Is Engine Cleaning and Maintenance Necessary?
2 Answers
For new vehicles or those with low mileage, engine cleaning and maintenance are unnecessary. However, for vehicles that have not undergone engine cleaning for an extended period, it is advisable to perform such maintenance. Prolonged neglect of engine cleaning can impair the engine's heat dissipation capacity, increase oil flow resistance, clog oil passages, and ultimately reduce engine power. Here are the benefits of engine cleaning: Cleaning Oil Passage Sludge: The engine block contains numerous oil passages. Engine cleaning agents can effectively remove sludge and impurities from these passages, ensuring the proper functioning of the engine's lubrication system. Cleaning Piston Ring Carbon Deposits: When an engine cleaning agent is added to the engine oil, it circulates along with the oil on the cylinder walls, cleaning residual carbon deposits from the piston rings and ring grooves. Engine Maintenance: Removing sludge, carbon deposits, and other substances that affect normal engine operation can improve engine performance and extend its service life. The primary purpose of engine cleaning and maintenance is to eliminate sludge inside the engine and add oil protectants to prolong the lifespan of engine components.
I think engine cleaning and maintenance are quite necessary, especially for older cars that have been driven for over 5 years. Last time when my car was serviced at the 4S shop, the technician removed the spark plugs and found that the valve carbon deposits had built up like a honeycomb, which would lead to decreased combustion efficiency. My experience is that an intake tract cleaning is needed every 30,000 kilometers or so, otherwise it will be too late when you notice sluggish acceleration and soaring fuel consumption. Moreover, with the severe traffic congestion in cities nowadays, engines running at low RPM for long periods are more prone to sludge formation. I personally get an oil system cleaning done every one and a half years. However, for new cars, it doesn't need to be as frequent—there's really no need to bother before the first maintenance service.
