When it comes to car or automobile maintenance, one of the most imperative questions to ask is how much does an engine flush cost? 

There are several factors that need  to be considered when determining the cost of an engine flush. If you’re not sure of the cost of an engine flush, it will be a great idea to shop around before buying one. The cost of an engine flush is likely to vary, but the more effective products will be quite affordable. 

Prices range from $15 to $20 for a standard flush and they are easy to use and are effective, but lack the brand feature of more expensive options. Engine flushes under $15 are relatively economical, but still provide great sludge-busting performance. While expensive products are usually better, a cheaper option may be just as effective. Engine flushes over $20 may be more expensive than their lesser-priced counterparts, but they are usually just as effective and don’t have the same feature.

What is an Engine Flush.

An engine flush is basically the parts and accessories such as chemical additive that is designed to repair, enhance or clean the accumulated dirt, sludge and other sticky or greasy matter from a product (such as an automobile).

Engine flushing is  usually a convenient preventive procedure to carry out when your car is not driven pretty often or in cases where there is erratic changing of engine oil that is causing problems in the engine. Of course, changing the oil is the primary requirement to keep your car’s engine in good condition, but there is more to engine maintenance than only changing the oil and this article would elaborate more on the cost, importance, and signs that you need an engine flush.

Why Flush The Engine 

As sound health is important in accomplishing great feats so does a good car engine determines performance and longevity. You are most definitely aware of the pivotal role the car engine plays in improving the quality of a ride. Thereby, appropriate maintenance of the engine is something you should not ignore and the best way to guarantee that is to pay attention to the heart of your vehicle; the Engine. Even when continuous use over a long period causes deeper harm to your car engine and that can only be dealt with through special practice like engine flushing.

Engine oil is meant to circulate and lubricate the engine parts to ensure they remain in good working condition. Usually, engine oil is meant to keep circulating. If you rarely have your oil changed, do a lot of driving that is infrequent or have a car that is not in use for months, your car is at risk of building up sludge.

At times, the way a person drives can slow the progress of the oil from performing the job it is designed to do. For example, When a car takes short trips or remains unused more often than usual, the engine oil particles begins to leave deposits that continue to build up sludge inside the engine. 

Oil filters expel elements as small as 25 microns (approx. 1/1000 of one inch) nonetheless, there are particles found within the oil that are even smaller than the aforementioned size that even a really good filter is unable to expel. However, the chemicals used for an engine flush can. Over time these really small particles accumulate together and build-up sludge. The sludge may then resists the flow of engine oil.

This issue, if ignored, can ultimately lead to serious complications such as improper working of the spark plugs, valves not closing properly, or malfunctioning of the exhaust sensors etc. Even the complete replacement of the engine could become a necessity and that can be quite expensive.

The Merits of Engine Flush

There are various benefits of an engine flush. However, engine flush is only required from time to time. Also, considering how many short trips you patronize and whether you drive majorly in a hot or dry region. If you change your oil regularly and maintain your car’s engine, then you should not worry about having a build-up of sludge regularly. It is advisable to use an engine flush treatment once or twice a year or every three to seven thousand miles. While some people follow a strict schedule, others may neglect oil changes at all.

Here are some of the advantages of using engine flushes: 

1. An engine flush guarantees a decent chance to lubricate vital engine parts like valves and rings for longer and delivers utmost protection by removing harmful sludge and other contaminants. Cleaning the engine before installing fresh oil, ensures that the new oil stays cleaner for longer since the new oil will not be contending with sludge and deposits from the previous oil.

2. If there are dirt, sludge or filth in your engine, they can result to a breakdown in the engine’s oil since the viscosity (I.e the measure of oil resistance to flow) is increased which thereby requires more energy to circulate throughout the engine. Cleaning the engine helps ensure the components move efficiently, maximizing fuel economy.

3. Carbon deposits can sometimes cause piston rings to stick. If this happens, oil can make its way into the combustion chamber and burn; this causes harmful deposits and an increase in exhaust emissions as the burned oil exits the tailpipe. An engine flush treatment helps free and clean stuck piston rings, managing oil consumption and lowering your exhaust emissions.

The Three kinds of Engine Flush

There are three different kinds of engine flush that are commonly used whereby each of them is specially designed to work with specific engines. This means you need to carefully choose the type that is appropriate or fits your engine. 

1. Gasoline Engine Flush is one type has been specially designed to work in gasoline-powered engines. This type is made to suit different applications, such as gasoline engine flush for higher-mileage engines. Some have also been designed to work fast.

2. The use of a diesel engine flush is highly recommended if your car, truck, or SUV is operated by a diesel engine. This specific flush has been designed to flush out harmful carbon deposits and sludge that builds up in diesel engines.

3. A common type of engine flush is the Gasoline and Diesel flush and it has been designed to work effectively in both diesel and gasoline-powered engines. This particular flush is quite universal and adaptable because it can be applied to both engine types. It eradicates the concern of buying a specifically designed flush only for gas or diesel engine types. 

Additionally, The best oil flush for your car’s gasoline engine should make use of a blend of antiwear agents, detergents, dispersants, lubricants, and rust inhibitors. Always make sure that your chosen engine flush has at least a few of these agents if you want to clean your engine of damaging deposits and sludge effectively. 

