minutes would do PLENTY. Otherwise, just keep the trash screen cleaned out and change oil often until it comes out clean.
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Kevin Mahoney

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Reply #4 on: October 02, 2009, 05:00:36 pm
I was in a dealership in Pune India years ago. The owner told me that after about 500 miles they filled the engine with a solution of 50% diesel fuel and 50% oil and ran it for 15-30 minutes to flush out the engine. I was horrified but kept my mouth shut (a rare occurrence). The older Bullet engines did not have a gear box integral to the engine crankcase so they should actually shed less "swarf" when new than a unit construction engine can.
  The stuff that gets caught in the screen is mostly dirt of one sort or another from the gears and is a result of their manufacturing. The screen and magnet catch the stuff before it gets to the oil filter. It will all but disappear soon. I would not advise flushing. The stuff you see if pretty standard on a lot of bikes, but is rather unsightly. Toward that end and from customer feedback REM has gone the extra mile on this. The factory sent us a video showing how this is done recently.
  In the meantime the factory has changed the spec to the gear supplier to make sure the gears meet certain cleanliness standards. They then are washing those parts in a series of ultrasonic wash machines. They then analyze the material in the wash water to make sure the parts are within this spec. After that they are taking oil samples after initial test running to check for the same thing.

In short don't flush the bike, don't worry about the oil filter and have fun riding it.
 
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Rusty

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Reply #5 on: October 02, 2009, 05:26:44 pm
I'm with REpozer on this and wouldn't flush. You shouldn't need to with modern oils and a new engine. I'd change the oil more regularly until it stops.

Mine's had four oil changes now (including the recall) at a similar total miles to yours. The two that I did, the last one at 1100 miles, resulted in a lot of swarf and general debris coming out with both mesh filters, a black oil filter but no cr@p in the housing so it does seem that the mesh filters stop it getting through.

Nice to see that RE will be upgrading their assembly process by cleaning components before fitting them. That's the second upgrade we've had, the first was a non-siezing gearbox ;D


Marrtyn

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Reply #6 on: October 03, 2009, 01:31:10 pm
Very interesting responces, have taken note, and will NOT flush. Thanks.


REpozer

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Reply #7 on: October 03, 2009, 09:33:17 pm
Just finished my pre-winter oil change, nothing to speak of on my oil plug screens or the paper filter.
Again, I would just be vigilant on my oil changes till the debris is not visible , unless of course you are picking up material that has readable part numbers on it, but that a differant story.
And of course no amount of flushing will fix an engine that is ready to grenade itsself either.
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