Apparatus and methods for flushing and cleaning oil strainer, crankcase and other components of an internal combustion engine

A method of flushing and cleaning a crankcase, an oil strainer and components of an internal combustion engine of the type having a removable full flow oil filter, inflow areas of which are connected through an inflow port to a discharge of an oil pump and a suction side of which is connected, through said oil strainer, to said crankcase, outflow areas of said oil filter being in fluid communication, through an outflow port, with an oil distribution system of moving parts of said engine, said method comprising the steps of:

• 1) removing an oil filler plug of said engine;
• 2) removing said oil filter;
• 3) replacing said oil filter with a reverse flush cartridge having at least one passage therethrough having an inlet and an outlet and which communicates with said inflow port but does not communicate with said outflow port;
• 4) connecting a source of pressurized air to said cartridge passage inlet forcing said air through said passage, said inflow port, said oil pump and said oil strainer, in a direction opposite of normal flow through said strainer, to agitate and flush contaminants in said oil strainer and said crankcase;
• 5) draining the used oil and contaminants from said crankcase;
• 6) removing said cartridge;
• 7) installing a new oil filter;
• and
• 8) adding clean oil to said engine.

A method of flushing and cleaning a crankcase, an oil strainer and components of an internal combustion engine of the type having a removable oil filter, inflow areas of which are connected through an inflow port to a discharge of an oil pump and a suction side of which is connected, through said oil strainer, to said crankcase, outflow areas of said oil filter being in fluid communication, through an outflow port, with an oil distribution system of moving parts of said engine, said method comprising the steps of:

• 1) removing an oil filler plug of said engine;
• 2) draining used oil from said crankcase;
• 3) removing said oil filter;
• 4) replacing said oil filter with a reverse flush cartridge having first and second passages therethrough, said first passage having an inlet and an outlet which communicate with said inflow port but do not communicate with said outflow port, said second passage having an inlet and outlet which communicate with said outflow port but do not communicate with said inlet port;
• 5) connecting a source of pressurized cleaning fluid to said first cartridge passage inlet forcing said cleaning fluid, in a direction opposite of normal flow, through said first passage, said inflow port, said oil pump and said oil strainer to flush and clean said oil strainer and said crankcase;
• 6) draining said cleaning fluid and contaminants cleaned thereby from said crankcase;
• 7) disconnecting said source of cleaning fluid from said first passage inlet;
• 8) connecting a source of pressurized oil to said second passage inlet forcing said pressurized oil through said outflow port and the oil distribution system of said engine to flush said oil therefrom;
• 9 removing said cartridge;
• 10 installing a new oil filter;
• and
• 11 adding clean oil to said engine.