Engine Cleaning with Kero?

[irwin]

My dad and grandpa swore by a product called Rislone, substituting one quart of oil at change time.

I've had good luck with Rislone, the NAPA down the street from my shop carries it.

 

[Bird]

I think 50 years ago, there was only one Rislone when we sold it in dad's auto parts store, but now apparently there are several.

 

[irwin]

I think 50 years ago, there was only one Rislone when we sold it in dad's auto parts store, but now apparently there are several.

Hi Bird, only used the one with part #100QR, didn't know about the others and I've been in the auto repair/sales business since I turned 25, that was 26 years ago.
It only helps if build up is the problem, It has quieted down lifters for us, and seems to improve sticky oil ring operation.
Todays auto engines are made with better components, but real expensive to do major repairs. Don't like aluminum in head or blocks, but this is the way many are made, Too many head gasket and intake gasket failures. Well it's good for the repair business until the cost drives away repairs and people don't fix-em, they get a new one. Trans overhaul costs are very high also, I remember aamco doing $350.00 overhauls in the late 70's. 2-3k repair bills are not uncommon.

 

[Bird]

Tim, I'm afraid you're just a youngster compared to me. Actually when I was selling Rislone 50 years ago, it was Shaler Rislone and we also sold Alemite CD2 which was used for the same purpose. And Bardahl was perhaps the best known one and best selling additive back then.

We used to have one customer in the service station who wante Texaco's non-detergent motor oil with one pint of Marvel Mystery Oil substituted for the motor oil.

 

[patrick_g]

When I was teenager and my dad owned a service station, we had an employee who wasn't the brightest bulb in the house. Anyway, he came in the office to tell me that he had changed the oil & filter & greased the Olds, but when he let it down off the lift, started it, and put it in reverse, it wouldn't move. So I went to see what the problem was, and found he had drained the transmission, then added 5 quarts of oil to the crankcase. Fortunately, no damage was done, other than the loss of a few quarts of motor oil & ATF.

Well DU-UH, The first time I ever changed oil on an automatic tranny car I was in 9th grade and the Pontiac straight 8 had tranny problems starting with my work. Similar story. I drained the tranny and put on a new oil filter and added 5 qts to the crankcase. No harm, no repeat, and I have been careful ever since. Luckily I only drove it down the drive through the alley and into the drive again.

There used to be various motor cleaners for sale at auto parts and other stores. I don't recall the directions in detail but don't recall driving the car to be part of the deal. You put it in the crankcase brought the car to normal operating temp by idling, stopped the engine and drained the oil.

I heard and saw all sorts of ways to "clean" the engine including ATF, kerosene, etc but I was always worried something would flake off and plug a passage that would cause a problem.

Pat

 

[irwin]

Tim, I'm afraid you're just a youngster compared to me.

And I hope you're healthy and happy sir..
I often think how easy the mechanics had it back in the 50's. Plenty of room under the hoods, Basic engine diagnostics and repairs. Those that are alive today must be glad they did the grease work before emission control devices made auto repair a high tech career choice, and tight engine quarters make frustration the norm. on fwd V6/V8 repairs.. .. Even on my 89 camaro replacing spark plugs is less than quick/easy.

 

[Bird]

Yep, you're right, Tim. In my younger days and with the older and simpler autos, I think I was a pretty fair shade tree mechanic, but I wouldn't even know where to start on a modern automobile. I couldn't help but laugh when I saw your mention of an AAMCO $350 transmission overhaul. I bought a '55 Cadillac Coupe deVille in 1960 that had a tranmission problem. It cost me $75 (parts and labor) for the transmission shop to swap it out for a rebuilt transmission.

 

[Egon]

It's still possible to change the air filter on some vehicles! That is if you can find it.

As flushing an engine with kero - It's a good way to get a new engine installed!

 

[59ih340]

The 5 min.motor flush you get at the parts stores is just 1qt.of kero.with out the dye.and they charge more for it than a gal.of pump kero.

 

[patrick_g]

The 5 min.motor flush you get at the parts stores is just 1qt.of kero.with out the dye.and they charge more for it than a gal.of pump kero.

...and unless you are operating in an EXTREMELY dirty environment with inadequate filtration, have lots of blow-by, or other NON-STANDARD conditions that are packing lots of "stuff" into your crankcase that isn't making it to the filter, then it is basically a waste of time and money.

If it is to get the "last drop" of used oil out of the engine, it is not needed and besides, ALL of your oil will be used in a few days. What ya gonna do change every day? There may be a place for motor or crankcase flushes but probably not useful in over 90% of the operations.

Pat