diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Core/XmlExtensions.cs b/src/Umbraco.Core/XmlExtensions.cs
index 02ebc07490..8784cbfb30 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Core/XmlExtensions.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Core/XmlExtensions.cs
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.IO;
 using System.Linq;
+using System.Text;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
 using System.Xml;
 using System.Xml.Linq;
 using System.Xml.XPath;
@@ -13,6 +16,31 @@ namespace Umbraco.Core
 	/// </summary>
 	internal static class XmlExtensions
 	{
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Saves the xml document async
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="xdoc"></param>
+        /// <param name="filename"></param>
+        /// <returns></returns>
+	    public static async Task SaveAsync(this XmlDocument xdoc, string filename)
+	    {
+            if (xdoc.DocumentElement == null)
+                throw new XmlException("Cannot save xml document, there is no root element");
+
+            using (var fs = new FileStream(filename, FileMode.Create, FileAccess.Write, FileShare.Read, bufferSize: 4096, useAsync: true))
+            using (var xmlWriter = XmlWriter.Create(fs, new XmlWriterSettings
+            {
+                Async = true,
+                Encoding = Encoding.UTF8,
+                Indent = true
+            }))
+            {
+                //NOTE: There are no nice methods to write it async, only flushing it async. We
+                // could implement this ourselves but it'd be a very manual process.
+                xdoc.WriteTo(xmlWriter);
+                await xmlWriter.FlushAsync();
+            }
+	    }
 
         public static bool HasAttribute(this XmlAttributeCollection attributes, string attributeName)
         {
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Tests/Scheduling/BackgroundTaskRunnerTests.cs b/src/Umbraco.Tests/Scheduling/BackgroundTaskRunnerTests.cs
index 8b1981bc9e..ab83294496 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Tests/Scheduling/BackgroundTaskRunnerTests.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Tests/Scheduling/BackgroundTaskRunnerTests.cs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 using System;
+using System.Collections.Concurrent;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Linq;
-using System.Text;
 using System.Threading;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
 using NUnit.Framework;
@@ -13,73 +13,272 @@ namespace Umbraco.Tests.Scheduling
     [TestFixture]
     public class BackgroundTaskRunnerTests
     {
-
-
-        [Test]
-        public void Startup_And_Shutdown()
+        private static void AssertRunnerStopsRunning<T>(BackgroundTaskRunner<T> runner, int timeoutMilliseconds = 2000)
+            where T : class, IBackgroundTask
         {
-            BackgroundTaskRunner<IBackgroundTask> tManager;
-            using (tManager = new BackgroundTaskRunner<IBackgroundTask>(true, true))
-            {
-                tManager.StartUp();
-            }
+            const int period = 200;
 
-            NUnit.Framework.Assert.IsFalse(tManager.IsRunning);
+            var i = 0;
+            var m = timeoutMilliseconds/period;
+            while (runner.IsRunning && i++ < m)
+                Thread.Sleep(period);
+            Assert.IsFalse(runner.IsRunning, "Runner is still running.");
         }
 
         [Test]
-        public void Startup_Starts_Automatically()
+        public void ShutdownWaitWhenRunning()
         {
-            BackgroundTaskRunner<BaseTask> tManager;
-            using (tManager = new BackgroundTaskRunner<BaseTask>(true, true))
+            using (var runner = new BackgroundTaskRunner<IBackgroundTask>(new BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions { AutoStart = true, KeepAlive = true }))
             {
-                tManager.Add(new MyTask());
-                NUnit.Framework.Assert.IsTrue(tManager.IsRunning);
+                Assert.IsTrue(runner.IsRunning);
+                Thread.Sleep(800); // for long
+                Assert.IsTrue(runner.IsRunning);
+                runner.Shutdown(false, true); // -force +wait
+                AssertRunnerStopsRunning(runner);
+                Assert.IsTrue(runner.IsCompleted);
             }
         }
 
         [Test]
-        public void Task_Runs()
+        public void ShutdownWhenRunning()
         {
-            var myTask = new MyTask();
-            var waitHandle = new ManualResetEvent(false);
-            BackgroundTaskRunner<BaseTask> tManager;
-            using (tManager = new BackgroundTaskRunner<BaseTask>(true, true))
+            using (var runner = new BackgroundTaskRunner<IBackgroundTask>(new BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions()))
             {
-                tManager.TaskCompleted += (sender, task) => waitHandle.Set();
+                // do NOT try to do this because the code must run on the UI thread which
+                // is not availably, and so the thread never actually starts - wondering
+                // what it means for ASP.NET?
+                //runner.TaskStarting += (sender, args) => Console.WriteLine("starting {0:c}", DateTime.Now);
+                //runner.TaskCompleted += (sender, args) => Console.WriteLine("completed {0:c}", DateTime.Now);
 
-                tManager.Add(myTask);
-
-                //wait for ITasks to complete
-                waitHandle.WaitOne();
-
-                NUnit.Framework.Assert.IsTrue(myTask.Ended != default(DateTime));
+                Assert.IsFalse(runner.IsRunning);
+                runner.Add(new MyTask(5000));
+                Assert.IsTrue(runner.IsRunning); // is running the task
+                runner.Shutdown(false, false); // -force -wait
+                Assert.IsTrue(runner.IsCompleted);
+                Assert.IsTrue(runner.IsRunning); // still running that task
+                Thread.Sleep(3000);
+                Assert.IsTrue(runner.IsRunning); // still running that task
+                AssertRunnerStopsRunning(runner, 10000);
             }
         }
 
         [Test]
-        public void Many_Tasks_Run()
+        public void ShutdownFlushesTheQueue()
+        {
+            using (var runner = new BackgroundTaskRunner<IBackgroundTask>(new BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions()))
+            {
+                Assert.IsFalse(runner.IsRunning);
+                runner.Add(new MyTask(5000));
+                runner.Add(new MyTask());
+                var t = new MyTask();
+                runner.Add(t);
+                Assert.IsTrue(runner.IsRunning); // is running the first task
+                runner.Shutdown(false, false); // -force -wait
+                AssertRunnerStopsRunning(runner, 10000);
+                Assert.AreNotEqual(DateTime.MinValue, t.Ended); // t has run
+            }
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void ShutdownForceTruncatesTheQueue()
+        {
+            using (var runner = new BackgroundTaskRunner<IBackgroundTask>(new BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions()))
+            {
+                Assert.IsFalse(runner.IsRunning);
+                runner.Add(new MyTask(5000));
+                runner.Add(new MyTask());
+                var t = new MyTask();
+                runner.Add(t);
+                Assert.IsTrue(runner.IsRunning); // is running the first task
+                runner.Shutdown(true, false); // +force -wait
+                AssertRunnerStopsRunning(runner, 10000);
+                Assert.AreEqual(DateTime.MinValue, t.Ended); // t has not run
+            }
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void ShutdownThenForce()
+        {
+            using (var runner = new BackgroundTaskRunner<IBackgroundTask>(new BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions()))
+            {
+                Assert.IsFalse(runner.IsRunning);
+                runner.Add(new MyTask(5000));
+                runner.Add(new MyTask());
+                runner.Add(new MyTask());
+                Assert.IsTrue(runner.IsRunning); // is running the task
+                runner.Shutdown(false, false); // -force -wait
+                Assert.IsTrue(runner.IsCompleted);
+                Assert.IsTrue(runner.IsRunning); // still running that task
+                Thread.Sleep(3000);
+                Assert.IsTrue(runner.IsRunning); // still running that task
+                runner.Shutdown(true, false); // +force -wait
+                AssertRunnerStopsRunning(runner, 20000);
+            }
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void Create_IsRunning()
+        {
+            using (var runner = new BackgroundTaskRunner<IBackgroundTask>(new BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions()))
+            {
+                Assert.IsFalse(runner.IsRunning);
+            }
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void Create_AutoStart_IsRunning()
+        {
+            using (var runner = new BackgroundTaskRunner<IBackgroundTask>(new BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions { AutoStart = true }))
+            {
+                Assert.IsTrue(runner.IsRunning);
+                AssertRunnerStopsRunning(runner); // though not for long
+            }
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void Create_AutoStartAndKeepAlive_IsRunning()
+        {
+            using (var runner = new BackgroundTaskRunner<IBackgroundTask>(new BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions { AutoStart = true, KeepAlive = true }))
+            {
+                Assert.IsTrue(runner.IsRunning);
+                Thread.Sleep(800); // for long
+                Assert.IsTrue(runner.IsRunning);
+                // dispose will stop it
+            }
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void Dispose_IsRunning()
+        {
+            BackgroundTaskRunner<IBackgroundTask> runner;
+            using (runner = new BackgroundTaskRunner<IBackgroundTask>(new BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions { AutoStart = true, KeepAlive = true }))
+            {
+                Assert.IsTrue(runner.IsRunning);
+                // dispose will stop it
+            }
+
+            AssertRunnerStopsRunning(runner);
+            Assert.Throws<InvalidOperationException>(() => runner.Add(new MyTask()));
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void Startup_IsRunning()
+        {
+            using (var runner = new BackgroundTaskRunner<IBackgroundTask>(new BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions()))
+            {
+                Assert.IsFalse(runner.IsRunning);
+                runner.StartUp();
+                Assert.IsTrue(runner.IsRunning);
+                AssertRunnerStopsRunning(runner); // though not for long
+            }
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void Startup_KeepAlive_IsRunning()
+        {
+            using (var runner = new BackgroundTaskRunner<IBackgroundTask>(new BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions { KeepAlive = true }))
+            {
+                Assert.IsFalse(runner.IsRunning);
+                runner.StartUp();
+                Assert.IsTrue(runner.IsRunning);
+                // dispose will stop it
+            }
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void Create_AddTask_IsRunning()
+        {
+            using (var runner = new BackgroundTaskRunner<BaseTask>(new BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions()))
+            {
+                runner.Add(new MyTask());
+                Assert.IsTrue(runner.IsRunning);
+                Thread.Sleep(800); // task takes 500ms
+                Assert.IsFalse(runner.IsRunning);
+            }
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void Create_KeepAliveAndAddTask_IsRunning()
+        {
+            using (var runner = new BackgroundTaskRunner<BaseTask>(new BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions { KeepAlive = true }))
+            {
+                runner.Add(new MyTask());
+                Assert.IsTrue(runner.IsRunning);
+                Thread.Sleep(800); // task takes 500ms
+                Assert.IsTrue(runner.IsRunning);
+                // dispose will stop it
+            }
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public async void WaitOnRunner_OneTask()
+        {
+            using (var runner = new BackgroundTaskRunner<BaseTask>(new BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions()))
+            {
+                var task = new MyTask();
+                Assert.IsTrue(task.Ended == default(DateTime));
+                runner.Add(task);
+                await runner; // wait 'til it's not running anymore
+                Assert.IsTrue(task.Ended != default(DateTime)); // task is done
+                AssertRunnerStopsRunning(runner); // though not for long
+            }
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public async void WaitOnRunner_Tasks()
+        {
+            var tasks = new List<BaseTask>();
+            for (var i = 0; i < 10; i++)
+                tasks.Add(new MyTask());
+
+            using (var runner = new BackgroundTaskRunner<BaseTask>(new BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions { KeepAlive = false, LongRunning = true, PreserveRunningTask = true }))
+            {
+                tasks.ForEach(runner.Add);
+
+                await runner; // wait 'til it's not running anymore
+
+                // check that tasks are done
+                Assert.IsTrue(tasks.All(x => x.Ended != default(DateTime)));
+
+                Assert.AreEqual(TaskStatus.RanToCompletion, runner.TaskStatus);
+                Assert.IsFalse(runner.IsRunning);
+                Assert.IsFalse(runner.IsDisposed);
+            }
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void WaitOnTask()
+        {
+            using (var runner = new BackgroundTaskRunner<BaseTask>(new BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions()))
+            {
+                var task = new MyTask();
+                var waitHandle = new ManualResetEvent(false);
+                runner.TaskCompleted += (sender, t) => waitHandle.Set();
+                Assert.IsTrue(task.Ended == default(DateTime));
+                runner.Add(task);
+                waitHandle.WaitOne(); // wait 'til task is done
+                Assert.IsTrue(task.Ended != default(DateTime)); // task is done
+                AssertRunnerStopsRunning(runner); // though not for long
+            }
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void WaitOnTasks()
         {
             var tasks = new Dictionary<BaseTask, ManualResetEvent>();
             for (var i = 0; i < 10; i++)
-            {
                 tasks.Add(new MyTask(), new ManualResetEvent(false));
-            }
 
