1KZ-TE Prado KZJ95 - Maintenance Log

[sayedarsalanali]

1KZ-TE 97k Driven on Prado KZJ95

Engine Oil Selection and use of chemicals/ additives to enhance engine performance & life

Dear Pakwheelers

I purchased my first personal SUV and as well as Diesel vehicle in shape of Prado KZJ95 (96/06) recently. The car was purchased directly from the first owner who imported the car in 2006. As per the service records with the owner, pre-purchase inspection at Detail Pro and post purchase inspection at Toyota 3S the car looks genuine 95k kms driven (rest Allah knows better).

When the car came to us, nobody in the family checked the oil condition and drove the car for 800 kms while I was away from home. Once I reached back Karachi, the engine oil condition was very bad (it was black and being new to diesel vehicles I assumed that the vehicle is over driven on the current engine oil) and I had to rush to get the oil changed and didn't have the time to do the proper research. So I went to Shell and got the Rimula R4 X 15W-40 replaced along with the oil filter. The plan was to replace this oil early (after driving around 2000 kms) so that the engine is cleaned from the impacts of last oil and also I get the time to research about the best suited oil for the vehicle.

Now in this thread I will be discussing two major things:
1- Use of chemicals like engine flush, sludge remover, oil additives etc.
2- The oil to be used for next oil change.

I have done some research from my side which I will be sharing and discussing. Also found the following thread related to the second part of my query on Pakwheels. Will be using the valuable info from here along with the options I have researched.

Recommended engine Oil for Prado 1kz-te 1998 diesel

guys I need advise on recommended engine oil for prado 1kz-te diesel, 1998 model. previously I was using caltex delo gold but it now discontinued after acquisition from TOTAL.

[sayedarsalanali]

Engine Flush

I thought getting the engine flushed after every 2- 3 oil changes is always good for a car's engine and was planning to use the following engine flush for my 1KZ-TE

But my cousin (who is an automotive engineer) told me that using the engine flush could be risky on a vehicle that has never been flushed in its nearly 100k kms use and that too spread over 25 years. Also he highlighted that the fuel quality in Pakistan also ensures that there are carbon deposits in different parts of the engine. And removal of these old carbon deposits may harm the engine as compared to now.

After doing some online research I also found similar warnings specially regarding old and pre-owned vehicles. But I am confused that are these engine flush so aggressive that they will scrap out all the carbon in one go? I have prior experience of engine flushing in KSA, where they have special machines to do the flushing and it is a common practice to get the engine flushed every 30 to 40k kms.

[sayedarsalanali]

While looking for a less aggressive solution for cleaning the engine. I came across the Liqui Moly Oil Sludge Flush. Anybody who have experience with either the Engine Flush Plus and/or Oil Sludge Flush in their diesel please share the results.

[sayedarsalanali]

While I discussed earlier the risks of engine flushing. Below is a link where the author recommends engine flush at 100k Kms.

Why flush a diesel engine? - Cost Effective Maintenance

[sayedarsalanali]

I would request the inputs from the experts that should I go for the engine flushing with the above mentioned vehicle or recommend alternatives.

[mshoaib432722]

Bhai saab. Agar engine may blowby nahi hai tau keep driving it with sukoon. Change oil every 5000kms (with air filter and oil filter and diesel filter). Just clean air filter with pressurized air whenever you go to service station for washing.
Engine oils like (Delo gold, shell etc) already have the cleaning agents inside so no need for flush etc).

[sayedarsalanali]

I agree that this is the safe side strategy and normally I don't like to attract unwanted problems by poking in things that are going well. The unexpected thing was the negative impacts of engine flush, as I considered it part of Regular maintenance just like changing of oil.

Will be coming to the oil selection part in coming posts for detailed discussion

[anon35615524]

@sayedarsalanali Brother first of all, congratulations on the purchase of your vehicle. ALLAH Pa'ak issay aap k Naseebo'on mein Karein, aur aap daaeer takk isski sawari sey lutf andooz hoon. Ameen.

I thought getting the engine flushed after every 2- 3 oil changes is always good for a car's engine

Brother I think, using engine flush after every 2-3 oil changes is a waste of money IMO. Modern engine oils, especially Diesel engine oils, have good detergents and cleaning agents, in fact diesel engines are a sort of self cleansing ones. You just need to follow regular engine oil change intervals.

Even if you would like to have engine flushed, I would suggest to use it for once only. After that, just follow regular, recommended engine oil drain intervals, and you will never feel need of using engine flush, ever again.

