BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0010] Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown as comprising reservoir 3 , cleaning solution, a line for cleaning solution drawn by an engine oil pump 26 through a one-way valve 29 by a flow line 30 , and thence to a filter container or bowl 11 . According to the invention, an engine is cleaned in a dynamic mode with the engine running. Cleaning solution mixed with the used motor oil in the engine is circulated through the engine, thus to reach and clean all surfaces contacted by the engine lubricating system in the operation of the engine.

[0011] Preparatory to the cleaning operation, an engine oil filter of the engine to be cleaned is removed and an adapter 24 is threadedly mounted in the threaded oil filter opening.

[0012] Some engines utilize a canister-type adapter to be fitted into an oil filter housing. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 6 , adapter 24 or 49 has two passages, one for inflow of cleaning solution to an engine interior, and the other for the outflow of the cleaning solution. Canister-type oil filter adapters are provided in a variety of openings and thread sizes. Adapters may be provided in a variety of thread sizes, and are typically color-coded to indicate respective openings and thread sizes of various automobile manufacturers.

[0013] In contrast with many prior art cleaning systems, wherein used or dirty engine oil is removed prior to cleaning operations, according to the invention, the used engine oil is preferably not drained prior to a cleaning operation.

[0014] The engine oil pump is utilized to pump oil and cleaning solution mixture throughout the engine, thus eliminating any need for a remote-mounted separate pump, as required in many prior systems.

[0015] With the engine running, engine oil passes via the filter bowl or container and concentrated cleaning solution, typically a detergent, mixes with the oil, typically at a ratio of 10 parts of used oil to 1 part cleaning solution. The oil and cleaning solution mixture is forced into the engine via line 33 , approximately 32 oz. of solution having been pumped from the reservoir 3 to the filter container or bowl to substantially fill the bowl. A one-way check valve 32 prevents back-flow during filling of the bowl.

[0016] With the engine running, engine oil and cleaning solution are circulated throughout the engine about three or four times per minute for an average engine. Rotating and moving engine components effect a churning action to dissolve sludge, tar and varnish adhering to interior components. Heavier contaminants such as wear-metals particles and gasket particles are flushed into the engine oil pan, picked up by the engine oil pump and deposited in the engine oil filter. A typical cleaning cycle is about ten minutes, although heavily sludged engines and diesel engines may require longer cleaning times. A timer device 8 signals the completion of the cleaning period which is typically about ten minutes.

[0017] Diagnostic indications are provided regarding engine oil pump condition and any clogging condition of the engine oil pick-up screen. The flow meter 6 indicates the volume of solution pumped by the engine oil pump, and indicates diagnostically the relative cleanliness or clogging condition of oil pump 26 and engine oil pick-up screen. Pressure gauge 7 indicates the pressure produced by the engine, and provides diagnostic indication of any engine oil filter clogging. This gauge also indicates the oil pressure prior to and after an engine cleaning operation to indicate the effectiveness of the cleaning operation.

[0018] The solution container or bowl 11 and its associate components comprise important features of the present invention. During an engine cleaning operation, a filter screen (not shown) in a solution bowl intake passage from line 31 from the engine, removes any chips or fragments from the liquid oil and cleaning solution. The solution container may be provided with a scale or graduations to facilitate the transfer of a precise amount of cleaning solution to the filter bowl, in accordance with the oil pan capacity of a particular engine being cleaned.

[0019] A valve or petcock 12 mounted at the lower portion of the container is operable for the draining of the container of used, dirty oil and solution. A “siphon breaker” or air valve 10 is manually operable to admit air to the container to prevent a partial vacuum from interfering with draining of the container. This valve is preferably held open until the level of the container is about one-third below the top of the container. After draining the container bowl, the cap is removed from threaded engagement with the container, a used, dirty filter element 52 is removed and a new filter element is positioned in the container with minimum spillage because the container has already been drained.

[0020] Filter bowls are available in different sizes for engines of different sizes. Typically such containers or bowls are of similar diameters, but differ in length. A 5″ bowl can typically be used with an engine oil capacity of about 4-5 quarts, and a 10″ bowl for small diesel engines with oil capacity of about 10 quarts, and a 20″ bowl for large diesel engines with bowl capacities over 20 quarts.

[0021] The filter containers or bowls are generally of the same diameter, and are provided in different lengths to accommodate various filter elements. Respective suppliers of cleaning solutions prescribe filter cartridges or elements of particular lengths for use with their respective solutions. An appropriate spacer 54 is utilized for a particular filter cartridge element to reconcile the cartridge or filter dimension with a container length, as shown.

[0022] Following a cleaning operation, and the draining of the engine oil and solution, air flushing is preferably utilized to remove any residual oil and solution from the engine. The air flush purges dirty oil and solution from the engine to exit via the drain plug. In some cases it may be desirable to leave a small amount of cleaning solution in the engine for the reason that it contains a seal-rejuvenator and oil conditioner. One end of an air line 42 is connected with an inlet port of a solenoid valve 41 ( FIG. 2 ) and the other end is connected with a pressure regulator 43 . Air flushing is initiated by pressing a button 5 , typically at a console, to pump air via a nozzle 2 , pressure regulator 43 , air lines 42 and 40 , a one-way check valve 39 and line 1 to pressurize the engine to remove left-over residual solution and oil.

[0023] A control console ( FIG. 1 ) is preferably utilized for efficiency and convenience in the operation of the cleaning system. Mounted in or on the console are a number of controls and components earlier described. These include an on-off switch to control the filling of the cleaning solution container 11 which is mounted on the console for ease of viewing, particularly during filling of the container. The components associated with the solution input line 1 of the engine and components associated with the exit line 31 from the engine to the solution container are disposed in the console. Flow meter 6 , on the console, indicates flow of cleaning solution and oil, and provides the diagnostic indication, earlier mentioned, to indicate any clogging of the pump pickup screen 27 . An oil pressure gauge 7 on the console indicates the oil pressure and provides diagnostic indication of clogging of the filter screen, as well as indicating the oil pressure difference before and after a cleaning process. The timer 8 provides a signal that the time set for engine cleaning has expired.

[0024] FIG. 4 illustrates a modified form of the invention wherein an oil tank 48 is connected by a line 46 with a three-way valve 50 , and a line 51 extends between the three-way valve 50 and the pump 25 . Line 28 is connected with the three-way valve 50 , instead of to pump 25 as in the earlier-described embodiment.

[0025] During the cleaning process, three-way control valve 50 is opened to pass solution from the tank 3 through three-way valve 50 into pump 25 , and thence Upon completion of the cleaning operation, engine drain plug (not shown) is installed and the three-way valve is set to allow flow from oil tank 48 into valve 50 via line 46 , and thence into line 51 and pump 25 to the solution container or bowl 11 . Motor oil then follows the path earlier described for cleaning solution into the engine via line 1 and adapter 24 . After the desired quantity of motor oil has been pumped into the engine, the apparatus is disconnected from the engine. The amount of oil pumped into the engine may be indicated by calibration marks on tank 48 or by an electronic flow meter in line 46 . Also, an automatic shut-off device may be installed to shut off pump 25 once the desired quantity of oil has been pumped to the engine.

[0026] The oil in the engine is replenished in an efficient and economical manner. Typically in the prior art, several oil containers or cans must be opened and poured into the engine via the engine oil-fill opening, which is time-consuming, and expensive, involving purchasing oil in one-quart containers, whereas with the invention, oil may be purchased in bulk and simply pumped into the engine.

[0027] It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made from the preferred embodiments discussed above without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is established by the following claims and equivalents thereof.