What bits need doing for servicing a 1.7 TZD?

mountainmanUK · Post by **mountainmanUK** » Mon May 28, 2007 8:21 pm

I've seen really black oil after even shorter times/mileage!
I guess a lot depends on whether the last oil change got a flush out as well.
So long as the oil isn't full of bits of metal etc., should be fine!

My works van (Merc Sprinter) does 5500 miles per month, and the oil gets changed every 2 months. It's usually pretty black, although the van itself is only a 55 plate with 84k on the clock.

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Mon May 28, 2007 8:29 pm

Didnt notice any metal, so hopefully all is well, just a bit concerned over the colour, but if thats what it goes like then fair enough. Can u actually clean out the oil with some sort of cleaner stuff or is there really no point?

mountainmanUK · Post by **mountainmanUK** » Mon May 28, 2007 8:40 pm

I usually flush out the engine on my cars every 2 or 3 changes.
Some people, however, never flush out as it can sometimes create problems with older engines.

Some interesting reading here.......
http://www.carbibles.com/engineoil_bible.html

There are lots of different products that you can use, all you need to do is add a can to the oil about 40-50 miles before you plan on doing the oilchange. Basically, they add a kind of 'solvent' to the oil, which can help to clear out any sludgy deposits which may be bloacking some of the narrow oilways in an engine. When you drain the old oil a little later, the theory is that all the dislodged sludge comes away with it!

One guy in a garage I used to frequent several years ago used to swear by adding a couple of pints of diesel oil to the sump before a change!!!

I'm not sure if I could do this, but the theory works the same....the deisel would break up any sludge.

Cheers
Dave

st gilles · Post by **st gilles** » Mon May 28, 2007 8:44 pm

As far as I know diesel engines produce a lot of soot and this gets picked up by the oil and kept in suspension. Along with the fact that all oils nowadays are designed as detergents (same thing really, ie. designed to hold all the soot and shite in suspension 'til the appointed oil change) shouldn't worry about it too much...as long as it was nice and runny...I had a Toyota lite ace once and I (as with all my new acquisitions) went to change the oil.....it can only be described as like a slightly thinner Marmite (Vegemite for our aussie friends)..yep you've guessed it; engine was really only fit for the scrapheap.

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Mon May 28, 2007 10:24 pm

I wouldn't flush the engine under any circumstances unless I was rebuilding it. Diesel lubricating oil does an effective job and as has been stated is designed to keep the carbon and products of combustion in suspension. If you flush at best it'll do nothing as there's nothing there to clean out - and at worst it'll dislodge something which will lodge somewhere and cause problems.

Citroen engines are well known for lasting a very long time and flushing is not part of the recommended maintenance so its a safe bet that few are flushed yet still last a very long time.

Best maintenance is the use of good quality (not the most expensive) oil and change it at the recommended intervals.

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Tue May 29, 2007 12:07 am

Thanks guys, so what oil does everyone use, semi-synthetic or normal? I was put off by some of the prices of oil, bearing in mind an oil change every 6k is ancient by modern standards.

I just used some 15w40 oil from Tesco's, cant tell if its any worse or better than the more expensive stuff, so will see how well it does at the next oil change.