-            BackgroundTaskRunner<BaseTask> tManager;
-            using (tManager = new BackgroundTaskRunner<BaseTask>(true, true))
+            using (var runner = new BackgroundTaskRunner<BaseTask>(new BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions()))
             {
-                tManager.TaskCompleted += (sender, task) => tasks[task.Task].Set();
+                runner.TaskCompleted += (sender, task) => tasks[task.Task].Set();
+                foreach (var t in tasks) runner.Add(t.Key);
 
-                tasks.ForEach(t => tManager.Add(t.Key));
-
-                //wait for all ITasks to complete
+                // wait 'til tasks are done, check that tasks are done
                 WaitHandle.WaitAll(tasks.Values.Select(x => (WaitHandle)x).ToArray());
+                Assert.IsTrue(tasks.All(x => x.Key.Ended != default(DateTime)));
 
-                foreach (var task in tasks)
-                {
-                    NUnit.Framework.Assert.IsTrue(task.Key.Ended != default(DateTime));
-                }
+                AssertRunnerStopsRunning(runner); // though not for long
             }
         }
 
@@ -99,7 +298,7 @@ namespace Umbraco.Tests.Scheduling
             IDictionary<BaseTask, ManualResetEvent> tasks = getTasks();
 
             BackgroundTaskRunner<BaseTask> tManager;
-            using (tManager = new BackgroundTaskRunner<BaseTask>(true, true))
+            using (tManager = new BackgroundTaskRunner<BaseTask>(new BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions { LongRunning = true, KeepAlive = true }))
             {
                 tManager.TaskCompleted += (sender, task) => tasks[task.Task].Set();
 
@@ -111,7 +310,7 @@ namespace Umbraco.Tests.Scheduling
 
                 foreach (var task in tasks)
                 {
-                    NUnit.Framework.Assert.IsTrue(task.Key.Ended != default(DateTime));
+                    Assert.IsTrue(task.Key.Ended != default(DateTime));
                 }
 
                 //execute another batch after a bit
@@ -125,71 +324,11 @@ namespace Umbraco.Tests.Scheduling
 
                 foreach (var task in tasks)
                 {
-                    NUnit.Framework.Assert.IsTrue(task.Key.Ended != default(DateTime));
+                    Assert.IsTrue(task.Key.Ended != default(DateTime));
                 }
             }
         }
 
-        [Test]
-        public void Task_Queue_Will_Be_Completed_Before_Shutdown()
-        {
-            var tasks = new Dictionary<BaseTask, ManualResetEvent>();
-            for (var i = 0; i < 10; i++)
-            {
-                tasks.Add(new MyTask(), new ManualResetEvent(false));
-            }
-
-            BackgroundTaskRunner<BaseTask> tManager;
-            using (tManager = new BackgroundTaskRunner<BaseTask>(true, true))
-            {
-                tManager.TaskCompleted += (sender, task) => tasks[task.Task].Set();
-
-                tasks.ForEach(t => tManager.Add(t.Key));
-
-                ////wait for all ITasks to complete
-                //WaitHandle.WaitAll(tasks.Values.Select(x => (WaitHandle)x).ToArray());
-
-                tManager.Stop(false);
-                //immediate stop will block until complete - but since we are running on 
-                // a single thread this doesn't really matter as the above will just process
-                // until complete.
-                tManager.Stop(true);
-
-                NUnit.Framework.Assert.AreEqual(0, tManager.TaskCount);
-            }
-        }
-
-        //NOTE: These tests work in .Net 4.5 but in this current version we don't have the correct
-        // async/await signatures with GetAwaiter, so am just commenting these out in this version
-
-        [Test]
-        public async void Non_Persistent_Runner_Will_End_After_Queue_Empty()
-        {
-            var tasks = new List<BaseTask>();
-            for (var i = 0; i < 10; i++)
-            {
-                tasks.Add(new MyTask());
-            }
-
-            BackgroundTaskRunner<BaseTask> tManager;
-            using (tManager = new BackgroundTaskRunner<BaseTask>(persistentThread: false, dedicatedThread:true))
-            {
-                tasks.ForEach(t => tManager.Add(t));
-
-                //wait till the thread is done
-                await tManager;
-
-                foreach (var task in tasks)
-                {
-                    Assert.IsTrue(task.Ended != default(DateTime));
-                }
-
-                Assert.AreEqual(TaskStatus.RanToCompletion, tManager.TaskStatus);
-                Assert.IsFalse(tManager.IsRunning);
-                Assert.IsFalse(tManager.IsDisposed);
-            }
-        }
-
         [Test]
         public async void Non_Persistent_Runner_Will_Start_New_Threads_When_Required()
         {
@@ -205,10 +344,9 @@ namespace Umbraco.Tests.Scheduling
 
             List<BaseTask> tasks = getTasks();
 
-            BackgroundTaskRunner<BaseTask> tManager;
-            using (tManager = new BackgroundTaskRunner<BaseTask>(persistentThread: false, dedicatedThread: true))
+            using (var tManager = new BackgroundTaskRunner<BaseTask>(new BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions { LongRunning = true, PreserveRunningTask = true }))
             {
-                tasks.ForEach(t => tManager.Add(t));
+                tasks.ForEach(tManager.Add);
 
                 //wait till the thread is done
                 await tManager;
@@ -226,7 +364,7 @@ namespace Umbraco.Tests.Scheduling
                 tasks = getTasks();
 
                 //add more tasks
-                tasks.ForEach(t => tManager.Add(t));
+                tasks.ForEach(tManager.Add);
 
                 //wait till the thread is done
                 await tManager;
@@ -241,41 +379,339 @@ namespace Umbraco.Tests.Scheduling
                 Assert.IsFalse(tManager.IsDisposed);
             }
         }
-       
+
+        [Test]
+        public void RecurringTaskTest()
+        {
+            // note: can have BackgroundTaskRunner<IBackgroundTask> and use it in MyRecurringTask ctor
+            // because that ctor wants IBackgroundTaskRunner<MyRecurringTask> and the generic type
+            // parameter is contravariant ie defined as IBackgroundTaskRunner<in T> so doing the
+            // following is legal:
+            // var IBackgroundTaskRunner<Base> b = ...;
+            // var IBackgroundTaskRunner<Derived> d = b; // legal
+
+            using (var runner = new BackgroundTaskRunner<IBackgroundTask>(new BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions()))
+            {
+                var task = new MyRecurringTask(runner, 200, 500);
+                MyRecurringTask.RunCount = 0;
+                runner.Add(task);
+                Thread.Sleep(5000);
+                Assert.GreaterOrEqual(MyRecurringTask.RunCount, 2); // keeps running, count >= 2
+
+                // stops recurring
+                runner.Shutdown(false, false);
+                AssertRunnerStopsRunning(runner);
+
+                // timer may try to add a task but it won't work because runner is completed
+            }
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void DelayedTaskRuns()
+        {
+            using (var runner = new BackgroundTaskRunner<IBackgroundTask>(new BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions()))
+            {
+                var task = new MyDelayedTask(200);
+                runner.Add(task);
+                Assert.IsTrue(runner.IsRunning);
+                Thread.Sleep(5000);
+                Assert.IsTrue(runner.IsRunning); // still waiting for the task to release
+                Assert.IsFalse(task.HasRun);
+                task.Release();
+                Thread.Sleep(500);
+                Assert.IsTrue(task.HasRun);
+                AssertRunnerStopsRunning(runner); // runs task & exit
+            }
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void DelayedTaskStops()
+        {
+            using (var runner = new BackgroundTaskRunner<IBackgroundTask>(new BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions()))
+            {
+                var task = new MyDelayedTask(200);
+                runner.Add(task);
+                Assert.IsTrue(runner.IsRunning);
+                Thread.Sleep(5000);
+                Assert.IsTrue(runner.IsRunning); // still waiting for the task to release               
+                Assert.IsFalse(task.HasRun);
+                runner.Shutdown(false, false);
+                AssertRunnerStopsRunning(runner); // runs task & exit
+                Assert.IsTrue(task.HasRun);
+            }
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void DelayedRecurring()
+        {
+            using (var runner = new BackgroundTaskRunner<IBackgroundTask>(new BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions()))
+            {
+                var task = new MyDelayedRecurringTask(runner, 2000, 1000);
+                MyDelayedRecurringTask.RunCount = 0; 
+                runner.Add(task);
+                Thread.Sleep(1000);
+                Assert.IsTrue(runner.IsRunning); // waiting on delay
+                Assert.AreEqual(0, MyDelayedRecurringTask.RunCount);
+                Thread.Sleep(1000);
+                Assert.AreEqual(1, MyDelayedRecurringTask.RunCount);
+                Thread.Sleep(5000);
+                Assert.GreaterOrEqual(MyDelayedRecurringTask.RunCount, 2); // keeps running, count >= 2
+
+                // stops recurring
+                runner.Shutdown(false, false);
+                AssertRunnerStopsRunning(runner);
+
+                // timer may try to add a task but it won't work because runner is completed
+            }
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void FailingTaskSync()
+        {
+            using (var runner = new BackgroundTaskRunner<IBackgroundTask>(new BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions()))
+            {
+                var exceptions = new ConcurrentQueue<Exception>();
+                runner.TaskError += (sender, args) => exceptions.Enqueue(args.Exception);
+
+                var task = new MyFailingTask(false); // -async
+                runner.Add(task);
+                Assert.IsTrue(runner.IsRunning);
+                AssertRunnerStopsRunning(runner); // runs task & exit
+
+                Assert.AreEqual(1, exceptions.Count); // traced and reported
+            }
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void FailingTaskAsync()
+        {
+            using (var runner = new BackgroundTaskRunner<IBackgroundTask>(new BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions()))
+            {
+                var exceptions = new ConcurrentQueue<Exception>();
+                runner.TaskError += (sender, args) => exceptions.Enqueue(args.Exception);
+
+                var task = new MyFailingTask(true); // +async
+                runner.Add(task);
+                Assert.IsTrue(runner.IsRunning);
+                AssertRunnerStopsRunning(runner); // runs task & exit
+
+                Assert.AreEqual(1, exceptions.Count); // traced and reported
+            }
+        }
+
+        private class MyFailingTask : IBackgroundTask
+        {
+            private readonly bool _isAsync;
+
+            public MyFailingTask(bool isAsync)
+            {
+                _isAsync = isAsync;
+            }
+
+            public void Run()
+            {
+                Thread.Sleep(1000);
+                throw new Exception("Task has thrown.");
+            }
+
+            public async Task RunAsync(CancellationToken token)
+            {
+                await Task.Delay(1000);
+                throw new Exception("Task has thrown.");
+            }
+
+            public bool IsAsync
+            {
+                get { return _isAsync; }
+            }
+
+            // fixme - must also test what happens if we throw on dispose!
+            public void Dispose()
+            { }
+        }
+
+        private class MyDelayedRecurringTask : DelayedRecurringTaskBase<MyDelayedRecurringTask>
+        {
+            public MyDelayedRecurringTask(IBackgroundTaskRunner<MyDelayedRecurringTask> runner, int delayMilliseconds, int periodMilliseconds)
+                : base(runner, delayMilliseconds, periodMilliseconds)
+            { }
+
+            private MyDelayedRecurringTask(MyDelayedRecurringTask source)
+                : base(source)
+            { }
+
+            public static int RunCount { get; set; }
+
+            public override bool IsAsync
+            {
+                get { return false; }
+            }
+
+            public override void PerformRun()
+            {
+                // nothing to do at the moment
+                RunCount += 1;
+            }
+
+            public override Task PerformRunAsync()
+            {
+                throw new NotImplementedException();
+            }
+
+            protected override MyDelayedRecurringTask GetRecurring()
+            {
+                return new MyDelayedRecurringTask(this);
+            }
+        }
+
+        private class MyDelayedTask : ILatchedBackgroundTask
+        {
+            private readonly int _runMilliseconds;
+            private readonly ManualResetEvent _gate;
+
+            public bool HasRun { get; private set; }
+
+            public MyDelayedTask(int runMilliseconds)
+            {
+                _runMilliseconds = runMilliseconds;
+                _gate = new ManualResetEvent(false);
+            }
+
+            public WaitHandle Latch
+            {
+                get { return _gate; }
+            }
+
+            public bool IsLatched
+            {
+                get { return true; }
+            }
+
+            public bool RunsOnShutdown
+            {
+                get { return true; }
+            }
+
+            public void Run()
+            {
+                Thread.Sleep(_runMilliseconds);
+                HasRun = true;
+            }
+
+            public void Release()
+            {
+                _gate.Set();
+            }
+
+            public Task RunAsync(CancellationToken token)
+            {
+                throw new NotImplementedException();
+            }
+
+            public bool IsAsync
+            {
+                get { return false; }
+            }
+
+            public void Dispose()
+            { }
+        }
+
+        private class MyRecurringTask : RecurringTaskBase<MyRecurringTask>
+        {
+            private readonly int _runMilliseconds;
+
+            public static int RunCount { get; set; }
+
+            public MyRecurringTask(IBackgroundTaskRunner<MyRecurringTask> runner, int runMilliseconds, int periodMilliseconds)
+                : base(runner, periodMilliseconds)
+            {
+                _runMilliseconds = runMilliseconds;
+            }
+
+            private MyRecurringTask(MyRecurringTask source, int runMilliseconds)
+                : base(source)
+            {
+                _runMilliseconds = runMilliseconds;
+            }
+
+            public override void PerformRun()
+            {
+                RunCount += 1;
+                Thread.Sleep(_runMilliseconds);
+            }
+
+            public override Task PerformRunAsync()
+            {
+                throw new NotImplementedException();
+            }
+
+            public override bool IsAsync
+            {
+                get { return false; }
+            }
+
+            protected override MyRecurringTask GetRecurring()
+            {
+                return new MyRecurringTask(this, _runMilliseconds);
+            }
+        }
 
