FlashLube ?? Do we really need this ?

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paultaylor4 · #1 Post by **paultaylor4** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 7:18 pm

Just noticed this on Ebay UK <a href="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FlashLube-The-LPG ... dZViewItem" target=_top>http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FlashLube-The-LPG ... iewItem</a> Apparently every LPG user needs it ?. Is this for real or just Snake Oil ?? Thanks, Paul Taylor.

richy_boy · #2 Post by **richy_boy** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:56 pm

It depends on what type of car you have. Apparently Honda engines have quite soft valve seats so it's recommended you use this stuff to help replace the 'lube' that's missing from the LPG. I contacted that ebayer directly and asked if it had ever been tested on a turbo car... nope <IMG SRC="http://www.my90.co.uk/lpgforum/clipart/sad.gif" ALT=":-(" BORDER=0> Other people have had LPG on my model of car for 30k miles+ so I'm not overly worried, but it's worth having a look around and seeing if your model of car has experienced problems in the past. Rich

woody · #3 Post by **woody** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:36 pm

it all depends on the vehicle and you driving conditions. Valve recession usually occurs on motorway driving conditions,ie , high speed for long distances, this causes the prolonged repetetive high speed impact to the valves and seats. Flash lube will not cure this , but it will depending on the vehicle substatially reduce the time in which it will occur. As an industry we are all constantly learning , manufacturers change the build spec of an engine and we only find out when the valve clearances are gone. We do know however which vehicles are suspect!!. I have an example, a customer of mine had his Lexus IS200 converted last marchish,it has covered 140,000 miles , approx 100k on gas, the miles are covered on the european motorways at up to flat out speeds.If this vehicle was driven in the UK i am certain it would not have developed the fault. How ever flash lube has been fitted and i now have to wait and see if it occurs again. As a rule of thumb i only fit flash lube on vehicles that are known to cause problems. Rich none of the turbos i have converted have had problems,but Nissan are prone to recession on the later Primeras etc. ATB Keith.

richy_boy · #4 Post by **richy_boy** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:39 pm

Don't say that Keith!! <IMG SRC="http://www.my90.co.uk/lpgforum/clipart/sad.gif" ALT=":-(" BORDER=0> Am I right in thinking that turbo cars have harder valves / seats than NA cars? Rich

woody · #5 Post by **woody** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:50 pm

Hi Rich , sorry to put the willies up you , due to the nature of a turbo engine i am sure that the internals are over engineered to withstand the torture their drivers often inflict on it, or should that be regularly inflict. Cheers mate , Keith

paultaylor4 · #7 Post by **paultaylor4** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 10:00 pm

Well many moons ago i used to race SAAB turbos alot. I was always destroying exhaust valves. Running too much boost was the cause of that though. Paul Taylor

richy_boy · #8 Post by **richy_boy** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 10:02 pm

"Running too much boost was the cause of that though." ... and not a decent sized intercooler I'd guess too? <IMG SRC="http://www.my90.co.uk/lpgforum/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":-)" BORDER=0> Rich

paultaylor4 · #9 Post by **paultaylor4** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 10:29 pm

Yeh well the Intercooler on a Saab 900 was about the size of a small box of Cereal.

richy_boy · #10 Post by **richy_boy** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 10:57 am

Hey Paul; 505hp! Wow, that sounds likea thirsty beast! You don't live around the Tilehurst area at all do you? I remember a few tasty yank mobiles driving around a few minutes away from my parents old house... As for racey, I guess I'll find out Tuesday when it goes onto the Brands Hatch race track for a good thrashing! It'll be my first track day, so hopefully it'll see Wednesday in good health <IMG SRC="http://www.my90.co.uk/lpgforum/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":-)" BORDER=0> My nissan is also my daily drive (like Kev on this board) which makes for a more interesting drive to work than it would be normally

Unlike me, Kev is a fully seasoned trackday guy, who now runs another (older shape) 200sx for trackdays due to an 'incident' in his pride and joy. It'll be good to see your motor some day... you should come down to the japenese car meet near J11. (hopefully the pikey would have moved on by then!) Rich

paultaylor4 · #11 Post by **paultaylor4** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 1:52 pm

I live up by J11, im in Whitley Wood. Is that the Jap car meet thats held at B&Q ? Regards, Paul Taylor

richy_boy · #12 Post by **richy_boy** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 6:13 pm

Yes indeed. It's all very wlel behaved.. all the 'lads' head off to Halfrauds to do their reverse doughnuts <IMG SRC="http://www.my90.co.uk/lpgforum/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":-)" BORDER=0> Rich

coughdrop · #14 Post by **coughdrop** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 1:50 pm

I had my '96 2L Toyota Celica converted by greenfuels in Bath in Jan 06 & they fitted flashlube, suggesting that Jap cars were better off with it.

clk230 · #15 Post by **clk230** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 8:21 pm

I'm with Woody on this one, on some motors it's a must, on others it's irrelevant. The knowledge of an experienced installer is in this instance is invaluable.

shortfuse · #16 Post by **shortfuse** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 1:00 am

Hiya, just reading this got me curious. Have recently fitted a new headgasket to my Rover 820 '97. I noticed that the valves /seats were not 100% so have had them reground. This car has done half of its 100k miles on gas. Admittedly its gets driven hard but is this excessive or just a Rover build issue? Is flashlube needed?

lebesset · #17 Post by **lebesset** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 9:16 am

100% with the depends on the engine viewpoint the so called douvrin engine as used by renault was , in reality , a volvo design , and produced for both in the joint venture factory at douvrin [ would you believe ], also for PSA ; renault designed their own engine , but the volvo was better so they never produced it I have run this engine in both guises ; the difference between them was that the volvo version had a better quality cylinder head , better valves/seats and hydraulic tappets I ran the volvo in a 240 for nearly 200K [ and another for 120K], 90% on lpg ; the tappets never required adjustment ,0% recession I am still running the renault version on lpg ; it has hardened seats in it's alloy head , but nevertheless suffers gradual but noticeable recession ...it is just not quite as good as the volvo version , but then renault was made to sell at a lower price sometimes you get what you pay for !

classicswede · #18 Post by **classicswede** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 8:00 pm

The volvo and renault engines are totaly different. The volvo ohc engine will go on forever on LPG. The V6 as you say would be better off with flashlube as where the later 4 cyl renault engines seem ok.

jezza · #19 Post by **jezza** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 12:46 am

Is anyone aware of Jaguar AJ16 engines needing Flashlube particularly?