2003 Chevy Astro Van

[tbmmbt]

I have bought an 03 Astro Cargo van for work with 145500 miles on the 4.3 v-6. I don't know what oil was used in it but I need to know what oil should be put into it. The oil was really black when I changed it and I put in 5w30 Havoline dino. I am thinking of running the new oil in it until 147000 and then changing it to see if the package might have done some interior cleaning after the first 1500 miles. I have checked the oil level about 10 times in the 2 weeks that I have owned the van and the oil level hasn't changed. I have put around 600 miles on the new oil change. I have used Havoline for years without any motor related problems but thought the engine might need a cleaning but not sure what oil would do a good cleaning on it. Any suggestions would help.

Thanks

 

[Not the Autorx Frank]

I'd do an arx double whammy and then go with a chevron 10/30 then adjust weight based on consumption.

 

[tbmmbt]

Hello,

What is an arx double whammy??? And what if there isn't any oil consumption. Should I then stay with the recommended 5w30 weight until there is some using of oil then go to a 10w30?

Thanks

 

[Volvohead]

ARX is short for Auto RX, a popular and effective engine cleanser around here. For your mileage, you should run two treatments.

 

[tbmmbt]

Do you know what is the proper way to run two treatments? What will the the treatments do to the engine and then what about the oil to use? Should the 5w30 Havoline be a good oil for that application? Alot of questions but I want whats best in the long run.

Thanks

 

[Volvohead]

Run a search on ARX in the additive section, and you'll have a week's worth of reading.

ARX will thoroughly clean the crankcase of all deposits, remove any sludge, and clean out the ring packs. It can stop seal leaks and significantly improve mileage and power.

I would definitely invest in two ARX treatments if you plan to keep the vehicle for the long haul.

 

[tbmmbt]

I was doing a search about auto-rx and found some interesting reading. It looks like since I have just changed my oil I would beable to add it now and drive for 1500 miles and then change the oil and do a rinse phase for 2000 miles. After that, change the oil again and then add 10 more ounces of arx and run that for 1500 miles and then do another rinse phase for 2000 miles then I would change the oil and begin my normal oci. Does all this sound right or have I missed something?

Thanks

 

[tbmmbt]

Where would be the best place to purchase Auto-RX? Is it in a store or do you have to order it from somewhere? Don't really know.

Thanks

 

[racer12306]

5w30 will be fine. but if you start to get consumption you may want to go thicker. any of the 5w30 conventionals will suit you engine fine. we ran 5w30 in our 3.0l acclaim for 189000 miles and it only used a half qt between oil changes and the engine ran great.

www.auto-rx.com is the website for auto-rx. on the website is a complete set of instructions so you can see what you are getting into with it. auto-rx may not be needed but it will clean the engine out good.

 

[JohnnyO]

I have an old ex-phone co. Astro too, less miles over time than yours though. 1987 with 136,000 on it. Still runs like a top. Havoline would be fine, I've used it. My system now is using Valvoline MaxLife 10w30 most of the year with one change of DuraBlend 10w30 for the winter. If I use 5w I get smoke out the tailpipe on startup and it uses more oil. I use a 3k OCI, but that's still only two or three oil changes a year at most. NAPA Gold filter. The engine is noticeably quieter on Max Life.
I did do a double-dose of ARX two years ago. I used Havoline for the whole thing but whatever conventional oil is cheap and on sale is fine.
1. Change oil and filter unless it's pretty fresh, add a bottle of ARX.
2. Drive 1500 miles.
3. Change oil and filter, no ARX, drive 1500 miles for the "rinse cycle".
4. Change oil and filter, this is when the crud really comes out, add ARX.
5. Drive 1500 miles.
6. Change oil and filter for second rinse, no ARX, drive 1500 miles.
7. Change oil and filter again, and you're done.

So basically a double treatment takes 6000 miles.