         private class MyTask : BaseTask
         {
+            private readonly int _milliseconds;
+
             public MyTask()
+                : this(500)
+            { }
+
+            public MyTask(int milliseconds)
             {
+                _milliseconds = milliseconds;
             }
 
-            public override void Run()
+            public override void PerformRun()
             {
-                Thread.Sleep(500);
-            }
-
-            public override void Cancel()
-            {
-
+                Thread.Sleep(_milliseconds);
             }
         }
 
         public abstract class BaseTask : IBackgroundTask
         {
+            public bool WasCancelled { get; set; }
+
             public Guid UniqueId { get; protected set; }
 
-            public abstract void Run();
-            public abstract void Cancel();
+            public abstract void PerformRun();
+
+            public void Run()
+            {
+                PerformRun();
+                Ended = DateTime.Now;
+            }
+
+            public Task RunAsync(CancellationToken token)
+            {
+                throw new NotImplementedException();
+                //return Task.Delay(500); 
+            }
+
+            public bool IsAsync
+            {
+                get { return false; }
+            }
+
+            public virtual void Cancel()
+            {
+                WasCancelled = true;
+            }
 
             public DateTime Queued { get; set; }
             public DateTime Started { get; set; }
             public DateTime Ended { get; set; }
 
             public virtual void Dispose()
-            {
-                Ended = DateTime.Now;
-            }
+            { }
         }
-
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web.UI/config/ClientDependency.config b/src/Umbraco.Web.UI/config/ClientDependency.config
index 006dea76b0..246bff7cac 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Web.UI/config/ClientDependency.config
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web.UI/config/ClientDependency.config
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ NOTES:
 * Compression/Combination/Minification is not enabled unless debug="false" is specified on the 'compiliation' element in the web.config
 * A new version will invalidate both client and server cache and create new persisted files
 --> 
-<clientDependency version="68899455" fileDependencyExtensions=".js,.css" loggerType="Umbraco.Web.UI.CdfLogger, umbraco">
+<clientDependency version="366385329" fileDependencyExtensions=".js,.css" loggerType="Umbraco.Web.UI.CdfLogger, umbraco">
 
   <!-- 
     This section is used for Web Forms only, the enableCompositeFiles="true" is optional and by default is set to true.
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web/PublishedCache/XmlPublishedCache/XmlCacheFilePersister.cs b/src/Umbraco.Web/PublishedCache/XmlPublishedCache/XmlCacheFilePersister.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1254951d82
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web/PublishedCache/XmlPublishedCache/XmlCacheFilePersister.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,201 @@
+using System;
+using System.Diagnostics;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using System.Xml;
+using umbraco;
+using Umbraco.Core;
+using Umbraco.Core.Logging;
+using Umbraco.Web.Scheduling;
+
+namespace Umbraco.Web.PublishedCache.XmlPublishedCache
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// This is the background task runner that persists the xml file to the file system
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <remarks>
+    /// This is used so that all file saving is done on a web aware worker background thread and all logic is performed async so this
+    /// process will not interfere with any web requests threads. This is also done as to not require any global locks and to ensure that
+    /// if multiple threads are performing publishing tasks that the file will be persisted in accordance with the final resulting
+    /// xml structure since the file writes are queued.
+    /// </remarks>
+    internal class XmlCacheFilePersister : ILatchedBackgroundTask
+    {
+        private readonly IBackgroundTaskRunner<XmlCacheFilePersister> _runner;
+        private readonly string _xmlFileName;
+        private readonly ProfilingLogger _logger;
+        private readonly content _content;
+        private readonly ManualResetEventSlim _latch = new ManualResetEventSlim(false);
+        private readonly object _locko = new object();
+        private bool _released;
+        private Timer _timer;
+        private DateTime _initialTouch;
+
+        private const int WaitMilliseconds = 4000; // save the cache 4s after the last change (ie every 4s min)
+        private const int MaxWaitMilliseconds = 10000; // save the cache after some time (ie no more than 10s of changes)
+
+        // save the cache when the app goes down
+        public bool RunsOnShutdown { get { return true; } }
+
+        public XmlCacheFilePersister(IBackgroundTaskRunner<XmlCacheFilePersister> runner, content content, string xmlFileName, ProfilingLogger logger, bool touched = false)
+        {
+            _runner = runner;
+            _content = content;
+            _xmlFileName = xmlFileName;
+            _logger = logger;
+
+            if (touched == false) return;
+
+            LogHelper.Debug<XmlCacheFilePersister>("Create new touched, start.");
+
+            _initialTouch = DateTime.Now;
+            _timer = new Timer(_ => Release());
+
+            LogHelper.Debug<XmlCacheFilePersister>("Save in {0}ms.", () => WaitMilliseconds);
+            _timer.Change(WaitMilliseconds, 0);
+        }
+
+        public XmlCacheFilePersister Touch()
+        {
+            lock (_locko)
+            {
+                if (_released)
+                {
+                    LogHelper.Debug<XmlCacheFilePersister>("Touched, was released, create new.");
+
+                    // released, has run or is running, too late, add & return a new task
+                    var persister = new XmlCacheFilePersister(_runner, _content, _xmlFileName, _logger, true);
+                    _runner.Add(persister);
+                    return persister;
+                }
+
+                if (_timer == null)
+                {
+                    LogHelper.Debug<XmlCacheFilePersister>("Touched, was idle, start.");
+
+                    // not started yet, start
+                    _initialTouch = DateTime.Now;
+                    _timer = new Timer(_ => Release());
+                    LogHelper.Debug<XmlCacheFilePersister>("Save in {0}ms.", () => WaitMilliseconds);
+                    _timer.Change(WaitMilliseconds, 0);
+                    return this;
+                }
+
+                // set the timer to trigger in WaitMilliseconds unless we've been touched first more
+                // than MaxWaitMilliseconds ago and then release now
+
+                if (DateTime.Now - _initialTouch < TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(MaxWaitMilliseconds))
+                {
+                    LogHelper.Debug<XmlCacheFilePersister>("Touched, was waiting, wait.", () => WaitMilliseconds);
+                    LogHelper.Debug<XmlCacheFilePersister>("Save in {0}ms.", () => WaitMilliseconds);
+                    _timer.Change(WaitMilliseconds, 0);
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    LogHelper.Debug<XmlCacheFilePersister>("Save now, release.");
+                    ReleaseLocked();
+                }
+
+                return this; // still available
+            }
+        }
+
+        private void Release()
+        {
+            lock (_locko)
+            {
+                ReleaseLocked();
+            }
+        }
+
+        private void ReleaseLocked()
+        {
+            LogHelper.Debug<XmlCacheFilePersister>("Timer: save now, release.");
+            if (_timer != null)
+                _timer.Dispose();
+            _timer = null;
+            _released = true;
+            _latch.Set();
+        }
+
+        public WaitHandle Latch
+        {
+            get { return _latch.WaitHandle; }
+        }
+
+        public bool IsLatched
+        {
+            get { return true; }
+        }
+
+        public async Task RunAsync(CancellationToken token)
+        {
+            LogHelper.Debug<XmlCacheFilePersister>("Run now.");
+            var doc = _content.XmlContentInternal;
+            await PersistXmlToFileAsync(doc);
+        }
+
+        public bool IsAsync
+        {
+            get { return true; }
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Persist a XmlDocument to the Disk Cache
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="xmlDoc"></param>
+        internal async Task PersistXmlToFileAsync(XmlDocument xmlDoc)
+        {
+            if (xmlDoc != null)
+            {
+                using (_logger.DebugDuration<XmlCacheFilePersister>(
+                    string.Format("Saving content to disk on thread '{0}' (Threadpool? {1})", Thread.CurrentThread.Name, Thread.CurrentThread.IsThreadPoolThread),
+                    string.Format("Saved content to disk on thread '{0}' (Threadpool? {1})", Thread.CurrentThread.Name, Thread.CurrentThread.IsThreadPoolThread)))
+                {
+                    try
+                    {
+                        // Try to create directory for cache path if it doesn't yet exist
+                        var directoryName = Path.GetDirectoryName(_xmlFileName);
+                        // create dir if it is not there, if it's there, this will proceed as normal
+                        Directory.CreateDirectory(directoryName);
+
+                        await xmlDoc.SaveAsync(_xmlFileName);
+                    }
+                    catch (Exception ee)
+                    {
+                        // If for whatever reason something goes wrong here, invalidate disk cache
+                        DeleteXmlCache();
+
+                        LogHelper.Error<XmlCacheFilePersister>("Error saving content to disk", ee);
+                    }
+                }
+
+                
+            }
+        }
+
+        private void DeleteXmlCache()
+        {
+            if (File.Exists(_xmlFileName) == false) return;
+
+            // Reset file attributes, to make sure we can delete file
+            try
+            {
+                File.SetAttributes(_xmlFileName, FileAttributes.Normal);
+            }
+            finally
+            {
+                File.Delete(_xmlFileName);
+            }
+        }
+
+        public void Dispose()
+        { }
+
+        public void Run()
+        {
+            throw new NotImplementedException();
+        }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/BackgroundTaskRunner.cs b/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/BackgroundTaskRunner.cs
index a0c6720a88..3a5ace8af8 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/BackgroundTaskRunner.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/BackgroundTaskRunner.cs
@@ -9,55 +9,97 @@ using Umbraco.Core.Logging;
 namespace Umbraco.Web.Scheduling
 {
     /// <summary>
-    /// This is used to create a background task runner which will stay alive in the background of and complete
-    /// any tasks that are queued. It is web aware and will ensure that it is shutdown correctly when the app domain
-    /// is shutdown.
+    /// Manages a queue of tasks of type <typeparamref name="T"/> and runs them in the background.
     /// </summary>
-    /// <typeparam name="T"></typeparam>
-    internal class BackgroundTaskRunner<T> : IDisposable, IRegisteredObject
-        where T : IBackgroundTask
+    /// <typeparam name="T">The type of the managed tasks.</typeparam>
+    /// <remarks>The task runner is web-aware and will ensure that it shuts down correctly when the AppDomain
+    /// shuts down (ie is unloaded).</remarks>
+    internal class BackgroundTaskRunner<T> : IBackgroundTaskRunner<T>
+        where T : class, IBackgroundTask
     {
-        private readonly bool _dedicatedThread;
-        private readonly bool _persistentThread;
+        private readonly BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions _options;
         private readonly BlockingCollection<T> _tasks = new BlockingCollection<T>();
-        private Task _consumer;
+        private readonly object _locker = new object();
+        private readonly ManualResetEventSlim _completedEvent = new ManualResetEventSlim(false);
+
+        private volatile bool _isRunning; // is running
+        private volatile bool _isCompleted; // does not accept tasks anymore, may still be running
+        private Task _runningTask;
 
