zd30 engine oil squirters.

[june]

walking past a local dyno shop and spotted a 3 lt patrol with motor in pieces. it got the better of me so i went in ask what had caused the engine falure. i was told the oil jets had blocked which feed oil up under the pistons. i am not sure but i think these squirters are on the direct injected engines only. as a preventative, does anyone know would a engine oil flush say every 10,000 klm service help to keep these things from blocking ?

[kevin07]

well id be pretty certain a good flush wont hurt. but why did they block some people just dont change oil

[Parksy]

Good service practice will stop this. People that leave oil in the engine for too long and it eventually turns to sludge and gums up the inside. If the engine then continues to run and someone decides to run an engine flush additive this can dislodge the crud and cause issues. Not saying the flushing is bad, because I do it on every oil change and my engine loves me for it. But the main thing is not to exceed service intervals.

Edit, when I do my oil change, engine is warmed up. Drain oil. Wait at least an hour. Then fill up with cheap oil and flush additive. Idle engine for at least 30 mins(don't drive it!!!), then drain it for another hour. If its your first flush then the oil usually comes out black. Then replace filter and fill with quality oil. I find the first flush the oil always comes out looking horrible, but subsequent flushes the oil comes out cleaner.

[june]

i tow a off road van most of the time and change my oil and filter every 5000 klms.i would think engine oil flush would be a caustic chemical. does using it on a regular basis have any long term effects on engine internals?

[Dales300exc]

Good service practice will stop this. People that leave oil in the engine for too long and it eventually turns to sludge and gums up the inside. If the engine then continues to run and someone decides to run an engine flush additive this can dislodge the crud and cause issues. Not saying the flushing is bad, because I do it on every oil change and my engine loves me for it. But the main thing is not to exceed service intervals.

Edit, when I do my oil change, engine is warmed up. Drain oil. Wait at least an hour. Then fill up with cheap oil and flush additive. Idle engine for at least 30 mins(don't drive it!!!), then drain it for another hour. If its your first flush then the oil usually comes out black. Then replace filter and fill with quality oil. I find the first flush the oil always comes out looking horrible, but subsequent flushes the oil comes out cleaner.

Do you do that every service? Thats insane.

Run a quality oil and change it every 5000k you will never have a problem. Use good filters too.

[Rumcajs]

walking past a local dyno shop and spotted a 3 lt patrol with motor in pieces. it got the better of me so i went in ask what had caused the engine falure. i was told the oil jets had blocked which feed oil up under the pistons. i am not sure but i think these squirters are on the direct injected engines only. as a preventative, does anyone know would a engine oil flush say every 10,000 klm service help to keep these things from blocking ?

Their proper name is/are piston cooling jets and thats their purpose as well, cooling the piston crown and they're a part and parcel of high performance high output turbo diesels.

These pistons jets usually get blocked by foreign material entering the oil system. I don't think "engine oil flush" is going to do anything in this case unless the oil change has not been done or incorrect oil has been there for a very long time.

These buggers are important part of the engine cooling system and as such their operation can be regulated (not sure if thats the case on ZD30) subject to engine load, temperature, RPMs they're even manipulated to obtain right level of emissions by regulating engine operating temperature on certain commercial turbo diesels.

Cheers

[Parksy]

Do you do that every service? Thats insane.

Run a quality oil and change it every 5000k you will never have a problem. Use good filters too.

Sure. I don't do much more than 10000km per year so I service twice a year. It really isn't that bad on the pocket so long as you find the cheapest oil you can find. Ie specials down at supercheap/autobarn.

Cheers

[june]

due to towing a 3 tonne van 95 % of the time [travelling aust for last 15 months] i change oil and filter every 5000 klms i use nissan filters and magnatec oil. due to the amount of strain on the engine from towing i do these services to the tee. . so what i might do is put the engine flush in every 2nd service as it won't hurt.it will make me feel like i have helped un block oil jets [if there is any].as without the mothership my home don;t move. thanks everyone.