do you recommend an engine flush for my GT40?

[ddick]

do you recommend an engine flush for my GT 40 engine. Local mechanic told me it was a good idea. Engine is a 95 model.

[DanielC]

RE: do you recommend an engine flush for my GT40?

Are you talking about flushing the engine oil, or the cooling system? Please explain more.

[8122pbrainard]

RE: do you recommend an engine flush for my GT40?

dd,
Be careful on this one whether he's talking oil or cooling. Things may be slow for him and it may be he's seeing if he can ad to his billing.

I've read that the oil flush in automotive is hype and can actually do more harm than good. It's basically washing the inside of the engine with a weak solvent. Modern oils are made with additive to keep the solids in suspension until they get to the filter and be trapped.

A cooling system flush on a marine isn't easy. It needs some creative plumbing to do it and I really question the need. Silt and scale will come out with just a block/manifold draining. Marine engines really run very clean because they do not recirculate coolant trapping most unwanted rust/scale.

[DanielC]

RE: do you recommend an engine flush for my GT40?

Some sediment and rust flakes seem to some out of the exhaust manifold when I remove the plugs for winterization. I have poked around in the drain plug hole with a piece of wire and gotten more crud to come out. I have also disconnected the hoses from the thermostat cover, and hooked a garden hose to them with the exhaust manifold plugs out, and got a little more crud out of the exhaust manifold.
I did restart the engine just to be absolutely sure I did not force any water backwards through the exhaust manifolds into the engine cylinders.
While you are messing around with the exhaust manifolds, may as well check the torque on the bolts that hold the exhaust manifold on the engine, and the risers on the manifold. Careful with the riser bolts, do not break them.