-        private volatile bool _isRunning = false;
-        private static readonly object Locker = new object();
         private CancellationTokenSource _tokenSource;
+
         internal event EventHandler<TaskEventArgs<T>> TaskError;
         internal event EventHandler<TaskEventArgs<T>> TaskStarting;
         internal event EventHandler<TaskEventArgs<T>> TaskCompleted;
         internal event EventHandler<TaskEventArgs<T>> TaskCancelled;
 
-        public BackgroundTaskRunner(bool dedicatedThread = false, bool persistentThread = false)
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="BackgroundTaskRunner{T}"/> class.
+        /// </summary>
+        public BackgroundTaskRunner()
+            : this(new BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions())
+        { }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="BackgroundTaskRunner{T}"/> class with a set of options.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="options">The set of options.</param>
+        public BackgroundTaskRunner(BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions options)
         {
-            _dedicatedThread = dedicatedThread;
-            _persistentThread = persistentThread;
+            if (options == null) throw new ArgumentNullException("options");
+            _options = options;
+
             HostingEnvironment.RegisterObject(this);
+
+            if (options.AutoStart)
+                StartUp();
         }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets the number of tasks in the queue.
+        /// </summary>
         public int TaskCount
         {
             get { return _tasks.Count; }
         }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets a value indicating whether a task is currently running.
+        /// </summary>
         public bool IsRunning
         {
             get { return _isRunning; }
         }
 
-        public TaskStatus TaskStatus
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets a value indicating whether the runner has completed and cannot accept tasks anymore.
+        /// </summary>
+        public bool IsCompleted
         {
-            get { return _consumer.Status; }
+            get { return _isCompleted; }
         }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets the status of the running task.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <exception cref="InvalidOperationException">There is no running task.</exception>
+        /// <remarks>Unless the AutoStart option is true, there will be no running task until
+        /// a background task is added to the queue. Unless the KeepAlive option is true, there
+        /// will be no running task when the queue is empty.</remarks>
+        public TaskStatus TaskStatus
+        {
+            get
+            {
+                if (_runningTask == null)
+                    throw new InvalidOperationException("There is no current task.");
+                return _runningTask.Status;
+            }
+        }
       
         /// <summary>
-        /// Returns the task awaiter so that consumers of the BackgroundTaskManager can await
-        /// the threading operation.
+        /// Gets an awaiter used to await the running task.
         /// </summary>
-        /// <returns></returns>
+        /// <returns>An awaiter for the running task.</returns>
         /// <remarks>
         /// This is just the coolest thing ever, check this article out:
         /// http://blogs.msdn.com/b/pfxteam/archive/2011/01/13/10115642.aspx
@@ -65,237 +107,292 @@ namespace Umbraco.Web.Scheduling
         /// So long as we have a method called GetAwaiter() that returns an instance of INotifyCompletion 
         /// we can await anything! :)
         /// </remarks>
+        /// <exception cref="InvalidOperationException">There is no running task.</exception>
+        /// <remarks>Unless the AutoStart option is true, there will be no running task until
+        /// a background task is added to the queue. Unless the KeepAlive option is true, there
+        /// will be no running task when the queue is empty.</remarks>
         public TaskAwaiter GetAwaiter()
         {
-            return _consumer.GetAwaiter();
+            if (_runningTask == null)
+                throw new InvalidOperationException("There is no current task.");
+            return _runningTask.GetAwaiter();
         }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Adds a task to the queue.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="task">The task to add.</param>
+        /// <exception cref="InvalidOperationException">The task runner has completed.</exception>
         public void Add(T task)
         {
-            //add any tasks first
-            LogHelper.Debug<BackgroundTaskRunner<T>>(" Task added {0}", () => task.GetType());
-            _tasks.Add(task);
+            lock (_locker)
+            {
+                if (_isCompleted)
+                    throw new InvalidOperationException("The task runner has completed.");
 
-            //ensure's everything is started
-            StartUp();
+                // add task
+                LogHelper.Debug<BackgroundTaskRunner<T>>("Task added {0}", task.GetType);
+                _tasks.Add(task);
+
+                // start
+                StartUpLocked();
+            }
         }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Tries to add a task to the queue.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="task">The task to add.</param>
+        /// <returns>true if the task could be added to the queue; otherwise false.</returns>
+        /// <remarks>Returns false if the runner is completed.</remarks>
+        public bool TryAdd(T task)
+        {
+            lock (_locker)
+            {
+                if (_isCompleted) return false;
+
+                // add task
+                LogHelper.Debug<BackgroundTaskRunner<T>>("Task added {0}", task.GetType);
+                _tasks.Add(task);
+
+                // start
+                StartUpLocked();
+
+                return true;
+            }
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Starts the tasks runner, if not already running.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <remarks>Is invoked each time a task is added, to ensure it is going to be processed.</remarks>
+        /// <exception cref="InvalidOperationException">The task runner has completed.</exception>
         public void StartUp()
         {
-            if (!_isRunning)
+            if (_isRunning) return;
+
+            lock (_locker)
             {
-                lock (Locker)
-                {
-                    //double check 
-                    if (!_isRunning)
-                    {
-                        _isRunning = true;
-                        //Create a new token source since this is a new proces
-                        _tokenSource = new CancellationTokenSource();
-                        StartConsumer();
-                        LogHelper.Debug<BackgroundTaskRunner<T>>("Starting");
-                    }
-                }
-            }
-        }
+                if (_isCompleted)
+                    throw new InvalidOperationException("The task runner has completed.");
 
-        public void ShutDown()
-        {
-            lock (Locker)
-            {
-                _isRunning = false;
-
-                try
-                {
-                    if (_consumer != null)
-                    {
-                        //cancel all operations
-                        _tokenSource.Cancel();
-
-                        try
-                        {
-                            _consumer.Wait();
-                        }
-                        catch (AggregateException e)
-                        {
-                            //NOTE: We are logging Debug because we are expecting these errors
-
-                            LogHelper.Debug<BackgroundTaskRunner<T>>("AggregateException thrown with the following inner exceptions:");
-                            // Display information about each exception.  
-                            foreach (var v in e.InnerExceptions)
-                            {
-                                var exception = v as TaskCanceledException;
-                                if (exception != null)
-                                {
-                                    LogHelper.Debug<BackgroundTaskRunner<T>>("   .Net TaskCanceledException: .Net Task ID {0}", () => exception.Task.Id);
-                                }
-                                else
-                                {
-                                    LogHelper.Debug<BackgroundTaskRunner<T>>("   Exception: {0}", () => v.GetType().Name);
-                                }
-                            }
-                        }
-                    }
-
-                    if (_tasks.Count > 0)
-                    {
-                        LogHelper.Debug<BackgroundTaskRunner<T>>("Processing remaining tasks before shutdown: {0}", () => _tasks.Count);
-
-                        //now we need to ensure the remaining queue is processed if there's any remaining,
-                        // this will all be processed on the current/main thread.
-                        T remainingTask;
-                        while (_tasks.TryTake(out remainingTask))
-                        {
-                            ConsumeTaskInternal(remainingTask);
-                        }
-                    }
-
-                    LogHelper.Debug<BackgroundTaskRunner<T>>("Shutdown");
-
-                    //disposing these is really optional since they'll be disposed immediately since they are no longer running
-                    //but we'll put this here anyways.
-                    if (_consumer != null && (_consumer.IsCompleted || _consumer.IsCanceled))
-                    {
-                        _consumer.Dispose();
-                    }
-                }
-                catch (Exception ex)
-                {
-                    LogHelper.Error<BackgroundTaskRunner<T>>("Error occurred shutting down task runner", ex);
-                }
-                finally
-                {
-                    HostingEnvironment.UnregisterObject(this);
-                }
+                StartUpLocked();
             }
         }
 
         /// <summary>
-        /// Starts the consumer task
+        /// Starts the tasks runner, if not already running.
         /// </summary>
-        private void StartConsumer()
+        /// <remarks>Must be invoked within lock(_locker) and with _isCompleted being false.</remarks>
+        private void StartUpLocked()
         {
-            var token = _tokenSource.Token;
+            // double check 
+            if (_isRunning) return;
+            _isRunning = true;
 
-            _consumer = Task.Factory.StartNew(() =>
-                StartThread(token),
+            // create a new token source since this is a new process
+            _tokenSource = new CancellationTokenSource();
+            _runningTask = PumpIBackgroundTasks(Task.Factory, _tokenSource.Token);
+            LogHelper.Debug<BackgroundTaskRunner<T>>("Starting");
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Shuts the taks runner down.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="force">True for force the runner to stop.</param>
+        /// <param name="wait">True to wait until the runner has stopped.</param>
+        /// <remarks>If <paramref name="force"/> is false, no more tasks can be queued but all queued tasks
+        /// will run. If it is true, then only the current one (if any) will end and no other task will run.</remarks>
+        public void Shutdown(bool force, bool wait)
+        {
+            lock (_locker)
+            {
+                _isCompleted = true; // do not accept new tasks
+                if (_isRunning == false) return; // done already
+            }
+
+            // try to be nice
+            // assuming multiple threads can do these without problems
+            _completedEvent.Set();
+            _tasks.CompleteAdding();
+
+            if (force)
+            {
+                // we must bring everything down, now
+                Thread.Sleep(100); // give time to CompleAdding()
+                lock (_locker)
+                {
+                    // was CompleteAdding() enough?
+                    if (_isRunning == false) return;
+                }
+                // try to cancel running async tasks (cannot do much about sync tasks)
+                // break delayed tasks delay
+                // truncate running queues
+                _tokenSource.Cancel(false); // false is the default
+            }
+
+            // tasks in the queue will be executed...
+            if (wait == false) return;
+            _runningTask.Wait(); // wait for whatever is running to end...
+
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Runs background tasks for as long as there are background tasks in the queue, with an asynchronous operation.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="factory">The supporting <see cref="TaskFactory"/>.</param>
+        /// <param name="token">A cancellation token.</param>
+        /// <returns>The asynchronous operation.</returns>
+        private Task PumpIBackgroundTasks(TaskFactory factory, CancellationToken token)
+        {
+            var taskSource = new TaskCompletionSource<object>(factory.CreationOptions);
+            var enumerator = _options.KeepAlive ? _tasks.GetConsumingEnumerable(token).GetEnumerator() : null;
+
+            // ReSharper disable once MethodSupportsCancellation // always run
+            var taskSourceContinuing = taskSource.Task.ContinueWith(t =>
+            {
+                // because the pump does not lock, there's a race condition,
+                // the pump may stop and then we still have tasks to process,
+                // and then we must restart the pump - lock to avoid race cond
+                lock (_locker)
+                {
+                    if (token.IsCancellationRequested || _tasks.Count == 0)
+                    {
+                        _isRunning = false; // done
+                        if (_options.PreserveRunningTask == false)
+                            _runningTask = null;
+                        return;
+                    }
+                }
+
+                // if _runningTask is taskSource.Task then we must keep continuing it,
+                // not starting a new taskSource, else _runningTask would complete and
+                // something may be waiting on it
+                //PumpIBackgroundTasks(factory, token); // restart
+                // ReSharper disable once MethodSupportsCancellation // always run
+                t.ContinueWithTask(_ => PumpIBackgroundTasks(factory, token)); // restart
+            });
+
+            Action<Task> pump = null;
+            pump = task =>
+            {
+                // RunIBackgroundTaskAsync does NOT throw exceptions, just raises event
+                // so if we have an exception here, really, wtf? - must read the exception
+                // anyways so it does not bubble up and kill everything
+                if (task != null && task.IsFaulted)
+                {
+                    var exception = task.Exception;
+                    LogHelper.Error<BackgroundTaskRunner<T>>("Task runner exception.", exception);
+                }
+
+                // is it ok to run?
+                if (TaskSourceCanceled(taskSource, token)) return;
+
+                // try to get a task
+                // the blocking MoveNext will end if token is cancelled or collection is completed
+                T bgTask;
+                var hasBgTask = _options.KeepAlive
+                    ? (bgTask = enumerator.MoveNext() ? enumerator.Current : null) != null // blocking
+                    : _tasks.TryTake(out bgTask); // non-blocking
+
+                // no task, signal the runner we're done
+                if (hasBgTask == false)
+                {
+                    TaskSourceCompleted(taskSource, token);
+                    return;
+                }
+
+                // wait for latched task, supporting cancellation
+                var dbgTask = bgTask as ILatchedBackgroundTask;
+                if (dbgTask != null && dbgTask.IsLatched)
+                {
+                    WaitHandle.WaitAny(new[] { dbgTask.Latch, token.WaitHandle, _completedEvent.WaitHandle });
+                    if (TaskSourceCanceled(taskSource, token)) return;
+                    // else run now, either because latch ok or runner is completed
+                    // still latched & not running on shutdown = stop here
+                    if (dbgTask.IsLatched && dbgTask.RunsOnShutdown == false)
+                    {
+                        TaskSourceCompleted(taskSource, token);
+                        return;
+                    }
+                }
+
+                // run the task as first task, or a continuation
+                task = task == null 
+                    ? RunIBackgroundTaskAsync(bgTask, token)
+                    // ReSharper disable once MethodSupportsCancellation // always run
+                    : task.ContinueWithTask(_ => RunIBackgroundTaskAsync(bgTask, token));
+
+                // and pump
+                // ReSharper disable once MethodSupportsCancellation // always run
+                task.ContinueWith(t => pump(t));
+            };
+
+            // start it all
+            factory.StartNew(() => pump(null),
                 token,
-                _dedicatedThread ? TaskCreationOptions.LongRunning : TaskCreationOptions.None,
+                _options.LongRunning ? TaskCreationOptions.LongRunning : TaskCreationOptions.None,
                 TaskScheduler.Default);
 
