non-invasive sludge removal from pistons rings pt2

11/11/21 update on cold start up, car smoked for a few seconds but smoke cloud was negligible in comparison to what was initially experienced. smoke disappeared soon after and ran fine.

see pt1

[Bowhuntersgoxzx]

BG EPR (Engine Performance Restoration) softens, emulsifies, and dissolves even the most stubborn fuel gums that clog piston rings. It not only cleans the compression and oil rings but also helps remove any buildup/sludge on the valve guides and under the valve covers, run BG EPR (Red and Black can) in the engine for about 100-500 miles and then do an oil and filter change. This stuff WORKS !

[thomasmorris]

Excellent video, I did similar to a 2011 Equinox 2.4, direct injection original low friction rings, 100, 000 miles. I just used trany fluid and lacquer thinner mixed 1/2 never drained oil, pint in each hole 24 hours than again pint each 24 hours, Did Not run drained it lots of black gunk came out, all put in fresh oil, hard start like yours smoked big time. No oil usage in 1000 miles vs 1 quart every 1000. Learned I should have changed oil again as at 1500 the chain tensioner (hydralic driven) allowed a chain jump, No damage, put in new chain and tensioner, now have 2500 miles no oil usage. Your formula is great, automatic transmission fluid is very high detergent so cleans and add in the acetone and it will attack sludge and carbon. Reason I mixed the two was I was worried the thinner would quickly drain past rings and the trany oil would hold it on them longer. I think your first treatment did more than you think, just took time to really kick in

[somerandomguy]

After watching both parts, I'll say that this is the most chemically aggressive effort I've seen on YT yet, this is a fairly common issue when regular maintenance is neglected and I've wondered about more aggressive chemicals cleaning piston rings

[sirishwark]

You can always install a Oil Catch Can to arrest the oil mixed gases entering the intake again.. This approach is very promising than many other DIY techniques available on YT.. Good Job 👍👌

[AndTodaysProjectIs]

May have been mentioned in comments but at 11:36 into the video on the lower compression test you can clearly see vapor coming out of the hole still. Likely why the test was lower. something preventing a solid connection on your gauge down there (O'ring or not tight enough).

[tiorobot]

I have 2 vehicles that I've had parked for some time now. This video gives me some confidence in pouring different liquids down the spark plugs hole. One I'm afraid might have the rings seized to the cylinder wall. The other newer and most recently driven car is an import with some oil consumption issues.
Thank you for posting this video it was informative

[TofuInc]

BG EPR and a few oil changes would have likely fixed that with less effort, possibly even lower cost. They also have a $300 kit that is a dealer service kit for this exact issue. I've used it and it works. I've seen this with GM, Toyota, and Nissan engines. The oil control rings get gummed up and get stuck causing the high oil consumption and smoking at startup. If left unchecked it will then result in cylinder wear and lost compression.

[jasonligo]

I enjoyed watching this video. Thank you for showing us your cleaning technique.

[twatdidusay]

The amount of oil he's getting in the cylinders makes me think it's the valve guide seals. There's no way it could have that high of compression and be leaking that much oil past the compression rings.

[amerlin]

OMG. Start the re-install of spark plugs by hand. The risk of cross-threading from what you did is cringe-worthy.

[anonymike]

Per my mechanical theory, if you come into a vehicle with a dirty engine, you cannot undo what has been done already, Just accelerate the oil change interval, use synthetic or semisynthetic oil and hope for the best. If you suspect stuck rings, the carbon will never burn out of the rings if all you do is short trip driving. You have to drive segments of at least maybe 50 miles at a time at highway speeds to burn the carbon out of the rings. Do some cruising on the local freeway system or the interstate. Or the local highways if there is no interstate nearby. You can put a solvent in the cylinder through the spark plug holes but leave sludge in the valve area alone. The fresh oil will dissolve it out over time.

[randywl]

To those with variable valve timing, ...only use the manufacturers recommended oil viscosity.

Great job. I just soaked the cylinders in my Chevy 4.3 with seafoam. It's a V6 of course, so they can't be flooded as much with a straight up cylinder configuration.
I used a turkey baster with a 1 foot section of rubber hose to inject an ounce and a half of Seafoam into each cylinder and let it set for an hour.
Every half hour, I cranked the engine over for 15 seconds, then let it set for another half hour.
I did that 4 times, then let it set overnight.
I put the plugs back in and took it to work the next day and put it in 15 miles.
I repeated this procedure that night, and again let the pistons soak overnight with whatever residue was left on them after cranking. Seafoam does not readily evaporate, so they stayed wet over night.
After the second time I again drove it to work putting on about 20 miles.
The following day I went ahead and put a can of Sea foam into the running engine, then quickly shut it down and let it soak for half an hour before restarting and keeping the engine at 1500 to 2, 500 RPM for 15 minutes.
Then around the piss out of it. 😁
Two cylinders lost 15 to 21 lbs of compression I suspect from carbon loss. Those two read 171 and 178, and all the others were 149 to 150ish.
I might try the brakleen and paint thinner trick on the problem cylinders to see how they fare.
Science is always fun....
... more so, when stuff doesn't break or blow up. 😂

Thanks for showing your experiment.
I don't believe that the Lucas did all that much. I think everything was cleaned and loosened up from everything else you did.

[amaace]

Many people have made negative comments towards the procedures used. At the end of the day I'm sure the customer's other choice was to junk this car and get a new one because a new engine would not be cost effective. The average mechanic would do diagnostic and give 2 options new engine or new car without trying any home remedy. I am dealing with a similar situation with an 02 Corolla and have tried many "home remedies" this will be next on my list. If it adds another year to my car's life than I'll consider it a success! How has this car held up? Any updates?

[stavyone]

I have been a mechanic for 30 years ! One thing is for sure if I had an apprentice that tried to use an impact to put plugs in I would kick his butt straight out of my workshop !

[ahmadsuliman]

Before removing the fluid from the cylinder it would’ve probably been a good idea to barely go back and forth with the crank just to wiggle the rings a bit

[lungelomkhasibe]

I think what happened to your compression drop is when you poured solvents inside the cylinder it removed some of the gunk/ carbon buildup on the gaps of the compression rings so compresion escaped a lot easier hence the drop

[combustion]

Good video and good effort put in that one, thank you for making it ! As a matter of fact, great job !

[miguelc]

Hey I know it’s been a year since you posted this video. I used to have a nissan sentra with the same 2.5l engine on it. Those cars are notorious for burning oil. There is one thing that fixes 100% of the time. The catalytic converter on the exhaust headers tends to plug up. Hence the engine doesn’t breathe properly and you get blow by. You did check compression and it was fine. I guess the catalytic converter is too close to the engine. I removed mine and the problem was fixed. Never consumed any oil between changesThe problem is for what ever reason the ECU doesn’t light up the check engine light until is too late.

[amberc]

Hey buddy, have you tried BG EPR 109? Put 5mm STP engine flush through the spark plug holes the night before too. Then add BG ERP 109 through the oil filler cap. ERP 109 will attack the sludge from the underneath and the STP will help from the top. Team work! Measure before and after compression too. If it doesn't work, the will need rebuild.

[brycewosick]

Lucas will improve how an engine runs, if you have light ring, piston or cylinder scoring. Back in the day we used to use a can of STP...sometimes 2 cans. Made the mistake of way too many cans once and blew my old pontiac 326 when the powerglide shifted into second. Pulled the engine apart and the oil looked like little balls of Jello! HAHAHA! I used it as directed on many other engines and it smoothed them right out. Obviously it didn't help if the low compression issue was a burnt valve or damaged valve seat.