quote Originally posted by FieroOilAnalyst: Scott- Don't worry about the sales pitch. I do not own or sell any type of flushing equipment. In fact, when I change the oil in my car, I change it like everyone else. I do a simple drain and fill. I don't subscribe to the Auto RX regime or anything of that nature. My opinion- engine flush = drain oil and replace filter, refill with new oil, run back to operating temperature, drain oil, refill with new oil. There are many out there that fully believe in the flushing fluids on the market. I am not dispelling any claims made by those companies or individuals but I'm also not supporting or selling their product.

Ya know, I had an old chevy van (91, 350) that I kept changing the oil and it would always come out black right after an oil change, so I was like "You know what, what the hell" and tried an engine flush (Run it inthe old oil I believe it was, drain, refill) and I swear the new oil looked like new oil in the engine.. My memory might be wrong in this instance, and I don't know if i'd use it again, but in that instance, I believe it actually worked.

quote Originally posted by Scott-Wa: Thanks for clarifying... It sounded like you were saying oil sitting in a sealed bottle was going to go rancid in a year or whatever. Average shelf life guarantee for motor oil is usually about 3 years. In a vehicle I like to see it changed about every 6 monthsto a year regardless of mileage if the vehicle mostly sits parked because of what you stated. On the other hand... I can't see wasting fresh motor oil to flush an engine, sounds like an incredible waste of a hard to produce resource. Only time I've done that has been to flush out an engine where a blown head gasket caused the milkshake experience. Repair gasket, change oil, run it drain it and change oil again until clean. Or maybe on that vehicle where the owner went 96K miles on an oil change and what comes out looks like black toothpaste. That's when I have flushed in the past using a quart or two of transmission fluid along with 10/30 to top off and ran til hot unloaded and drained before doing a normal oil change. I had a customer with an Isuzu Rodeo that got sludged up from extended oil change intervals where the TSB to run Mobil One 0w20 worked great. It stopped the lifter rattle in about 20 minutes and cleaned out the rings etc to the point where it burned about 2 quarts in 3000 miles with it smoking a bit, then it stopped using oil between changes entirely as the engine resealed with the parts instead of carbon. Only used the ultra light weight oil the one oil change, then used Mobil One 5w30 I believe an ended up switching to Castrol Syntec.

Yeah, after reading everyone's comments then re-reading my post, I should have been more clear. Sorry again for the misleading post. Regarding your flushing practice...you are absolutely right. Under normal circumstances, a full flush is not really needed. Its the severe issues as you noted that warrant a flush and refill. I never did do the transmission fluid flush...I know it really won't hurt anything...particularly after events such as you mentioned...I could just never get myself to poor tranny fluid into the engine. I'd be more inclined to do that now with out a problem knowing lubricants as I do...but then I was just leary.

I'm lucky if I make it out to change my own oil these days. I pull samples on both cars but have found a garage that I fully trust with each of my cars.

quote Originally posted by ka4nkf: One thing is rust I think a muffler and tail pipe (galvanized) will last longer in Hawaii than Mich. This is possible with engine parts. Don

Don, I hate to seem like I'm picking on you, but it kills me when people seemingly pull stuff out of their keyster to pass off as gospel.

First off, with your Hawaii vs anywhere else analogy, I would think that with you living in Florida that you would see what salt water corrosion can do to an old car. So let's use Arizona. A nice Arizona desert car will still get condensation when it's humid enough. I think looking at brake rotors is a far more useful example then the rusting out of tailpipes or the Ice Cream freezer at Wal Mart. If you park a car with disc brakes for a few days, you will generally start to see ruast appear on the rotor. As soon as you drive off and hit the brakes, the surface rust is removed as dust into the atmosphere. In the cylinder wall, if it were to become completely dry of oil and began to become rusty like that, (I would think being dry of oil on the cylinder wall would be a far bigger problem then the rust from condensation when it comes time to start the car again) then the rust would be worn off by the piston and the "dust" absorbed by the oil and particulates removed by the filter, and any remaining moisture would be quickly boiled off by combustion.

If the original poster had a question about the long term storage of his aluminum engined Cobalt, rusting engine componants might possibly be a contributing factor toward oil change intervals, but obviously it's not, and shotgun spraying random knowledge just because you're in posession of it is a bit reckless and irresposible. We all appreciate your ability to attain a certain age, unfortunately omniscience does not accompany geriatrics.

