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IT CLEANS--- Motor Medic Motor Flush

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Prius_Angie, Jul 8, 2017.

  1. Prius_Angie

    Prius_Angie Active Member

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    SUMMARY.
    I believe my Motor Medic Motor Flush (MMMF) test conclusively shows that MMMF actually cleans a good amount of suspended engine particulates. My old 2005 Prius is particularly susceptible to such engine contaminant buildup as I recently cleared 248k miles on original engine. I was mindful to conduct the flush test with an engine of fresh new oil to accompany the MMMF. I had many samplings of the oils throughout the entire testing process. Notably, was the color differentiation between before the flush and after the flush (below pics--- after / before).
    -- enjoy
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    STEPS USED.
    1 TILT LIFT CAR engine for enhanced drain; ensuring the engine plug is at the lowest point for maximum fluid extraction
    P_20170708_094908.jpg

    2 *DRAIN USED OIL 2500 mile used regular 5W-30 Pennzoil engine oil. See the initial darkest oil sample.
    P_20170708_115459.jpg
    3 REMOVE OLD OIL FILTER to ensure no old oil contaminates this laboratory test
    4 PLACE NEW TESTING OIL FILTER to ensure I start with a fully clean engine motor compartment.
    P_20170708_111530.jpg
    5 *ADD FRESH TESTING FLUIDS of 3qts oil (cheap $2/qt Phillips66 Shield Choice semi-synthetic) and 1qt Motor Medic. I quickly extracted an oil sample from the bottom of the drain bolt; colored lighter yellow 3rd from left; fresh oil is 4th from left.
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    6 FIVE MINUTE ENGINE RUN on “maintenance mode” to flush the engine. You can Google how to set that up on the 2Gen Prius. Noticeable was a good amount of heat-smoke fumes emanating the oil intake cap.
    P_20170708_111507.jpg P_20170708_113028.jpg P_20170708_113038.jpg P_20170708_113041.jpg
    7 *DRAIN NEW TESTED FLUIDS to get samples to the flush test and to rid engine motor compartment of Motor Medic. The drained sample was lighter of both black oils; contained in a 0.5liter bottle and thin 1cm sampling in clear Super Cool cup.
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    8 REMOVE NEW TESTED FILTER and the Motor Medic contaminants.
    9 ADD OIL RINSE to maximize engine cleansing of Motor Medic fluid residue, with ½ qt of Phillips66 semi-synthetic.
    P_20170708_105118.jpg
    10 PLACE NEW OIL FILTER, I use a FRAM for my daily driving
    11 ADD NEW OIL, I used 4qts Lucas full synthetic 5W-30.
    * denotes actual oil sampling
    P_20170708_115524.jpg P_20170708_115603.jpg

    BACKGROUND.
    OK, on a recently purchased 2005 Prius I (248k miles) I found many things that required fixing, to specifically engine gas mileage inefficiency. When I purchased the car, it was pushing ~25mpg mixed city-highway driving. I’ve replaced many things to get it up to ~35mpg combined city-highway, where it is currently it to include: engine oil& filter, iridium spark plugs, engine valve cover gasket, PCV, ATF fluid replacement, MAF sensor & throttle body cleaning, fuel additives and injector cleaners, all 4 new brakes, all 4 new bearing assembly hubs, etc. After perusing YOUTUBE, I figured my next project is an engine motor flush: Motor Medic Motor Flush.
     

    Attached Files:

    #1 Prius_Angie, Jul 8, 2017
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2017
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  2. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

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    IF.....the particles are already "suspended", they will come out with the next oil change or get trapped in the filter.
    If they are not suspended and instead stuck to something......like the oil pan.....they aren't hurting anything and should be left alone.

    Master mechanics almost universally recommend AGAINST using solvent products like that in your oil.......especially in a high mileage car that hasn't been flushed before.

    I hope the stuff you loosened up doesn't get stuck in an oil line and result in a cooked bearing and blown engine.
     
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    are you burning any oil?
     
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  4. Prius_Angie

    Prius_Angie Active Member

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    Yes, it seems Im still burning oil. This is my real 1st oil change with the newly bought used car, and the former owner mentioned that it was going through 1qt/400 miles. I had to add 1qt of oil after a recent 1000mile roundtrip from Kansas CIty - StPaul, MN. But i was cruising nice somewhere between 70-80mph. Smooth engine, however still ~35mpg mixed city-highway.
     