Signs That You Need an Engine Flush 

Here are some indicators that may mean your engine has gathered some sludge and demands you to flush the engine.

1. You have a low oil pressure in your car. When the oil light and the low oil pressure lights comes on a your dashboard. This happens as a result of the sludge causing the oil to slowly circulate downward. The oil eventually loses its pressure and results in the oil light coming on. At this point the engine will not get the oil it needs thereby posing a problem for the engine. The pressure of the oil can also be lost at the oil filter. Once the oil filter is blocked and the flow of oil is hindered, the oil will take a gradual and slow trip through the filter before it enters into the car’s engine. 

2. When there are funny sounds generated from the tappet. If your engine have gathered sludge, then there is a high possibility that most of the sludge is quite visible from below the head, right near the tappet area. The engine sludge will cause the tappets alongside the hydraulic jacks to perform it’s function with lots of noise- which can be heard as fast ticking or a slight sharp sound and this happens because There is insufficient oil to lubricate the rams as well as the springs due to excess sludge. The main function of an engine’s tappets is to help control the movement of the exhaust valves and the intake of air. They move up and down quite rapidly. This is the major reason why lots of the mud can be visible in this tappets area. More so, the oil will break down fast due to lots of mixing and heat. Once the engine is flushed, the noise will go away.

How much Does An Engine Flush Cost?

When considering the cost of an engine flush, you’ll also want to factor in the cost of new motor oil and a replacement oil filter. The higher-end products are expensive, but they will give your car extraordinary performance.

A full engine flush will cost approximately $200 to $300, depending on the type of service your car is requiring. This cost can vary widely between cars, so it is better to talk to your car mechanic before making a decision. Usually, an engine flush is a scheduled service, so it will be part of your routine maintenance. Depending on the type of products to be used, an engine flush can be completed in as short as two hours. However, it’s advisable to choose a qualified technician to perform this routine to ensure the best results.

If you need a high-quality engine flush for your car, consider purchasing a universal product. This type of product will work in both gasoline and diesel engines. It is also a great value as it can work on any type of engine. A generic engine flush costs between $20 and $40. Some universal products can be found for as low as $20, which is ideal for frugal consumers. They still provide good performance and are relatively cheap.

You should also put into consideration the cost of replacing the filters if you plan on doing any major maintenance to your car.

Engine flush costs can vary widely, but most are less than $200. In some cases, you can do it yourself at home for an additional $30. A transmission flush, however, can be an expensive, costing anywhere from $150 to $300. Unlike an oil change, an engine flush uses up to 12-22 quarts of fluid instead of 5-7. It costs approximately double a standard oil change

How to perform an Engine Flush

An engine flush is basically the process of placing chemicals in the engine oil to break down sludge or carbon deposits from old oil. There are three different methods that your technician will suggest is the best engine flush to perform.

Method One:

A small amount of oil is expelled from the engine and a non-solvent flush additive chemical, made to break up carbon deposits in the engine, is added to the system. Then, the car is taken for a road test to work the chemical throughout the engine. As the deposits are discharged, they become suspended in the oil and trapped in the filter. Finally, the car receives a change of oil with a new filter, thereby, removing dirt and filth.

Method Two:

A small quantity of oil is expelled from the engine and then the non-solvent flush addictive chemical is added, then the car is left to remain inactive for 5-10 minutes. This makes it possible for the chemical solution to circulate throughout the engine and disintegrate any sludge in the oil filter. Lastly, the oil is then changed alongside the filter. Any sludge within the engine is expelled with the spent oil.

Method Three:

Drain the oil out of the car, like every other oil change service, and clean oil that contains a non-solvent chemical formation is added to the car. Then, the engine is either tested or allowed to be inactive to ensure the cleaning agent extends to every area within the engine that oil would. Lastly, the oil and filter are changed ensuring the car is back to its normal condition.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often does my vehicle require an engine flush? 

Although mechanics will advise you to use an engine flush every 3,000 to 8,000 miles, modern engines require a full engine flush at around 33,000 miles.

Will engine flush damage my engine?

Although an engine flush is an important maintenance method for an automobile, General motors corporation has come out to say that an engine flush can indeed damage your engines as some of the chemicals used for engine flush are not compatible with the engine.

How long does an engine flush take?

The engine flushing process doesn’t take a lot of time. The entire process can be done in 10 – 15 minutes.

Summary

In the case of preventing or eradicating the harmful effects of sludge is one of the major reasons to have an engine flush carried out, there are other advantages of having this service done.

Additionally, if you have recently purchased a used car with virtually no record of maintenance, an engine flush ensued by an oil change of fresh oil may prevent a costly repair later on. On the contrary, cars that have had previous internal engine fixes would benefit from a flush. As the chemicals will help to clean out any leftover particles before new oil is added.

In conclusion, cars that have a long interval between oil changes will also benefit from an engine flush. As the oil gets dirtier, there is a tendency that carbons and other particles build up in the engine. Any time you carry out any kind of maintenance on your car, especially where oil is present, a flush will help to advance the life of the car.

Suppose an engine flush as giving your engine a new start, so take the opportunity to start maintaining your car regularly. This involves but is not restricted to having oil changes on schedule as recommended by your car technician or manufacturer. Keep your car on the road and avoid costly fixes by carrying out routine maintenance.