Topped up with alloy wheel cleaner instead of oil

DUTR

londonTiger wrote: »

still can't believe OP poured wheel cleaner into engine. The bottles for these should be COMPLETELY different.

The consistency, size of bottle the fact that it should say WHEEL CLEANER on the bottle have all been missed by OP. Is this a troll post?

Although there are various wonder wheels, I tend to have the same suspicion as you that I wonder how the OP managed to make such a mistake, although I'm not really going to get into a debate about it , as it is not my car, so I'm not too fussed.

Depending on how much WW was input into the filler, hopefully no damage would have been done, even if it were the original wonder wheels , as it is essentially a soap mix with some hydrochloric and phosphoric acid, a small amount is going to be that diluted it hopefully will be negligible, adding to the fact an oil change is due so that should reduce the amount even more.
Perhaps the product may have an effect on the engine seals more so than the actual metal mechanics of the engine.

pulliptears

ILW wrote: »

The bottom one looks like brake fluid.

Looks like this to me?
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_181445_langId_-1_categoryId_165581

Robisere

Take the best advice already given - drain it, refill with cheapo oil, run until hot, drain again and fill with good stuff.

DO NOT use "flushing oil" - that should not even be manufactured now. I was a workshop foreman and Motor Engineer, had many years in the trade, I only ever used that stuff in the 60's and early 70's.

Technical explanation is this: -

An engine has a "varnish" of oil residue, which coats every metal working part, after initiall running. This coating is a protection. If it is 'flushed', the coating is destroyed and does not reform for some time when new oil refilled and the engine is restarted. The amount of wear on the engine during this period, can be compared to tens of thosands of miles of normal running. As previously mentioned, modern engines have such tight tolerances, which is the reason for technical developments in oil technology and the relatively high mileages between servicing and oil changes in today's cars.

EDIT: Whether the OP is a troll or not, is a matter of conjecture. Surely we should all try to give advice and assistance to anyone here who asks for it? And, whilst on the subject, should we withold that advice if we do not know what we are talking about? It seems to me that the person who advises without knowing if his advice is good, accurate, or relevant, is the REAL Troll.

londonTiger

pulliptears wrote: »

Alloy Wheel Cleaner Bottle:



Oil Bottle



Not that different are they?

Ok I guess - we all make mistakes, and had a read at OPs post and realised his age - so I'm going to cut him some slack.

I've only ever used wheel cleaner in a spray bottle form. Never seen them in these heavy duty bottles. If it was in these bottles - I'm guess they were the concetrate that you mix with water and then put in a spray bottle. Which makes me think that OP is probably in bigger trouble if he pured concetrate in and not the lighter stuff.

Chopper_Read

londonTiger wrote: »

Ok I guess - we all make mistakes, and had a read at OPs post and realised his age - so I'm going to cut him some slack.

I've only ever used wheel cleaner in a spray bottle form. Never seen them in these heavy duty bottles. If it was in these bottles - I'm guess they were the concetrate that you mix with water and then put in a spray bottle. Which makes me think that OP is probably in bigger trouble if he pured concetrate in and not the lighter stuff.

No you pour some in the pot and apply it witthe brush.


See even you don't know it all.

Norman_Castle

londonTiger wrote: »

Ok I guess - we all make mistakes, and had a read at OPs post and realised his age - so I'm going to cut him some slack.

After realising your age and inexperience, we've cut you some slack.

pulliptears

To be honest the reason I thought it was a completely understandable mistake is that OH bought some from Aldi or the like a few weeks ago and it is in a small grey bottle which is almost identical to a small oil bottle in the picture. I imagine that from the back they are very similar indeed and on a cold dark morning in a rush it is probably an easier mistake to make than most first consider.

Hope you got it sorted OP.

Wig

There's nothing wrong with using flusing oil which is only a very thin oil. You wouldn't want to use it on an very old engine that has not had it done before, because it could cause (currently blocked up with crud) seals to fail.

If you use it on a relatively new engine it will do no harm. Never caused me a problem and I've done it on quite a few cars now.

People on here love to invent myth and magic as to why you mustn't do whatever.

Some engines run with very thin oils as the standard oil, an oil just as thin as a flushing oil.

Robisere

Wig wrote: »

There's nothing wrong with using flusing oil which is only a very thin oil. You wouldn't want to use it on an very old engine that has not had it done before, because it could cause (currently blocked up with crud) seals to fail.

If you use it on a relatively new engine it will do no harm. Never caused me a problem and I've done it on quite a few cars now.

People on here love to invent myth and magic as to why you mustn't do whatever.

Some engines run with very thin oils as the standard oil, an oil just as thin as a flushing oil.

WIg where does your mechanical and engineering experience come from?

I am NOT inventing "myth and magic" . I was in the motor trade for years, I am a qualified Motor Engineer and I ran a workshop for more than 10 of those years. Using flushing oil on modern engines, has exactly the results that I gave earlier. It removes the baked-on varnish which protects working parts. When the engine is restarted after flushing and refilling with fresh oil, it takes several minutes for the oil to be drawn up from the sump, by the scavenge pump. Modern engines are overhead camshaft, some with double cams. They are the last to receive oil and any wear in that area is critical.

"some engines run with very thin oil" Yes they do, but it is oil designed and formulated by the motor industry, to provide ongoing lubrication and protection for a certain type of engine. It is NOT 'Flushing Oil'. Your lack of knowledge should embarass you.

Any advice here from anyone who possesses the right knowledge is useful, but in this case you appear to be one of those people who does not have the right knowledge and experience.

More a case of "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing," I believe.

Wig

The camshaft will be lubricated from the word go, not "only after several minutes". It will still have oil all over it which will suffice until new oil is brought up, not to mention the 4 litres of oil you just poured in the top.

You are just someone who has an opinion with no scientific evidence to back up your ideas. i.e. "tens of thousands of miles of wear" from the use of flushing oil.