I don't know where the hell you came from, but I have been on this Forum since 1999 and the purpose of the forum is to let others know what you think. Just because I think that anti freeze should be green instead of blue does not mean I am right, It is a suggestion. As far as Florida and the salt water, everyone looks for parts for the Fiero from the rust free land of Florida. I also would appreciate you not ribbing my age. My Fiero has been parked for 5 months and my rotors have no rust. Don't call someone nutty or crazy until you know for sure.
I do not know why I even send a answer to this topic.
Don

quote Originally posted by Telegram Sam: Don, I hate to seem like I'm picking on you, but it kills me when people seemingly pull stuff out of their keyster to pass off as gospel. First off, with your Hawaii vs anywhere else analogy, I would think that with you living in Florida that you would see what salt water corrosion can do to an old car. So let's use Arizona. A nice Arizona desert car will still get condensation when it's humid enough. I think looking at brake rotors is a far more useful example then the rusting out of tailpipes or the Ice Cream freezer at Wal Mart. If you park a car with disc brakes for a few days, you will generally start to see ruast appear on the rotor. As soon as you drive off and hit the brakes, the surface rust is removed as dust into the atmosphere. In the cylinder wall, if it were to become completely dry of oil and began to become rusty like that, (I would think being dry of oil on the cylinder wall would be a far bigger problem then the rust from condensation when it comes time to start the car again) then the rust would be worn off by the piston and the "dust" absorbed by the oil and particulates removed by the filter, and any remaining moisture would be quickly boiled off by combustion. If the original poster had a question about the long term storage of his aluminum engined Cobalt, rusting engine componants might possibly be a contributing factor toward oil change intervals, but obviously it's not, and shotgun spraying random knowledge just because you're in posession of it is a bit reckless and irresposible. We all appreciate your ability to attain a certain age, unfortunately omniscience does not accompany geriatrics.

quote Originally posted by ka4nkf: I don't know where the hell you came from, but I have been on this Forum since 1999 and the purpose of the forum is to let others know what you think. Just because I think that anti freeze should be green instead of blue does not mean I am right, It is a suggestion. As far as Florida and the salt water, everyone looks for parts for the Fiero from the rust free land of Florida. I also would appreciate you not ribbing my age. My Fiero has been parked for 5 months and my rotors have no rust. Don't call someone nutty or crazy until you know for sure. I do not know why I even send a answer to this topic. Don

I don't know why you answered to this topic either, for that matter. As far as where the hell I came from, I'm sure it's a place that remains unimpressed about when you registered on an internet forum. As you have done, I have shared on this forum what I think. I believe that I have remained polite and professional about the manner in which I have expressed those thoughts. I've never criticized the Great State of Florida, although living in Coastal California I recognize surface rust from salt water air when I see it.

Here's an agreement. I won't make issue of your age if you don't throw my newbieness in my face. Neither one of those issues have any relevance whatsoever on the truthfulness of the content of either of our posts.

For your information I lived in Ventura California year 1956. I have spent 8 months in Hawaii. I have also been to Arizona. Plus many many other states as I traveled for one construction company for 9 years all over the US. If I tell you something and you don't believe me, then just say I don't think so. don't use a phrase like that old man don't know what he is talking about. It is a shame that people cannot discuss something without getting mad at each other.I am a Baptist by faith and the neighbor next door is Catholic and we are friends and do not get mad at each other because I believe one way and he believes another way. This is stupidity. also I cannot apologize for the newbie as I did not call you a newbie.
Don

quote Originally posted by Telegram Sam: I don't know why you answered to this topic either, for that matter. As far as where the hell I came from, I'm sure it's a place that remains unimpressed about when you registered on an internet forum. As you have done, I have shared on this forum what I think. I believe that I have remained polite and professional about the manner in which I have expressed those thoughts. I've never criticized the Great State of Florida, although living in Coastal California I recognize surface rust from salt water air when I see it. Here's an agreement. I won't make issue of your age if you don't throw my newbieness in my face. Neither one of those issues have any relevance whatsoever on the truthfulness of the content of either of our posts.

Thanks so much for all the input on the oil, I appreciate your recommendations!