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    what are you running for tyres and pressure?
     
  6. Prius_Angie

    Prius_Angie Active Member

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    SamSpade,
    Thanks for the warning. I too hope I dont cause more harm than good. However my curiosity in tinkering usually has the better of me.

    After purchase, my initial peak under the valve cover revealed heavy amounts of carbon deposits. The previous owner (+3kids) really neglected the car: sticky & dried-crumbly food debris everywhere, bad idling and acceleration hesitation, bad fuel efficiency ~25mpg, etc. I knew my work was cut out for me.

    --- This is definitely my PROJECT CAR, as Im trying to slowly nurse it back to good health.

    P_20170420_175440.jpg P_20170420_175446.jpg P_20170420_182117.jpg P_20170420_182142.jpg P_20170420_213041.jpg
     
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  7. Prius_Angie

    Prius_Angie Active Member

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    new tires ~3000miles old
    got these Nankang Toursport 611 for $50/ea
    put them on and balanced them myself at a local hobby-garage shop
    33psi front and rear
    they have been a real solid ride; last road trip to StPaul was pretty smooth

    * tires are off now as Im starting a new project involving "clunking" sounds while traversing bumps at lower speeds; prob control arms as Ive already replaced almost everything on that wheel.
     
  8. hchu1

    hchu1 Active Member

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    You should bump up the tire pressure, most put them north of 40+psi. I currently have mine at 44/42.


    2006 Gen2
    2014 Gen3 v wagon
     
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  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    are they 'low rolling resistance'?
     
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  10. Prius_Angie

    Prius_Angie Active Member

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    forgot this recent pic
    ONCE BURNT TWICE SHY
    previous owner was experiencing a good amount of oil burning: 1qt/400miles
    P_20170708_093508.jpg P_20170708_093526.jpg
     
  11. Prius_Angie

    Prius_Angie Active Member

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    thanks will definitely move to do that
     
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    do you attribute the reduction in oil burning from 1 qt/400 to 1 at/1000 miles to the motor medic?
     
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  13. Prius_Angie

    Prius_Angie Active Member

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  14. Prius_Angie

    Prius_Angie Active Member

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    Bisco,
    too early to say. I will require more of my own personal data.
    As well I was probably more 1.5qts loss at that 2500mi marker. But Im also only eye-balling the dipstick with warm oil.
    As wel, i can only go with former owner's estimation of 1qt/400 miles. While it seems pretty precise, Im still working off of his [not my] lens and measuring rubric.

    BUT Im definitely feeling the WHOLE difference in car performance from the first night i drove that Prius home from former owner's home. It was then, hesitating, idling issues and at ~25mpg city-hgwy mixed.
     
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  15. Prius_Angie

    Prius_Angie Active Member

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    SORRY definitely too early for Motor Medic reporting...
    gonna need a full tank of gas to report back on it.
    however all my prior car maintenance was definitely responsible from getting the car better from ~25mpg to ~35mpg. I have loads more confidence in the ride. Enough even to make that last drive to StPaul
    ;)
     
  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    too late, i already recommended it to someone who's 2010 with 185k is burning 1 qt/400 miles.:oops:
     
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  17. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    BG Products EPR is another good one to file away for future reference ;).
     
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  18. Prius_Angie

    Prius_Angie Active Member

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    (y)
    BUT from INITIAL data points I would easily infer that as part of a larger car cleaning effort, MMMF can help to increase engine cleanliness & efficiency...
    - MMMF definitely cleans carbon deposits from within the engine
    - should loosen larger bits/particulates that accumulate
    - just be careful not to leave behind any trace of the MMMF inside the engine
     
  19. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    nice try but motor medic like most cleaners is basicly kerosene.
    At 278,000 miles it's way past end of life.

    If your checking the oil and it's still warm Your doing it wrong. Check the oil first thing in the morning before starting the car. It takes a long time for all theoil to drain back to the pan,

    If you want to see how funky the oil is from previous owner take the valve cover off or at the least pull the VVT oil filter out and see if it's clogged.
     
  20. Prius_Angie

    Prius_Angie Active Member

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    RTE,
    Saw those products and individual comments/testimonials. Def something to consider down the road.
     
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