-            //if this is not a persistent thread, wait till it's done and shut ourselves down
-            // thus ending the thread or giving back to the thread pool. If another task is added
-            // another thread will spawn or be taken from the pool to process.
-            if (!_persistentThread)
-            {
-                _consumer.ContinueWith(task => ShutDown());
-            }
-
+            return taskSourceContinuing;
         }
 
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Invokes a new worker thread to consume tasks
-        /// </summary>
-        /// <param name="token"></param>
-        private void StartThread(CancellationToken token)
-        {
-            // Was cancellation already requested?  
-            if (token.IsCancellationRequested)
-            {
-                LogHelper.Info<BackgroundTaskRunner<T>>("Thread {0} was cancelled before it got started.", () => Thread.CurrentThread.ManagedThreadId);
-                token.ThrowIfCancellationRequested();
-            }
-
-            TakeAndConsumeTask(token);
-        }
-
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Trys to get a task from the queue, if there isn't one it will wait a second and try again
-        /// </summary>
-        /// <param name="token"></param>
-        private void TakeAndConsumeTask(CancellationToken token)
+        private bool TaskSourceCanceled(TaskCompletionSource<object> taskSource, CancellationToken token)
         {
             if (token.IsCancellationRequested)
             {
-                LogHelper.Info<BackgroundTaskRunner<T>>("Thread {0} was cancelled.", () => Thread.CurrentThread.ManagedThreadId);
-                token.ThrowIfCancellationRequested();
+                taskSource.SetCanceled();
+                return true;
             }
+            return false;
+        }
 
-            //If this is true, the thread will stay alive and just wait until there is anything in the queue
-            // and process it. When there is nothing in the queue, the thread will just block until there is
-            // something to process.
-            //When this is false, the thread will process what is currently in the queue and once that is 
-            // done, the thread will end and we will shutdown the process
-
-            if (_persistentThread)
-            {
-                //This will iterate over the collection, if there is nothing to take
-                // the thread will block until there is something available.
-                //We need to pass our cancellation token so that the thread will
-                // cancel when we shutdown
-                foreach (var t in _tasks.GetConsumingEnumerable(token))
-                {
-                    ConsumeTaskCancellable(t, token);
-                }
-
-                //recurse and keep going
-                TakeAndConsumeTask(token);
-            }
+        private void TaskSourceCompleted(TaskCompletionSource<object> taskSource, CancellationToken token)
+        {
+            if (token.IsCancellationRequested)
+                taskSource.SetCanceled();
             else
-            {
-                T repositoryTask;
-                while (_tasks.TryTake(out repositoryTask))
-                {
-                    ConsumeTaskCancellable(repositoryTask, token);
-                }
-
-                //the task will end here
-            }
+                taskSource.SetResult(null);
         }
 
-        internal void ConsumeTaskCancellable(T task, CancellationToken token)
-        {
-            if (token.IsCancellationRequested)
-            {
-                OnTaskCancelled(new TaskEventArgs<T>(task));
-
-                //NOTE: Since the task hasn't started this is pretty pointless so leaving it out.
-                LogHelper.Info<BackgroundTaskRunner<T>>("Task {0}) was cancelled.",
-                    () => task.GetType());
-
-                token.ThrowIfCancellationRequested();
-            }
-
-            ConsumeTaskInternal(task);
-        }
-
-        private void ConsumeTaskInternal(T task)
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Runs a background task asynchronously.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="bgTask">The background task.</param>
+        /// <param name="token">A cancellation token.</param>
+        /// <returns>The asynchronous operation.</returns>
+        internal async Task RunIBackgroundTaskAsync(T bgTask, CancellationToken token)
         {
             try
             {
-                OnTaskStarting(new TaskEventArgs<T>(task));
+                OnTaskStarting(new TaskEventArgs<T>(bgTask));
 
                 try
                 {
-                    using (task)
+                    using (bgTask) // ensure it's disposed
                     {
-                        task.Run();
+                        if (bgTask.IsAsync)
+                            await bgTask.RunAsync(token);
+                        else
+                            bgTask.Run();
                     }
                 }
                 catch (Exception e)
                 {
-                    OnTaskError(new TaskEventArgs<T>(task, e));
+                    OnTaskError(new TaskEventArgs<T>(bgTask, e));
                     throw;
                 }
 
-                OnTaskCompleted(new TaskEventArgs<T>(task));
+                OnTaskCompleted(new TaskEventArgs<T>(bgTask));
             }
             catch (Exception ex)
             {
-                LogHelper.Error<BackgroundTaskRunner<T>>("An error occurred consuming task", ex);
+                LogHelper.Error<BackgroundTaskRunner<T>>("Task has failed.", ex);
             }
         }
 
+        #region Events
+
         protected virtual void OnTaskError(TaskEventArgs<T> e)
         {
             var handler = TaskError;
@@ -318,10 +415,15 @@ namespace Umbraco.Web.Scheduling
         {
             var handler = TaskCancelled;
             if (handler != null) handler(this, e);
+
+            //dispose it
+            e.Task.Dispose();
         }
 
+        #endregion
+
+        #region IDisposable
 
-        #region Disposal
         private readonly object _disposalLocker = new object();
         public bool IsDisposed { get; private set; }
 
@@ -338,8 +440,9 @@ namespace Umbraco.Web.Scheduling
 
         protected virtual void Dispose(bool disposing)
         {
-            if (this.IsDisposed || !disposing)
+            if (this.IsDisposed || disposing == false)
                 return;
+
             lock (_disposalLocker)
             {
                 if (IsDisposed)
@@ -351,31 +454,60 @@ namespace Umbraco.Web.Scheduling
 
         protected virtual void DisposeResources()
         {
-            ShutDown();
+            // just make sure we eventually go down
+            Shutdown(true, false);
         }
+
         #endregion
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Requests a registered object to unregister.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="immediate">true to indicate the registered object should unregister from the hosting
+        /// environment before returning; otherwise, false.</param>
+        /// <remarks>
+        /// <para>"When the application manager needs to stop a registered object, it will call the Stop method."</para>
+        /// <para>The application manager will call the Stop method to ask a registered object to unregister. During
+        /// processing of the Stop method, the registered object must call the HostingEnvironment.UnregisterObject method.</para>
+        /// </remarks>
         public void Stop(bool immediate)
         {
             if (immediate == false)
             {
-                LogHelper.Debug<BackgroundTaskRunner<T>>("Application is shutting down, waiting for tasks to complete");
-                Dispose();
+                // The Stop method is first called with the immediate parameter set to false. The object can either complete
+                // processing, call the UnregisterObject method, and then return or it can return immediately and complete
+                // processing asynchronously before calling the UnregisterObject method.
+
+                LogHelper.Debug<BackgroundTaskRunner<T>>("Shutting down, waiting for tasks to complete.");
+                Shutdown(false, false); // do not accept any more tasks, flush the queue, do not wait
+
+                lock (_locker)
+                {
+                    if (_runningTask != null)
+                        _runningTask.ContinueWith(_ =>
+                        {
+                            HostingEnvironment.UnregisterObject(this);
+                            LogHelper.Info<BackgroundTaskRunner<T>>("Down, tasks completed.");
+                        });
+                    else
+                    {
+                        HostingEnvironment.UnregisterObject(this);
+                        LogHelper.Info<BackgroundTaskRunner<T>>("Down, tasks completed.");
+                    }
+                }
             }
             else
             {
-                //NOTE: this will thread block the current operation if the manager
-                // is still shutting down because the Shutdown operation is also locked
-                // by this same lock instance. This would only matter if Stop is called by ASP.Net
-                // on two different threads though, otherwise the current thread will just block normally
-                // until the app is shutdown
-                lock (Locker)
-                {
-                    LogHelper.Info<BackgroundTaskRunner<T>>("Application is shutting down immediately");
-                }
+                // If the registered object does not complete processing before the application manager's time-out
+                // period expires, the Stop method is called again with the immediate parameter set to true. When the
+                // immediate parameter is true, the registered object must call the UnregisterObject method before returning;
+                // otherwise, its registration will be removed by the application manager.
+
+                LogHelper.Info<BackgroundTaskRunner<T>>("Shutting down immediately.");
+                Shutdown(true, true); // cancel all tasks, wait for the current one to end
+                HostingEnvironment.UnregisterObject(this);
+                LogHelper.Info<BackgroundTaskRunner<T>>("Down.");
             }
-
         }
-
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions.cs b/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4688ff37d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+namespace Umbraco.Web.Scheduling
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Provides options to the <see cref="BackgroundTaskRunner{T}"/> class.
+    /// </summary>
+    internal class BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions
+    {
+        //TODO: Could add options for using a stack vs queue if required
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions"/> class.
+        /// </summary>
+        public BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions()
+        {
+            LongRunning = false;
+            KeepAlive = false;
+            AutoStart = false;
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets or sets a value indicating whether the running task should be a long-running,
+        /// coarse grained operation.
+        /// </summary>
+        public bool LongRunning { get; set; }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets or sets a value indicating whether the running task should block and wait
+        /// on the queue, or end, when the queue is empty.
+        /// </summary>
+        public bool KeepAlive { get; set; }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets or sets a value indicating whether the running task should start immediately
+        /// or only once a task has been added to the queue.
+        /// </summary>
+        public bool AutoStart { get; set; }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets or setes a value indicating whether the running task should be preserved
+        /// once completed, or reset to null. For unit tests.
+        /// </summary>
+        public bool PreserveRunningTask { get; set; }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/DelayedRecurringTaskBase.cs b/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/DelayedRecurringTaskBase.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f7cec0079b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/DelayedRecurringTaskBase.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+using System;
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+
+namespace Umbraco.Web.Scheduling
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Provides a base class for recurring background tasks.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <typeparam name="T">The type of the managed tasks.</typeparam>
+    internal abstract class DelayedRecurringTaskBase<T> : RecurringTaskBase<T>, ILatchedBackgroundTask
+        where T : class, IBackgroundTask
+    {
+        private readonly ManualResetEventSlim _latch;
+        private Timer _timer;
+
+        protected DelayedRecurringTaskBase(IBackgroundTaskRunner<T> runner, int delayMilliseconds, int periodMilliseconds)
+            : base(runner, periodMilliseconds)
+        {
+            if (delayMilliseconds > 0)
+            {
+                _latch = new ManualResetEventSlim(false);
+                _timer = new Timer(_ =>
+                {
+                    _timer.Dispose();
+                    _timer = null;
+                    _latch.Set();
+                });
+                _timer.Change(delayMilliseconds, 0);
+            }
+        }
+
+        protected DelayedRecurringTaskBase(DelayedRecurringTaskBase<T> source)
+            : base(source)
+        {
+            // no latch on recurring instances
+            _latch = null;
+        }
+
+        public override void Run()
+        {
+            if (_latch != null)
+                _latch.Dispose();
+            base.Run();
+        }
+
+        public override async Task RunAsync(CancellationToken token)
+        {
+            if (_latch != null)
+                _latch.Dispose();
+            await base.RunAsync(token);
+        }
+
+        public WaitHandle Latch
+        {
+            get
+            {
+                if (_latch == null)
+                    throw new InvalidOperationException("The task is not latched.");
+                return _latch.WaitHandle;
+            }
+        }
+
+        public bool IsLatched
+        {
+            get { return _latch != null; }
+        }
+
+        public virtual bool RunsOnShutdown
+        {
+            get { return true; }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/IBackgroundTask.cs b/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/IBackgroundTask.cs
index 343f076b2a..4e646c0623 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/IBackgroundTask.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/IBackgroundTask.cs
@@ -1,9 +1,30 @@
 using System;
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
 