[anon35615524]

my cousin (who is an automotive engineer) told me that using the engine flush could be risky on a vehicle that has never been flushed in its nearly 100k kms use and that too spread over 25 years

He is absolutely right. I have used engine flush twice in 02 my vehicles, Passo 2013 model, and Vitz 2015 model. Both are comparatively newer than your ride (no offence / disrespect), so in my case, no issues at all, however, in your cases, the experience may be totally different, and GOD Forbid, leaks may start after using it (being almost 24 years old engine, in which engine flush has never been used previously; I believe).

he highlighted that the fuel quality in Pakistan also ensures that there are carbon deposits in different parts of the engine. And removal of these old carbon deposits may harm the engine as compared to now.

I am not sure regarding this thing.

I also found similar warnings specially regarding old and pre-owned vehicles. But I am confused that are these engine flush so aggressive that they will scrap out all the carbon in one go?

Brother following blog might help in understanding its Pros and Cons:

https://blog.amsoil.com/is-an-engine-flush-good-or-bad/

Rest @Xulfiqar Sahib and @syncview Sahib can guide best, and best address your concerns.

[sayedarsalanali]

Thanks for the detailed reply . Actually in KSA I used to change oil after every 10k kms. So technically 3 4 oil changes meant 30 to 40k.

I had an experience with Camry 2011, 110k kms driven. The oil light on the speedometer came on while the oil was recent (1k or less used) plus the level was also full. The light meant that fuel pump was not working properly. We took the car for engine flush and then replaced the oil and filter. Car started working fine and as of now that vehicle is above 150k driven without any repeated issue of oil.

[anon35615524]

The light meant that fuel pump was not working properly.

Was the engine oil and oil filter changed after regular, OEM recommended drain intervals? till 110,000 Kms?

And oil / filter also 100% genuine and original? Company recommended oil grade?

[sayedarsalanali]

I think the condition of the current oil will give some indicative idea of the sludge condition in the engine. As the car is now around 1500 km driven on this oil, and the oil is still clear on the dipstick till now, once all the oil comes out we might be able to have a rough judgement.

[anon35615524]

But in Diesel engines, black color / dark or brown color does not mean that the engine oil has grown dirty, and needs replacement.

At least in Diesel engines, engine oil color may be the last yard stick for getting idea regarding health of engine oil.

[sayedarsalanali]

For the Camry, we changed oil only two times before the flushing. As the car was pre owned, we don't know if the oil was changed timely. But the car was in good condition and performance of all the four cylinders were above 95% at the time of purchase.

[sayedarsalanali]

But in Diesel engines, black color / dark or brown color does not mean that the engine oil has grown dirty, and needs replacement.

At least in Diesel engines, engine oil color may be the last yard stick for getting idea regarding health of engine oil.

This is good piece of information for me. As the whole concern for me started with the color of oil that was drained from my vehicle.

[anon35615524]

we don't know if the oil was changed timely.

I think, this is the reason for oil pump light turning ON. I am not sure, but I think, previous owner did not take care of these things, which turned accumulating of stuff in engine oil; may be, he did not change engine oil for many thousand Kms.

Now when you changed engine oil, previous oil had to be drained, and while getting drained, some stuff got left resulting in oil light.

[sayedarsalanali]

I believe that Toyota's diesel engines should work fine at least upto 300k kms if properly taken care of. In KSA, Corolla's engine lasts upto 350 to 450k kms whereas I have seen various Camry with 650 to 700k kms and running on their first engine without overhaul

[anon35615524]

Yes, I learned this from Xulfiqar Sahib, and this issue has been discussed in detail, in the 80 series discussion thread.

You may go through the relevant, technical posts by Senior members and experts in their field, in that thread (if interested).

[sayedarsalanali]

Maybe, but we drove the car around 11k (with two oil changes from our side). Also I had a very interesting experience with Renault dealership for changing the engine oil. When I took a Renault Logan for oil change, the supervisor told me to wait 2.5 hours or to come back after this time. As my home was far, I decided to wait there.

I thought the time they gave was due to queue at the oil change point, but once I handed over the key my car was immediately put on the car lift and chamber nut was opened to drain the oil and the oil filter was also removed. The car was left for around 1 hour like this with the drain opened and filter removed. After that they installed the filter and then started pouring oil slowly in intervals. And took around 50 mins to do so. I went to the customer care and asked them to finish the car quickly, but they replied that it's their SOP to change the oil in this way and they are being recorded.

[sayedarsalanali]

I am really very interested and have plenty of time too