Flashlube on a VR6

Message

calisp · #1 Post by **calisp** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 2:43 pm

I've had a headgasket go and some valve seats burn which may or may not have had anything to do with it being gas converted. The place that did the work on the head said they often saw VR6s that had done about 20,000 miles since the gas conversion (as mine had don) but I've found nothing on the net to suggest this was common. I'm therefore thinking of fitting Flashlube but have a couple of questions...

Is this likely to help at all? If not, can it hurt at all, other than being a waste of money?

How is it best to install flashlube with this engine? 1 or 2 systems, feeding to where?

Can anyone recommend somewhere in south east wales that could fit this for me?

Thanks!

Active_Lad · #2 Post by **Active_Lad** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 6:23 pm

There is no real evidence to suggest that FlashLube does or does not work. On paper is should help because it adds lubricants into the fuel flow that are absent from LPG (which is essentially a "dry" fuel). It could be argued that Unleaded is also "dry" because it has no lead in it, although a lot of Unleaded now has other additives.

The general consensus seems to be that some engines (e.g. Japanese) certainly need it, whilst others (e.g. American), almost certainly don't. As to will it do any harm? No reason to suspect it will, but there's no real evidence to say that it doesn't.

Installing is easy. It actually takes longer to find somewhere to fit the bottle than it does to splice the feeder tube. The instructions aren't bad, so unless you have NO idea about engines, it's a DIY Job. You should only need one system.

You pays your money and you takes your chance. Personally, I feel happier with it.

calisp · #3 Post by **calisp** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:08 pm

Thanks. Unless I can find anything to suggest that the VR6 doen't need it I'll get it fitted then.

Can you explain what you mean by splice the feeder tube? Do you mean connecting it to a vacum tube using the T-piece. I'd read that it was better to tap it into the inlet manifold and even this results in uneaven distribution on a V6, hence my fitting questions. I can't find the article I read saying this now though, maybe I should ignore what it said, especially given the VR6's staggered configuration.

Active_Lad · #4 Post by **Active_Lad** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:17 pm

calisp wrote:Do you mean connecting it to a vacum tube using the T-piece.

Yes. The feeder tub is from the bottle.

calisp wrote:I'd read that it was better to tap it into the inlet manifold

It should be near the manifold but not right in (unless others disagree). If you get it in the airflow in the vacuum (if that's not a contradiction) you will get more even mixing before it gets to the manifold.

calisp wrote:.. and even this results in uneaven distribution on a V6

Depends on the V6 arrangement. If there's only one vacuum to both banks, you should be fine.

orangechimp · #5 Post by **orangechimp** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:36 pm

the only problem is it doesn't really work when you need it most, with high manifold pressure, high revs, hard exceleration etc,but it could help with normal driving, maybe. easier to just have hardened valves and seats fitted whilst the heads are off.

calisp · #6 Post by **calisp** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 1:53 pm

Thanks guys. Still not sure what I should do. Seems like fitting is easy and it probably won't do any harm (unless I set the rate too high and upset the lamda sensor) but is not likely to help.

When the head was done, they cut the tops of the valves. Apparently, as they are pneumatic, they will rise up to take up any slack should the seats receed. Given that they have done this, and the lack of proof that flashlube helps I think I'll probably not fit it.

SAD199 · #7 Post by **SAD199** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 8:41 pm

I've been wondering what happens to flashlube in a turbo charged engine? As I understand it the turbo pressurises the manifold, does this mean there's no point to putting flashlube on a turbo engine? Does it just blow the flashlube back into the bottle? Anyone know?

alexf2828 · #8 Post by **alexf2828** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 6:10 pm

mines a turbo with flashlube, must just blow back into bottle on boost but most of the time you are off boost-hasn't broken the bottle yet and been on about a year or so

tommo2009 · #9 Post by **tommo2009** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 10:24 pm

the ideal place to fit the nozzle is about 1-2 inches after the throttle butterfly valve, this way the droplets get taken in evenly.
the other option is a product called broquet which sits in the LPG tank (this would have to be done by an installer to be on the safe side) this then creates a lubricant in the gas system itself.
it is supposed to be good for 250000 miles and cost around £120 plus fitting. Once only cost against the regular cost of a flaslube top up.

either way it will give you a little peace of mind

food for thought

FossilFuel · #10 Post by **FossilFuel** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 8:55 pm

Hi Tommo,
Any more info on this broquet, as I don't rate the Flashlube system?