 namespace Umbraco.Web.Scheduling
 {
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Represents a background task.
+    /// </summary>
     internal interface IBackgroundTask : IDisposable
     {
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Runs the background task.
+        /// </summary>
         void Run();
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Runs the task asynchronously.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="token">A cancellation token.</param>
+        /// <returns>A <see cref="Task"/> instance representing the execution of the background task.</returns>
+        /// <exception cref="NotImplementedException">The background task cannot run asynchronously.</exception>
+        Task RunAsync(CancellationToken token);
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Indicates whether the background task can run asynchronously.
+        /// </summary>
+        bool IsAsync { get; }
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/IBackgroundTaskRunner.cs b/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/IBackgroundTaskRunner.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c4e2dab35d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/IBackgroundTaskRunner.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+using System;
+using System.Web.Hosting;
+
+namespace Umbraco.Web.Scheduling
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Defines a service managing a queue of tasks of type <typeparamref name="T"/> and running them in the background.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <typeparam name="T">The type of the managed tasks.</typeparam>
+    /// <remarks>The interface is not complete and exists only to have the contravariance on T.</remarks>
+    internal interface IBackgroundTaskRunner<in T> : IDisposable, IRegisteredObject
+        where T : class, IBackgroundTask
+    {
+        bool IsCompleted { get; }
+        void Add(T task);
+        bool TryAdd(T task);
+
+        // fixme - complete the interface?
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/ILatchedBackgroundTask.cs b/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/ILatchedBackgroundTask.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0ad4d42bdf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/ILatchedBackgroundTask.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+using System;
+using System.Threading;
+
+namespace Umbraco.Web.Scheduling
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Represents a latched background task.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <remarks>Latched background tasks can suspend their execution until
+    /// a condition is met. However if the tasks runner has to terminate,
+    /// latched background tasks can be executed immediately, depending on
+    /// the value returned by RunsOnShutdown.</remarks>
+    internal interface ILatchedBackgroundTask : IBackgroundTask
+    {
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets a wait handle on the task condition.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <exception cref="InvalidOperationException">The task is not latched.</exception>
+        WaitHandle Latch { get; }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets a value indicating whether the task is latched.
+        /// </summary>
+        bool IsLatched { get; }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        ///  Gets a value indicating whether the task can be executed immediately if the task runner has to terminate.
+        /// </summary>
+        bool RunsOnShutdown { get; }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/LogScrubber.cs b/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/LogScrubber.cs
index 1c7a8f3537..c4a5ce2c00 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/LogScrubber.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/LogScrubber.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 using System;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
 using System.Web;
 using System.Web.Caching;
 using umbraco.BusinessLogic;
@@ -8,17 +9,31 @@ using Umbraco.Core.Logging;
 
 namespace Umbraco.Web.Scheduling
 {
-    internal class LogScrubber : DisposableObject, IBackgroundTask
+    internal class LogScrubber : DelayedRecurringTaskBase<LogScrubber>
     {
         private readonly ApplicationContext _appContext;
         private readonly IUmbracoSettingsSection _settings;
 
-        public LogScrubber(ApplicationContext appContext, IUmbracoSettingsSection settings)
+        public LogScrubber(IBackgroundTaskRunner<LogScrubber> runner, int delayMilliseconds, int periodMilliseconds, 
+            ApplicationContext appContext, IUmbracoSettingsSection settings)
+            : base(runner, delayMilliseconds, periodMilliseconds)
         {
             _appContext = appContext;
             _settings = settings;
         }
 
+        public LogScrubber(LogScrubber source)
+            : base(source)
+        {
+            _appContext = source._appContext;
+            _settings = source._settings;
+        }
+
+        protected override LogScrubber GetRecurring()
+        {
+            return new LogScrubber(this);
+        }
+
         private int GetLogScrubbingMaximumAge(IUmbracoSettingsSection settings)
         {
             int maximumAge = 24 * 60 * 60;
@@ -35,19 +50,42 @@ namespace Umbraco.Web.Scheduling
 
         }
 
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Handles the disposal of resources. Derived from abstract class <see cref="DisposableObject"/> which handles common required locking logic.
-        /// </summary>
-        protected override void DisposeResources()
-        {         
+        public static int GetLogScrubbingInterval(IUmbracoSettingsSection settings)
+        {
+            int interval = 24 * 60 * 60; //24 hours
+            try
+            {
+                if (settings.Logging.CleaningMiliseconds > -1)
+                    interval = settings.Logging.CleaningMiliseconds;
+            }
+            catch (Exception e)
+            {
+                LogHelper.Error<LogScrubber>("Unable to locate a log scrubbing interval.  Defaulting to 24 horus", e);
+            }
+            return interval;
         }
 
-        public void Run()
+        public override void PerformRun()
         {
             using (DisposableTimer.DebugDuration<LogScrubber>(() => "Log scrubbing executing", () => "Log scrubbing complete"))
             {
                 Log.CleanLogs(GetLogScrubbingMaximumAge(_settings));
             }           
         }
+
+        public override Task PerformRunAsync()
+        {
+            throw new NotImplementedException();
+        }
+
+        public override bool IsAsync
+        {
+            get { return false; }
+        }
+
+        public override bool RunsOnShutdown
+        {
+            get { return false; }
+        }
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/RecurringTaskBase.cs b/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/RecurringTaskBase.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d710a70e03
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/RecurringTaskBase.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+
+namespace Umbraco.Web.Scheduling
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Provides a base class for recurring background tasks.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <typeparam name="T">The type of the managed tasks.</typeparam>
+    internal abstract class RecurringTaskBase<T> : IBackgroundTask
+        where T : class, IBackgroundTask
+    {
+        private readonly IBackgroundTaskRunner<T> _runner;
+        private readonly int _periodMilliseconds;
+        private Timer _timer;
+        private T _recurrent;
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="RecurringTaskBase{T}"/> class with a tasks runner and a period.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="runner">The task runner.</param>
+        /// <param name="periodMilliseconds">The period.</param>
+        /// <remarks>The task will repeat itself periodically. Use this constructor to create a new task.</remarks>
+        protected RecurringTaskBase(IBackgroundTaskRunner<T> runner, int periodMilliseconds)
+        {
+            _runner = runner;
+            _periodMilliseconds = periodMilliseconds;
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="RecurringTaskBase{T}"/> class with a source task.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="source">The source task.</param>
+        /// <remarks>Use this constructor to create a new task from a source task in <c>GetRecurring</c>.</remarks>
+        protected RecurringTaskBase(RecurringTaskBase<T> source)
+        {
+            _runner = source._runner;
+            _timer = source._timer;
+            _periodMilliseconds = source._periodMilliseconds;
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Implements IBackgroundTask.Run().
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <remarks>Classes inheriting from <c>RecurringTaskBase</c> must implement <c>PerformRun</c>.</remarks>
+        public virtual void Run()
+        {
+            PerformRun();
+            Repeat();
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Implements IBackgroundTask.RunAsync().
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <remarks>Classes inheriting from <c>RecurringTaskBase</c> must implement <c>PerformRun</c>.</remarks>
+        public virtual async Task RunAsync(CancellationToken token)
+        {
+            await PerformRunAsync();
+            Repeat();
+        }
+
+        private void Repeat()
+        {
+            // again?
+            if (_runner.IsCompleted) return; // fail fast
+
+            if (_periodMilliseconds == 0) return;
+
+            _recurrent = GetRecurring();
+            if (_recurrent == null)
+            {
+                _timer.Dispose();
+                _timer = null;
+                return; // done
+            }
+
+            // note
+            // must use the single-parameter constructor on Timer to avoid it from being GC'd
+            // read http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4962172/why-does-a-system-timers-timer-survive-gc-but-not-system-threading-timer
+
+            _timer = _timer ?? new Timer(_ => _runner.TryAdd(_recurrent));
+            _timer.Change(_periodMilliseconds, 0);
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Indicates whether the background task can run asynchronously.
+        /// </summary>
+        public abstract bool IsAsync { get; }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Runs the background task.
+        /// </summary>
+        public abstract void PerformRun();
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Runs the task asynchronously.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <returns>A <see cref="Task"/> instance representing the execution of the background task.</returns>
+        public abstract Task PerformRunAsync();
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets a new occurence of the recurring task.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <returns>A new task instance to be queued, or <c>null</c> to terminate the recurring task.</returns>
+        /// <remarks>The new task instance must be created via the <c>RecurringTaskBase(RecurringTaskBase{T} source)</c> constructor,
+        /// where <c>source</c> is the current task, eg: <c>return new MyTask(this);</c></remarks>
+        protected abstract T GetRecurring();
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Dispose the task.
+        /// </summary>
+        public virtual void Dispose()
+        { }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/ScheduledPublishing.cs b/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/ScheduledPublishing.cs
index 8a64098764..9db21fba8a 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/ScheduledPublishing.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/ScheduledPublishing.cs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ using System;
 using System.Diagnostics;
 using System.Net;
 using System.Text;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
 using Umbraco.Core;
 using Umbraco.Core.Configuration.UmbracoSettings;
 using Umbraco.Core.Logging;
@@ -11,30 +12,41 @@ using Umbraco.Web.Mvc;
 
 namespace Umbraco.Web.Scheduling
 {
-    internal class ScheduledPublishing : DisposableObject, IBackgroundTask
+    internal class ScheduledPublishing : DelayedRecurringTaskBase<ScheduledPublishing>
     {
         private readonly ApplicationContext _appContext;
         private readonly IUmbracoSettingsSection _settings;
 
-        private static bool _isPublishingRunning = false;
+        private static bool _isPublishingRunning;
 
-        public ScheduledPublishing(ApplicationContext appContext, IUmbracoSettingsSection settings)
+        public ScheduledPublishing(IBackgroundTaskRunner<ScheduledPublishing> runner, int delayMilliseconds, int periodMilliseconds,
+            ApplicationContext appContext, IUmbracoSettingsSection settings)
+            : base(runner, delayMilliseconds, periodMilliseconds)
         {
             _appContext = appContext;
             _settings = settings;
         }
 
-
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Handles the disposal of resources. Derived from abstract class <see cref="DisposableObject"/> which handles common required locking logic.
-        /// </summary>
-        protected override void DisposeResources()
+        private ScheduledPublishing(ScheduledPublishing source)
+            : base(source)
         {
+            _appContext = source._appContext;
+            _settings = source._settings;
         }
 
-        public void Run()
+        protected override ScheduledPublishing GetRecurring()
+        {
+            return new ScheduledPublishing(this);
+        }
+
+        public override void PerformRun()
         {
             if (_appContext == null) return;
+            if (ServerEnvironmentHelper.GetStatus(_settings) == CurrentServerEnvironmentStatus.Slave)
+            {
+                LogHelper.Debug<ScheduledPublishing>("Does not run on slave servers.");
+                return;
+            }
 
             using (DisposableTimer.DebugDuration<ScheduledPublishing>(() => "Scheduled publishing executing", () => "Scheduled publishing complete"))
             {
@@ -75,5 +87,20 @@ namespace Umbraco.Web.Scheduling
                 }
             }            
         }
+
+        public override Task PerformRunAsync()
+        {
+            throw new NotImplementedException();
+        }
+
+        public override bool IsAsync
+        {
+            get { return false; }
+        }
+    
+        public override bool RunsOnShutdown
+        {
+            get { return false; }
+        }
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/ScheduledTasks.cs b/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/ScheduledTasks.cs
index 94c035631f..cba3cb4fc8 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/ScheduledTasks.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/ScheduledTasks.cs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ using System;
 using System.Collections;
 using System.Linq;
 using System.Net;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
 using System.Xml;
 using Umbraco.Core.Configuration;
 using Umbraco.Core.Configuration.UmbracoSettings;
@@ -16,19 +17,33 @@ namespace Umbraco.Web.Scheduling
     // would need to be a publicly available task (URL) which isn't really very good :(
     // We should really be using the AdminTokenAuthorizeAttribute for this stuff
 
