Cars are so highly evolved these days, and so complex, that most of us just change the oil every once in a while and perhaps bring the car in for its scheduled maintenance. Not much else seems needed these days to keep an automobile running, and by the time things are starting to wear, we simply buy or lease a new one. That works for some people, but not for others. There are still those of us who keep our cars for many years, be it for financial reasons or just because we don't see a need to replace a perfectly good vehicle with another one. That approach can save a lot of money, but it really only works if you treat your vehicle well, change the oil regularly, do maintenance and so on. There is one thing, though, that most people don't even consider even though it can greatly prolong the life of an engine, and that is engine cleaner.

Why engine cleaner? Good question. Most people never see the inside of an engine or transmission and so what's going on in there is sort of an out-of-sight, out-of-mind kind of thing. Ask any mechanic though, and they'll tell you that it can get pretty ugly inside a motor (or any other machine that uses lubricants). A running engine generates extreme heat and that heat, over time, breaks down the engine oil and leaves behind residue. That residue, combined with debris from normal mechanical wear and tear, clings to the surface of engine parts and gets deposited in virtually inaccessible nooks and crannies, including behind oil seals and gaskets. Changing the oil helps, but it won't remove sludge, varnish and sulfur clinging to parts or baked onto surfaces or seals.

What does the sludge and build-up do to the engine? Bad things. It can clog up the oil flow, leading to overheating and engine failure. Deposits can form on seals, keeping them from functioning properly. That can lead to leaking or broken seals. Sludge also increases friction, which reduces engine efficiency. Bottom line is that allowing sludge to form in your engine and transmission, and it will, means inefficient operation, shorter lifespan and an increased likelihood of failure.

So what can you do to save your engine and transmission? After all, you can't just take the motor or tranny apart and clean it, and changing oils and fluids doesn't always do the job. Some people recommend aggressive engine cleaners, and that's exactly the wrong approach. Why? Because those solvent products tend to change the oil's chemistry (not good!) and chunk off contamination deposits that may clog vital oil passages (very bad!). And they can impact polymer seal materials, causing the need for expensive seal replacements. A much better approach is gradual, methodical cleaning that safely and slowly liquefies and dissolves sludge and deposits. This requires a special solvent technology that does not affect engine oil or other lubricating fluids, yet can access and clean all machine parts and seals. It's a matter of advanced chemistry.

What it boils down to is that these patent-protected formulations can do wonders for an aging engine. By keeping things inside clean and sludge-free, you reduce the chance of failure, you may be able to stop seal leaks, and you will probably see better gas mileage. We're not talking miracle pills and magic engine repair here, just intelligent application of physics and chemistry in some of today's most advanced high-tech engine cleaners.