Recent content by spande

I asked the Val tech people the following question via email: "I recently purchased Maxlife Syn 5W-30. Some bottles indicate SL in the API donut, but state in the text of the label Exceeds SM/SL. The other bottles (I assume newer) indicates SM in the API donut. Is this the same oil with a new...

TallPall, I also understand the maxlife to be the better of the two, and in general to be a very good oil. Will likely do a UOA on the next run to see how it performs.

I recently picked up some Maxlife Syn 5/30. 3 bottles were the older designation of SL in the donut, while 2 bottles had the SM/CF designation. The older bottles w/ the SL designation did indicate it execeeds SM and was GF-4, just not in the donut. Actually, I was a bit confused about this a...

Thanks Critic. You are not the first person to suggest not fooling around with cooler lines. I am thinking of doing it in steps like you suggest, but am still concerned about the degree of difficulty in pan removal and possible screen removal. Maybe I am just getting spooked about possibly...

I am getting ready to do a transmission drain and fill after having finished my 1000 mile run of Auto-RX. I am planning to also drop the pan and replace the pick up screen/filter and also flush through the cooling lines. Plan on using Castol Dex III (H) I was hoping someone might be able to...

thanks for all the advice. ordered the ARX a few days ago, will look forward to see how the pan looks after 1000 miles on the ARX.

ConfederateTyrant and The Critic - thanks for your responses. Critic - I will drop the pan, which does have a drain plug, so things should go a little less messy. My initial thought was doing what you recommended, but was planning to switch to a syntehtic type fluid. So I was worried I would...

I would like to run a cycle of Auto-RX in my transmission and then have it flushed and refilled (T-Tec, etc.?). I have a few questions: My main question would be how well would they flucs out the old fluid that contains the ARX? My concern is getting out all of the ARX. Another question is are...

thanks for the replies. I did take a look again at the bottles, and I now see where the SM rating is not the circle, but it is listed along with the others in the text. Sorry if I am changing the subject, but speaking of energy conserving oils, my current oil is GC gold which I used after the...

I bought some Valvoline Maxlife Synthetic (5-30 weight) because of the rebate. The quart bottles indicate an SL rating. Is this correct, or is it possible the bottles are older, I thought it might be an SM oil. Was going to uses Mobil 1 5-30 (extended w/more SS), but it seems like this oil is...

Bror Jace - your description was good in that it will ultimately squish off. That is why the Ariens tech suggested adding a little L2 to sort of make it more fluid. Problem I have with going to all L2 is the gear case does not have a gasket meant to contain a more fluid type lubricant. I did ask...

For what it is worth - I have an older Ariens machine (1998/99 - 8 hp w/ differential). It uses a more grease like lubricant for the gearcase. I found this out when I purchsed the L2 Ariens gearlube and noticed it had the normal gear oil consistency when compared to what I found in the gear box...

Thanks evryone, for the replies. I will drive quite a few miles next week and should be finished with the RX rinse. Will put in the GC. I may even run the GC in my snowthrower this year, it has been good to me, maybe it deserves the good stuff!

I am not necessarily looking to extend OCI's, although I would push out changing to around 6-7k using either oil, and that is a plus. The real reason I am interested in the GC or Mobil 1 was because they may offer better overall protection and run cleaner. Plus I like the idea of a slightly...

I have a 2001 Nissan Pathfinder, purchased new. It has 58k miles, and I am approaching the end of the Auto RX rinse phase. The car does not burn any oil and runs very well. I really did the Auto-RX as a preventative measure. Now I want to know which oil to use. As for the engine, it is the VQ...