-    internal class ScheduledTasks : DisposableObject, IBackgroundTask
+    internal class ScheduledTasks : DelayedRecurringTaskBase<ScheduledTasks>
     {
         private readonly ApplicationContext _appContext;
         private readonly IUmbracoSettingsSection _settings;
         private static readonly Hashtable ScheduledTaskTimes = new Hashtable();
         private static bool _isPublishingRunning = false;
 
-        public ScheduledTasks(ApplicationContext appContext, IUmbracoSettingsSection settings)
+        public ScheduledTasks(IBackgroundTaskRunner<ScheduledTasks> runner, int delayMilliseconds, int periodMilliseconds, 
+            ApplicationContext appContext, IUmbracoSettingsSection settings)
+            : base(runner, delayMilliseconds, periodMilliseconds)
         {
             _appContext = appContext;
             _settings = settings;
         }
 
+        public ScheduledTasks(ScheduledTasks source)
+            : base(source)
+        {
+            _appContext = source._appContext;
+            _settings = source._settings;
+        }
+
+        protected override ScheduledTasks GetRecurring()
+        {
+            return new ScheduledTasks(this);
+        }
+
         private void ProcessTasks()
         {
             var scheduledTasks = _settings.ScheduledTasks.Tasks;
@@ -77,15 +92,14 @@ namespace Umbraco.Web.Scheduling
             return false;
         }
 
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Handles the disposal of resources. Derived from abstract class <see cref="DisposableObject"/> which handles common required locking logic.
-        /// </summary>
-        protected override void DisposeResources()
+        public override void PerformRun()
         {
-        }
+            if (ServerEnvironmentHelper.GetStatus(_settings) == CurrentServerEnvironmentStatus.Slave)
+            {
+                LogHelper.Debug<ScheduledTasks>("Does not run on slave servers.");
+                return;
+            }
 
-        public void Run()
-        {
             using (DisposableTimer.DebugDuration<ScheduledTasks>(() => "Scheduled tasks executing", () => "Scheduled tasks complete"))
             {
                 if (_isPublishingRunning) return;
@@ -106,5 +120,20 @@ namespace Umbraco.Web.Scheduling
                 }
             }
         }
+
+        public override Task PerformRunAsync()
+        {
+            throw new NotImplementedException();
+        }
+
+        public override bool IsAsync
+        {
+            get { return false; }
+        }
+
+        public override bool RunsOnShutdown
+        {
+            get { return false; }
+        }
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/Scheduler.cs b/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/Scheduler.cs
index cf2b366e40..6e586efad8 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/Scheduler.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/Scheduler.cs
@@ -19,12 +19,10 @@ namespace Umbraco.Web.Scheduling
     internal sealed class Scheduler : ApplicationEventHandler
     {
         private static Timer _pingTimer;
-        private static Timer _schedulingTimer;
-        private static BackgroundTaskRunner<ScheduledPublishing> _publishingRunner;
-        private static BackgroundTaskRunner<ScheduledTasks> _tasksRunner;
-        private static BackgroundTaskRunner<LogScrubber> _scrubberRunner;
-        private static Timer _logScrubberTimer;
-        private static volatile bool _started = false;
+        private static BackgroundTaskRunner<IBackgroundTask> _publishingRunner;
+        private static BackgroundTaskRunner<IBackgroundTask> _tasksRunner;
+        private static BackgroundTaskRunner<IBackgroundTask> _scrubberRunner;
+        private static volatile bool _started;
         private static readonly object Locker = new object();
 
         protected override void ApplicationStarted(UmbracoApplicationBase umbracoApplication, ApplicationContext applicationContext)
@@ -49,97 +47,37 @@ namespace Umbraco.Web.Scheduling
                                 _started = true;
                                 LogHelper.Debug<Scheduler>(() => "Initializing the scheduler");
 
-                                // time to setup the tasks
+                                // backgrounds runners are web aware, if the app domain dies, these tasks will wind down correctly
+                                _publishingRunner = new BackgroundTaskRunner<IBackgroundTask>();
+                                _tasksRunner = new BackgroundTaskRunner<IBackgroundTask>();
+                                _scrubberRunner = new BackgroundTaskRunner<IBackgroundTask>();
 
-                                //We have 3 background runners that are web aware, if the app domain dies, these tasks will wind down correctly
-                                _publishingRunner = new BackgroundTaskRunner<ScheduledPublishing>();
-                                _tasksRunner = new BackgroundTaskRunner<ScheduledTasks>();
-                                _scrubberRunner = new BackgroundTaskRunner<LogScrubber>();
+                                var settings = UmbracoConfig.For.UmbracoSettings();
 
-                                //NOTE: It is important to note that we need to use the ctor for a timer without the 'state' object specified, this is in order 
-                                // to ensure that the timer itself is not GC'd since internally .net will pass itself in as the state object and that will keep it alive.
-                                // There's references to this here: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4962172/why-does-a-system-timers-timer-survive-gc-but-not-system-threading-timer
-                                // we also make these timers static to ensure further GC safety.
+                                // note
+                                // must use the single-parameter constructor on Timer to avoid it from being GC'd
+                                // also make the timer static to ensure further GC safety
+                                // read http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4962172/why-does-a-system-timers-timer-survive-gc-but-not-system-threading-timer
 
-                                // ping/keepalive - NOTE: we don't use a background runner for this because it does not need to be web aware, if the app domain dies, no problem
+                                // ping/keepalive - no need for a background runner - does not need to be web aware, ok if the app domain dies
                                 _pingTimer = new Timer(state => KeepAlive.Start(applicationContext, UmbracoConfig.For.UmbracoSettings()));
                                 _pingTimer.Change(60000, 300000);
 
                                 // scheduled publishing/unpublishing
-                                _schedulingTimer = new Timer(state => PerformScheduling(applicationContext, UmbracoConfig.For.UmbracoSettings()));
-                                _schedulingTimer.Change(60000, 60000);
+                                // install on all, will only run on non-slaves servers
+                                // both are delayed recurring tasks
+                                _publishingRunner.Add(new ScheduledPublishing(_publishingRunner, 60000, 60000, applicationContext, settings));
+                                _tasksRunner.Add(new ScheduledTasks(_tasksRunner, 60000, 60000, applicationContext, settings));
 
-                                //log scrubbing
-                                _logScrubberTimer = new Timer(state => PerformLogScrub(applicationContext, UmbracoConfig.For.UmbracoSettings()));
-                                _logScrubberTimer.Change(60000, GetLogScrubbingInterval(UmbracoConfig.For.UmbracoSettings()));
+                                // log scrubbing
+                                // install & run on all servers
+                                // LogScrubber is a delayed recurring task
+                                _scrubberRunner.Add(new LogScrubber(_scrubberRunner, 60000, LogScrubber.GetLogScrubbingInterval(settings), applicationContext, settings));
                             }
                         }
                     }
                 };
             };
         }
-
-
-        private int GetLogScrubbingInterval(IUmbracoSettingsSection settings)
-        {
-            int interval = 24 * 60 * 60; //24 hours
-            try
-            {
-                if (settings.Logging.CleaningMiliseconds > -1)
-                    interval = settings.Logging.CleaningMiliseconds;
-            }
-            catch (Exception e)
-            {
-                LogHelper.Error<Scheduler>("Unable to locate a log scrubbing interval.  Defaulting to 24 horus", e);
-            }
-            return interval;
-        }
-
-        private static void PerformLogScrub(ApplicationContext appContext, IUmbracoSettingsSection settings)
-        {
-            _scrubberRunner.Add(new LogScrubber(appContext, settings));
-        }
-
-        /// <summary>
-        /// This performs all of the scheduling on the one timer
-        /// </summary>
-        /// <param name="appContext"></param>
-        /// <param name="settings"></param>
-        /// <remarks>
-        /// No processing will be done if this server is a slave
-        /// </remarks>
-        private static void PerformScheduling(ApplicationContext appContext, IUmbracoSettingsSection settings)
-        {
-            using (DisposableTimer.DebugDuration<Scheduler>(() => "Scheduling interval executing", () => "Scheduling interval complete"))
-            {
-                //get the current server status to see if this server should execute the scheduled publishing
-                var serverStatus = ServerEnvironmentHelper.GetStatus(settings);
-
-                switch (serverStatus)
-                {
-                    case CurrentServerEnvironmentStatus.Single:
-                    case CurrentServerEnvironmentStatus.Master:
-                    case CurrentServerEnvironmentStatus.Unknown:
-                        //if it's a single server install, a master or it cannot be determined 
-                        // then we will process the scheduling
-                    
-                        //do the scheduled publishing
-                        _publishingRunner.Add(new ScheduledPublishing(appContext, settings));
-     
-                        //do the scheduled tasks
-                        _tasksRunner.Add(new ScheduledTasks(appContext, settings));
-                        
-                        break;
-                    case CurrentServerEnvironmentStatus.Slave:                
-                        //do not process
-                        
-                        LogHelper.Debug<Scheduler>(
-                            () => string.Format("Current server ({0}) detected as a slave, no scheduled processes will execute on this server", NetworkHelper.MachineName));
-
-                        break;
-                }            
-            }            
-        }
-        
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/TaskAndFactoryExtensions.cs b/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/TaskAndFactoryExtensions.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a57ea904b0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/TaskAndFactoryExtensions.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+using System;
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+
+namespace Umbraco.Web.Scheduling
+{
+    internal static class TaskAndFactoryExtensions
+    {
+        #region Task Extensions
+
+        static void SetCompletionSource<TResult>(TaskCompletionSource<TResult> completionSource, Task task)
+        {
+            if (task.IsFaulted)
+                completionSource.SetException(task.Exception.InnerException);
+            else
+                completionSource.SetResult(default(TResult));
+        }
+
+        static void SetCompletionSource<TResult>(TaskCompletionSource<TResult> completionSource, Task<TResult> task)
+        {
+            if (task.IsFaulted)
+                completionSource.SetException(task.Exception.InnerException);
+            else
+                completionSource.SetResult(task.Result);
+        }
+
+        public static Task ContinueWithTask(this Task task, Func<Task, Task> continuation)
+        {
+            var completionSource = new TaskCompletionSource<object>();
+            task.ContinueWith(atask => continuation(atask).ContinueWith(atask2 => SetCompletionSource(completionSource, atask2)));
+            return completionSource.Task;
+        }
+
+        public static Task ContinueWithTask(this Task task, Func<Task, Task> continuation, CancellationToken token)
+        {
+            var completionSource = new TaskCompletionSource<object>();
+            task.ContinueWith(atask => continuation(atask).ContinueWith(atask2 => SetCompletionSource(completionSource, atask2), token), token);
+            return completionSource.Task;
+        }
+
+        #endregion
+
+        #region TaskFactory Extensions
+
+        public static Task Completed(this TaskFactory factory)
+        {
+            var taskSource = new TaskCompletionSource<object>();
+            taskSource.SetResult(null);
+            return taskSource.Task;
+        }
+
+        public static Task Sync(this TaskFactory factory, Action action)
+        {
+            var taskSource = new TaskCompletionSource<object>();
+            action();
+            taskSource.SetResult(null);
+            return taskSource.Task;
+        }
+
+        #endregion
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web/Umbraco.Web.csproj b/src/Umbraco.Web/Umbraco.Web.csproj
index e0a3a1fb9f..92eb13bd86 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Web/Umbraco.Web.csproj
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web/Umbraco.Web.csproj
@@ -506,6 +506,12 @@
     <Compile Include="Mvc\UmbracoVirtualNodeRouteHandler.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Routing\CustomRouteUrlProvider.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Routing\UrlProviderExtensions.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Scheduling\BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Scheduling\DelayedRecurringTaskBase.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Scheduling\IBackgroundTaskRunner.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Scheduling\ILatchedBackgroundTask.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Scheduling\RecurringTaskBase.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Scheduling\TaskAndFactoryExtensions.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Strategies\Migrations\ClearCsrfCookiesAfterUpgrade.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Strategies\Migrations\ClearMediaXmlCacheForDeletedItemsAfterUpgrade.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Strategies\Migrations\EnsureListViewDataTypeIsCreated.cs" />
@@ -555,6 +561,7 @@
       <SubType>ASPXCodeBehind</SubType>
     </Compile>
     <Compile Include="umbraco.presentation\umbraco\Trees\loadPackager.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="PublishedCache\XmlPublishedCache\XmlCacheFilePersister.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Web References\org.umbraco.our\Reference.cs">
       <AutoGen>True</AutoGen>
       <DesignTime>True</DesignTime>
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web/UmbracoModule.cs b/src/Umbraco.Web/UmbracoModule.cs
index 633df5c6d5..f2d216f2fd 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Web/UmbracoModule.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web/UmbracoModule.cs
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ using System.IO;
 using System.Linq;
 using System.Security.Principal;
 using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
 using System.Web;
 using System.Web.Mvc;
 using System.Web.Routing;
@@ -529,24 +530,8 @@ namespace Umbraco.Web
             urlRouting.PostResolveRequestCache(context);
         }
 
