Syn. Oil instead of "engine cleaner"?

On a used tacoma where the previous owner didn't really pay attention to oil change intervals using conventional oil, would a full synthetic clean engine parts as well as something like seafoam in the crank case? I realize if it did work cleaning it would take longer. I hear all this talk of synthetics high in detergents so I figured I'd ask.

 

Depends how bad it is. Be careful, often times engines can be really bad. If you throw cleaners or even full synthetics you can clog the pick up screen and you'll starve the engine of oil...kiss the engine good bye.

If it's bad I would run a synthetic blend to start, maybe go 1000 miles then change oil and filter. Repeat a few times. Oh yea, you want to be careful of leaks. The joys on buying ones neglect.

 

I've read change the oil, and use half oil and half ATF. ATF has a lot of detergents that will clean the engine. You'll have to look up how long to run it like that though

 

Thanks guys. I cut open my last filter which due to my own stupidity, went almost 10k before I changed the oil. No chunks or sludge to be seen. Looking in the valve cover via the oil fill hole I see that light brown color on the little bit if cam I can see.

I see people with like new looking parts under the valve cover and wanted to know if it would clean that baked on stuff.

Edit: been using full syn for the past 18k which is when I got the truck.

 

If you had sythetic oil in you should be fine. Just change the oil

 

You could run a half can seafoam for 100 miles then change oil. Make next oil change at 500. Should clean you up. I got a little experience with this.

 

Seafoam is great stuff, I would not put in more that a quarter of a can in the oil.
The drive it around for a few miles get it warm then change it.

Or use marvel mistery oil, pour is some and drive untill your next oil change.
then change.

Both are good.

 

If the cut open filter wasn't gunked up bad, I'd say your fine. Scary thing trying to degunk a motor you don't really know anything about lest a complete teardown. You can try the scrubber in a can,,but you could shake loose a bunch of crap to cause failure. Scrubber stuff tends to dilute the oil. which reduces the oil protection,,blah,blah,blah,,all that high mileage scary stuff.

One of those user decidable cases of "If it's not broke,,Don't try to break it".

 

Nothing wrong with running conventional oil as long as he changed it often. If if he didnt, I wouldnt worry too much about sludge. The issue with synthetic is it will start to leak out of old seals. Not much longer after I made the change, my valve covers began to weep.

 

ATF used to be used often as a motor flush, but not a 50-50 mix... ATF is NOT designed as a lubricant, it is more of a hydraulic fluid than anything. It has enough lubricant for the gearbox, but not for Babbitt bearings.
One quart and one quart only.
Run it for 500 miles and change it.

 

It can clear modest sludge deposits, but it's not going to clean it to like-new condition.

 

If it's not a performance issue,and just a visual, forget you saw it. Just keep regular maintenance up and keep rolling! Like someone else said "if it's not broke,don't try to break it." Seems like good advice.