ARX and Mobile clean 5k

[inacoma]

Long time lurker...first time poster

Here are some basics, then the question later down the post :

engine: 4.5 liter inline 6, 96 toyota landcruiser, 194,000 on the clock. Mid grade octane (increased the stock timing). Compression numbers (as of day before yesterday, all within spec!)

oil changes up to 163k (unknown, but routinely done based on prior owner paperwork)

oil changes since 163k (under my ownership...Amsoil series 2k 0w30 and then started using amsoil 5w30 7500. Last two changes were Schaeffers 5w30 with moly EP (yeah, I know not needed but figured the extra add couldn't hurt)...I LOVE the shaeffers and moly ep, especially at the price point. Always use Amsoil oil filters.

fuel treatment (since 163k) about 2 gallons of Amsoil PI, about 2 gallons of Shaeffers fuel treatment, and now a few tanks of FC (d@mn I love this stuff..my new fuel treatment of choice!).

Last oil change...150 miles ago...150 miles of 70mph driving. Oil change was mobile 5000 10w30 (cheapest on short notice) and ARX 16 oz. my crankcase with filter holds 8 quarts.

I just went out today to check my oil level after the long drive last nite...it was perfect (expected), but I did notice something different...oil was a bit more "gooey" this go around. It had some "tack" to it, and where normally I would get a reading on the dip stick within the normal "reading" range, I had oil crawling up the dipstick tube each time I cleaned it off and re-did the check...that's some really good (is it good?) tack. Normally I can clean the dipstick once and after that it will only get oil on the fill line, and the rest of the dipstick would remain "clean".

Anyways...is this tacky oil something the ARX does?..does it mean it's "working"?

I plan on doing two flush cycles then use LC to maintain.

btw, my rig has 37" tires and a bunch of other goodies, I keep very maticulus gas receipts..and I was astonished at getting 16mpg!!!! I normally get 14 or so on the highway...nice!

oh, one more question...I read here, but would like some confirmation...that mixing LC with ARX is a BAD thing...something about turning into black sludge?

later and look forward to the responses!

K

 

[UncleS2]

I dunno about turning to bad stuff, but resist the temptation to "help" the Auto-Rx by adding some LC. Just follow the directions for ARX, run the full 1500 miles. Then resist again on the rinse phase.

Tack? I dunno, have ARX & Formula Shell 5w30 in my car for ~1250 miles now & haven't noticed that. But I always check my oil cold after the car has sat overnight- partly because that's how I was taught many years ago, partly because when removed the dipstick pulls oil up into the tube & sometimes makes an accurate "wipe off & insert" reading difficult when warm. Maybe it's the Mobil 5000 or the combination of that oil & the ARX?

 

[inacoma]

quote:

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Originally posted by inacoma:


btw, my rig has 37" tires and a bunch of other goodies, I keep very maticulus gas receipts..and I was astonished at getting 16mpg!!!! I normally get 14 or so on the highway...nice!

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ok, so I just drove back home...another 150 miles or so. I used FC in both tanks (There, then back)...and I got 16mpg there (no tail wind) and ot 13.5 on the way back.

I did ONE thing differently...I had reset the ECU before I left on the first leg of the trip. Maybe it decided it needed to dump more fuel into the mixture after getting some "driving time".

OH, I did notice that when I took my other vehicle (also no FC, no autorx), a 99 tacoma 4x4, I got great mileage on the first leg of same trip above and worse on the way back...but not by that much as today.

Maybe gas? used the same fill up stations for both trucks on each trip. on the way there was mid grade Quick Trip. On the return trip it was mid grade Phillips 66. hmmm time to search gas types and grades

k

 

[Volvohead]

Mobil Clean 5000 works fine with ARX. I've used that combination on several occasions with very good results.

You have to expect that the oil is going to get dirty when running an ARX cycle. That's its function. You may just have a very dirty crankcase and it's loading up the oil. If you feel that there is a great deal of dirt being dislodged, you may want to consider a mid-phase filter change to avoid a clogged media.

You may also want to limit the fuel adds during the treatment, as some may leave deposits in the oil. The oil and ARX already have enough to do and you don't want too many chemicals interacting during a cycle.

 

[inacoma]

i did the blotter test and the oil is actually still in good shape. it was a cool morninger (50 degrees f) so I think that's what made it gooey...it's 10w30, the truck normally gets 5w30 (or 0w30). However, after I warmed the truck up...the dipstick showed as it nomrmally did and the oil was no longer as "tacky". but yeah, I hope the ARX is doing it's job. The amsoil filter i'm using is an sdf15...it's HUGE...so hopefully it's doing it's job.

thanks!

K