8000 miles into auto-rx engine clean cycle.

[oilboy123]

I am doing an experiment of running close to a clean dose for my carbon monster Taurus Vulcan.
This is a maintenance dose (9oz) because the regular maintenance dose was not cutting it.

It seems to be helping to keep the carbon at bay. When I first ran it the pinging stopped completely. This was a normal treatment.
But when I did maintenance doses the pinging would always come back.

So I have reduced myself to drastic measures. I have not decided how long I will run the Amsoil ASL EA/oil filter. The oil appears dirtier than usual. This makes sense, Duh....maybe an UOA would be fun to

 

[Tim]

9oz for a maintenance dose? Wow...that'll get expensive.

 

[oilboy123]

Yes but pinging is not something that is cheap to deal with.
Can you say holes in pistons? Although it does have 108k miles.

Maybe I should just let the engine blow up from the pinging. I at least would know the limit of what is too much pinging by then.

Running Amsoil and an EA oil filter is'nt like running a Fram and Havoline either, money wise.

 

[dave1251]

Is the carbon build up in the combustion chamber?

 

[falconman]

I can't see how an oil additive would have any effect on pinging. Pinging is from carbon buildup in the combustion chamber, not the engine's internal lubricated parts. Your engine might have another problem which is causing the pinging.

 

[jonny-b]

falconman. When you use Auto-rx, it keeps the pistonrings clean. This again leads to higher compression, since the ringpack seals better against the cylinderwall. The higher compression leads to better combustion. The improved combustion leads to less carbon build-up. This will have an affect on pinging, I guess.

 

[Trav]

The only way this could work is if the engine were burning so much oil the mixture was being burned with the fuel.This is the opposite of "better sealing".IMHO The more miracles cure all claims are made make this product appear more like a snake oil.It works well as a metal cleaner.That can also have additional benefits like reduced blow by better ring seal etc,but its not going to cure issues that it has no direct contact with,i.e. broken tail lights,wonky speedometers,bad ball joints,pinging,etc.It will not repair a dished lifter,bad cam lobe,worn out bearings,piston with worn skirts,or bad cylinders etc.It will remove varnish or crud keeping a lifter from expanding and clean piston rings and grooves,remove general deposits from internal parts.This engine has issues,either low octane fuel,advanced ign timing,carbon build up,a faulty knock sensor not retarding the spark when pinging occurs or a host of other things.it needs correct diagnosis before it can be addressed properly.

 

[xsports33]

If you're having build up in the combustion chamber why not run some seafoam through a vaccuum line.

 

[Drew99GT]

Auto-RX stopped the pinging in my Dad's 200,000 mile 4.3L Chevy Blazer. I was amazed and shocked.

 

[Trav]

Maybe someone has an explanation for this,or how a cleaning agent in the oil is preventing detonation.None of the mechanics i work with have one.

 

[miked2]

Dumb Question. Have you ever had a major tune up? Plugs, wires, filters, etc. Way back when, you could actually adjust the timing. If it was to far advanced, it could cause pinging. Does a higher octane fuel reduce the pinging?

 

[oilboy123]

I brought the car into the dealer with 35,900 miles for the rough idle complaint (4th dealer) Of course they could not find the cause. They did a re-program of the PCM.
One week later is started to ping on level ground pulling out of the gas station after filling up in the city. I thought bad gas? OK Run through the tank and things will go back to normal, they never did.

I had the dealer do 2 decarbons they used water and swear by it. I did 4-5 myself, some with water and some with Ford Decarbon in a can. I also tried Seafoam. I have replaced the spark plugs twice Motorcraft full platinum in now. I replaced the plug wires about 8 mths ago.

I have also replaced the DPFE sensor and cleaned the EGR system from top to bottom. I even had the PCM programmed again. I also replaced the PCM with an exact replacement refurb from a company out of motor magazine. They let met return it with a $50 service fee.

I have never had a code ever come up on the engine.
I have had a problem with the engine on start up that used to happen very seldom but is happening more frequently now. This was not a problem when the ping nightmare started.
When I start the engine (warm re-start) it starts stumbling and can die out completely. This will happen instead of just revving to 1400 rpm then settle to an idle, like normal.

I wonder if maybe the Idle air control valve is maybe going bad. I have done a lot of things and nothing has helped a lot or come close to solving the ping problem. It defies explanation. I think the Program went bad and maybe put the engine closer to the edge of pinging then what it was originally set at in the PCM.

I went to Alaska fishing for the summer about three years ago. When I came back at summers end my Daughter had been driving my car with the auto-rx in the engine. I believe it was still the cleaning part. I was very happy when I discovered the pinging was completely gone!
Go figuire!

 

[oilboy123]

I should clarify. It does ping right now but not badly. So it is helping, in the capacity in which I am using it now.

I also am a stickler for maintenance in general all filters included.

 

[oilboy123]

Sorry for the triple post but......
I have used 1/2 qt ASL 5-30 in 8,000 plus miles. The oil does appear a little bit dirtier than when I have run it before at this interval, but this was using an SDF instead of an EA oil filter.

 

[Rick20]

Running this 9 oz level likely is keeping contaminants in suspension. There is only one logical thing to do at this point. Spend more time fishing, and give your daughter the keys.

 

[Alowishus]

My understanding of octane relating to higher ping is that higher octane fuel requires a higher energy to ignite. This means the chance of predotonation (pinging) is reduced. A clogged or malfunctioning EGR can also cause pinging (if your car is equipped with one) since the EGR reduces chamber temperatures thus reducing the chances of predetonation. I'll hold my tongue about a "cleaner" reducing ping since that will prob cause this account to be closed too.

 

[bmwtechguy]

Excessive pinging can also be traced to higher than normal air inlet temps, such as a hot exhaust manifold air inlet valve stuck open (normally open only during cold startup and initial warm up.) Another item that could cause pinging would be an air-fuel mixture that is too lean due to a sensor that is giving a faulty signal to the ECM... Many times the deviant signal is not off far enough to turn on the service engine light, but can make the engine ping excessively. For example, a dirty MAF sensor can cause ECU to run a leaner mixture, causing a power loss and pinging.

 

[bmwtechguy]

After re-reading your post, I say take the MAF meter out and look at the wire to see if you have some dirt build-up on it. This will insulate the wire from the air rushing by, causing the ECU to receive a signal based on less air going into the engine. The ECU will then reduce injector dwell (less fuel) and you have lean mixture/pinging/reduced power. I've seen it too many times, and it baffles a lot of techs who like to change parts.

 

[oilyriser]

Oil has low octane rating. Did the treatment significantly reduce oil consumption?

 

[oilboy123]

I like the fishing idea, but is was commercial salmon fishing. Not lots of relaxing in that.

I think that the reprogram might be responsible for the problem. It started suddenly a week after the reprogramming gassing up the car. One minute no ping problem the next left the station and pinging started?

I have cleaned the MAF a few times no difference. I do have a scanner/sensor reader, I just don’t have the info/knowledge to chase down the culprit.