FossilFuel · #11 Post by **FossilFuel** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 9:35 pm

I wonder if anyone else on this forum is using one?? Anyone?

martin rowe · #12 Post by **martin rowe** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 9:19 am

never thought of using broquet in an LPG tank, sold quite a few when 'leadded' petrol was phased out, never had a bad report, but for that matter never had a good one either. have'nt a clue weather it will work with LPG, though cant see why not, will send them an email to find out.

martin rowe · #13 Post by **martin rowe** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 9:42 am

Word from Broquet is that it works with LPG, just as well as with unleadded. they carried out extensive tests in Australia with LPG vehicles, says it virtually eliminated valve recession. obviously easier to install in a dry tank though, says they sell to a number of installers.

FossilFuel · #14 Post by **FossilFuel** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 12:31 pm

Interesting. This would be a very low cost maintenance free solution to valve recession. However, in the absence of any info on how it works it's really hard to make an objective assessment. Would love to hear from any installer who fits them and whether there is any guarantee it works.

andy evans autogas · Fri Mar 06, 2009 9:34 pm

hi as an lpg installer i had used flashlube for many years but still had probs with some shim type ztec & toyota however for the past 3 years i have installed broquet with no probs at all dependant on engine size should be good for around 200000 miles broquet is available from e-gas uk http://www.egasweb.co.uk/index.html tel 01758 701144

FossilFuel · #16 Post by **FossilFuel** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 10:08 pm

Wow, did you say 200,000 miles. Why isn't everyone using this instead of Flashlube, Valvelube etc? Any idea how it works? Without an idea of the way it works it's a bit of a leap of faith to install one on my Zetec engine

andy evans autogas · Mon Mar 09, 2009 6:09 pm

hi .best thing to do is ask them yousellf .http://www.broquet.co.uk/index.htm . all i can say is that i have used it for about 3 years constant on plenty of zetec - honda- toyota- and just about everything else with no probs at all

Active_Lad · #18 Post by **Active_Lad** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 6:42 pm

andy evans autogas wrote:[snip]..all i can say is that i have used it for about 3 years constant on plenty of zetec - honda- toyota- and just about everything else with no probs at all

Is that personally or customers of yours that you have fitted the system?

andy evans autogas · Mon Mar 09, 2009 7:18 pm

Is that personally or customers of yours that you have fitted the system?

Personally- flashlube on Toyota Landcruiser has been on for around 7 years but don't do alot of mileage.Toyota Previa also.

Use Broquet in new car-Toyota vvti also use on customers cars when required-Have done plenty

The problem with flashlube is that customers don't tend to check it.Started using Broquet 3 years ago and have NEVER had a problem with valve seat recession on convertered cars.

FossilFuel · #20 Post by **FossilFuel** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 3:09 pm

Very interesting. I agree with you about the Flashlube being hard to control.
I suppose my main reservation with the broquet is that most of the things that lead to valve and seat recession arise from the fact that LPG is dry and burns cleanly. For example;
-increased inlet valve temp. No evaporation of liquid on valve backs
-microwelding. Clean valve faces and valve seats pomote this.
-brinelling. Clean valve faces and valve seats promote this as less cushioning effect.
Unless the broquet makes the LPG burn to produce residues or makes the LPG carry over some liquid I can’t see how it can help to reduce recession. Think I’ll contact them.