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Checks if the xml cache file needs to be updated/persisted
-        /// </summary>
-        /// <param name="httpContext"></param>
-        /// <remarks>
-        /// TODO: This needs an overhaul, see the error report created here:
-        ///   https://docs.google.com/document/d/1neGE3q3grB4lVJfgID1keWY2v9JYqf-pw75sxUUJiyo/edit		
-        /// </remarks>
-        static void PersistXmlCache(HttpContextBase httpContext)
-        {
-            if (content.Instance.IsXmlQueuedForPersistenceToFile)
-            {
-                content.Instance.RemoveXmlFilePersistenceQueue();
-                content.Instance.PersistXmlToFile();
-            }
-        }
-
-        /// <summary>
+       
+	    /// <summary>
         /// Any object that is in the HttpContext.Items collection that is IDisposable will get disposed on the end of the request
         /// </summary>
         /// <param name="http"></param>
@@ -613,13 +598,6 @@ namespace Umbraco.Web
 					ProcessRequest(new HttpContextWrapper(httpContext));
 				};
 
-			// used to check if the xml cache file needs to be updated/persisted
-			app.PostRequestHandlerExecute += (sender, e) =>
-				{
-					var httpContext = ((HttpApplication)sender).Context;
-					PersistXmlCache(new HttpContextWrapper(httpContext));
-				};
-
 			app.EndRequest += (sender, args) =>
 				{
 					var httpContext = ((HttpApplication)sender).Context;					
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web/umbraco.presentation/content.cs b/src/Umbraco.Web/umbraco.presentation/content.cs
index e2773a7112..e526e2e446 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Web/umbraco.presentation/content.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web/umbraco.presentation/content.cs
@@ -1,33 +1,28 @@
 using System;
-using System.Collections;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Diagnostics;
 using System.Globalization;
 using System.IO;
-using System.Linq;
 using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
 using System.Web;
 using System.Xml;
-using System.Xml.XPath;
-using umbraco.cms.presentation;
 using Umbraco.Core;
 using Umbraco.Core.Cache;
 using Umbraco.Core.Configuration;
 using Umbraco.Core.IO;
 using Umbraco.Core.Logging;
 using umbraco.BusinessLogic;
-using umbraco.BusinessLogic.Actions;
-using umbraco.BusinessLogic.Utils;
 using umbraco.cms.businesslogic;
-using umbraco.cms.businesslogic.cache;
 using umbraco.cms.businesslogic.web;
 using Umbraco.Core.Models;
+using Umbraco.Core.Profiling;
 using umbraco.DataLayer;
 using umbraco.presentation.nodeFactory;
 using Umbraco.Web;
-using Action = umbraco.BusinessLogic.Actions.Action;
+using Umbraco.Web.PublishedCache.XmlPublishedCache;
+using Umbraco.Web.Scheduling;
 using Node = umbraco.NodeFactory.Node;
-using Umbraco.Core;
 using File = System.IO.File;
 
 namespace umbraco
@@ -37,6 +32,18 @@ namespace umbraco
     /// </summary>
     public class content
     {
+        private static readonly BackgroundTaskRunner<XmlCacheFilePersister> FilePersister
+            = new BackgroundTaskRunner<XmlCacheFilePersister>(new BackgroundTaskRunnerOptions { LongRunning = true });
+
+        private XmlCacheFilePersister _persisterTask;
+
+        private content()
+        {
+            _persisterTask = new XmlCacheFilePersister(FilePersister, this, UmbracoXmlDiskCacheFileName,
+                new ProfilingLogger(LoggerResolver.Current.Logger, ProfilerResolver.Current.Profiler));
+            FilePersister.Add(_persisterTask);
+        }
+
         #region Declarations
 
         // Sync access to disk file
@@ -75,7 +82,6 @@ namespace umbraco
 
         #endregion
 
-
         #region Singleton
 
         private static readonly Lazy<content> LazyInstance = new Lazy<content>(() => new content());
@@ -134,7 +140,7 @@ namespace umbraco
         /// <remarks>
         /// Before returning we always check to ensure that the xml is loaded
         /// </remarks>
-        protected virtual XmlDocument XmlContentInternal
+        protected internal virtual XmlDocument XmlContentInternal
         {
             get
             {
@@ -320,8 +326,7 @@ namespace umbraco
                 // and clear the queue in case is this a web request, we don't want it reprocessing.
                 if (UmbracoConfig.For.UmbracoSettings().Content.XmlCacheEnabled && UmbracoConfig.For.UmbracoSettings().Content.ContinouslyUpdateXmlDiskCache)
                 {
-                    RemoveXmlFilePersistenceQueue();
-                    PersistXmlToFile(xmlDoc);
+                    QueueXmlForPersistence();
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -929,54 +934,6 @@ namespace umbraco
 
         #region Protected & Private methods
 
-        internal const string PersistenceFlagContextKey = "vnc38ykjnkjdnk2jt98ygkxjng";
-
-		/// <summary>
-		/// Removes the flag that queues the file for persistence
-		/// </summary>
-		internal void RemoveXmlFilePersistenceQueue()
-		{
-		    if (UmbracoContext.Current != null && UmbracoContext.Current.HttpContext != null)
-		    {
-                UmbracoContext.Current.HttpContext.Application.Lock();
-                UmbracoContext.Current.HttpContext.Application[PersistenceFlagContextKey] = null;
-                UmbracoContext.Current.HttpContext.Application.UnLock();   
-		    }			
-		}
-
-        internal bool IsXmlQueuedForPersistenceToFile
-        {
-            get
-            {
-                if (UmbracoContext.Current != null && UmbracoContext.Current.HttpContext != null)
-                {
-                    bool val = UmbracoContext.Current.HttpContext.Application[PersistenceFlagContextKey] != null;
-                    if (val)
-                    {
-                        DateTime persistenceTime = DateTime.MinValue;
-                        try
-                        {
-                            persistenceTime = (DateTime)UmbracoContext.Current.HttpContext.Application[PersistenceFlagContextKey];
-                            if (persistenceTime > GetCacheFileUpdateTime())
-                            {
-                                return true;
-                            }
-                            else
-                            {
-                                RemoveXmlFilePersistenceQueue();
-                            }
-                        }
-                        catch (Exception ex)
-                        {
-                            // Nothing to catch here - we'll just persist
-                            LogHelper.Error<content>("An error occurred checking if xml file is queued for persistence", ex);
-                        }
-                    }
-                }
-                return false;
-            }
-        }
-
         /// <summary>
         /// Invalidates the disk content cache file. Effectively just deletes it.
         /// </summary>
@@ -1248,51 +1205,26 @@ order by umbracoNode.level, umbracoNode.sortOrder";
             }
         }
 
+        [Obsolete("This method should not be used, xml file persistence is done in a queue using a BackgroundTaskRunner")]
         public void PersistXmlToFile()
-        {
-            PersistXmlToFile(_xmlContent);
-        }
-
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Persist a XmlDocument to the Disk Cache
-        /// </summary>
-        /// <param name="xmlDoc"></param>
-        internal void PersistXmlToFile(XmlDocument xmlDoc)
         {
             lock (ReaderWriterSyncLock)
             {
-                if (xmlDoc != null)
-                {
-                    LogHelper.Debug<content>("Saving content to disk on thread '{0}' (Threadpool? {1})",
-                        () => Thread.CurrentThread.Name,
-                        () => Thread.CurrentThread.IsThreadPoolThread);
-                    
+                if (_xmlContent != null)
+                {                    
                     try
                     {
-                        Stopwatch stopWatch = Stopwatch.StartNew();
+                        // create directory for cache path if it doesn't yet exist
+                        var directoryName = Path.GetDirectoryName(UmbracoXmlDiskCacheFileName);
+                        Directory.CreateDirectory(directoryName);
 
-                        DeleteXmlCache();
-
-                        // Try to create directory for cache path if it doesn't yet exist
-                        string directoryName = Path.GetDirectoryName(UmbracoXmlDiskCacheFileName);
-                        if (!File.Exists(UmbracoXmlDiskCacheFileName) && !Directory.Exists(directoryName))
-                        {
-                            // We're already in a try-catch and saving will fail if this does, so don't need another
-                            Directory.CreateDirectory(directoryName);
-                        }
-
-                        xmlDoc.Save(UmbracoXmlDiskCacheFileName);
-                        
-                        LogHelper.Debug<content>("Saved content on thread '{0}' in {1} (Threadpool? {2})",
-                            () => Thread.CurrentThread.Name,
-                            () => stopWatch.Elapsed,
-                            () => Thread.CurrentThread.IsThreadPoolThread);
+                        _xmlContent.Save(UmbracoXmlDiskCacheFileName);
                     }
                     catch (Exception ee)
                     {
                         // If for whatever reason something goes wrong here, invalidate disk cache
                         DeleteXmlCache();
-                        
+
                         LogHelper.Error<content>(string.Format(
                             "Error saving content on thread '{0}' due to '{1}' (Threadpool? {2})",
                             Thread.CurrentThread.Name, ee.Message, Thread.CurrentThread.IsThreadPoolThread), ee);
@@ -1302,48 +1234,17 @@ order by umbracoNode.level, umbracoNode.sortOrder";
         }
 
         /// <summary>
-        /// Marks a flag in the HttpContext so that, upon page execution completion, the Xml cache will
-        /// get persisted to disk. Ensure this method is only called from a thread executing a page request
-        /// since UmbracoModule is the only monitor of this flag and is responsible
-        /// for enacting the persistence at the PostRequestHandlerExecute stage of the page lifecycle.
+        /// Adds a task to the xml cache file persister
         /// </summary>
         private void QueueXmlForPersistence()
         {
-            //if this is called outside a web request we cannot queue it it will run in the current thread.
-            
-            if (UmbracoContext.Current != null && UmbracoContext.Current.HttpContext != null)
-            {
-                UmbracoContext.Current.HttpContext.Application.Lock();
-                try
-                {
-                    if (UmbracoContext.Current.HttpContext.Application[PersistenceFlagContextKey] != null)
-                    {
-                        UmbracoContext.Current.HttpContext.Application.Add(PersistenceFlagContextKey, null);
-                    }
-                    UmbracoContext.Current.HttpContext.Application[PersistenceFlagContextKey] = DateTime.UtcNow;
-                }
-                finally
-                {
-                    UmbracoContext.Current.HttpContext.Application.UnLock();    
-                }
-            }          
-            else
-            {
-                // Save copy of content
-                if (UmbracoSettings.CloneXmlCacheOnPublish)
-                {
-                    XmlDocument xmlContentCopy = CloneXmlDoc(_xmlContent);
-                    PersistXmlToFile(xmlContentCopy);
-                }
-                else
-                {
-                    PersistXmlToFile();
-                }
-            }    
+            _persisterTask = _persisterTask.Touch();
         }
 
         internal DateTime GetCacheFileUpdateTime()
         {
+            //TODO: Should there be a try/catch here in case the file is being written to while this is trying to be executed?
+
             if (File.Exists(UmbracoXmlDiskCacheFileName))
             {
                 return new FileInfo(UmbracoXmlDiskCacheFileName).LastWriteTimeUtc;
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web/umbraco.presentation/requestModule.cs b/src/Umbraco.Web/umbraco.presentation/requestModule.cs
index 6be1737545..9e2eeff4e6 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Web/umbraco.presentation/requestModule.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web/umbraco.presentation/requestModule.cs
@@ -317,10 +317,10 @@ namespace umbraco.presentation
 
 		void context_PostRequestHandlerExecute(object sender, EventArgs e)
 		{
-			if (content.Instance.IsXmlQueuedForPersistenceToFile)
-			{
-				content.Instance.PersistXmlToFile();
-			}
+            //if (content.Instance.IsXmlQueuedForPersistenceToFile)
+            //{
+            //    content.Instance.PersistXmlToFile();
+            //}
 		}