ARX and overheating

[VWFox74]

ARX and overheating

I am about 1,000 miles into my rinse phase of an ARX treatment on a 1997 Saturn SC2 with 150K. There was never any problems with the vehicle except some oil burning, (1-2 qts every 3k). Oil changes were done between 3-4k using mobil 1 5W-30 since the 50k point. I switched over to Dyno for the ARX treatment.

Well anyway my radiator blew this week 1k into the rinse phase. My wife was able to get the car pulled over before any engine damage occurred, but the temp gauge was pinned for abot 10 minutes.

The question is, should I continue the rinse phase Or should I start all over. The oil is still honey colored, and I have not noticed any oil being consumed. Does high heat (overheating) do something bad with the ARX?

 

[Shaman]

Speaking anecdotally, ARX is supposed to be activated by heat. I think it was a good thing that you had the ARX in there. Whatever got cooked should be getting cleaned. I would suggest waiting for Frank to see what he says.

 

[Pablo]

I would start over. Just my nature, not necessarily scientific - but that oil probably got pretty hot!

So no other damage?

You may just end up with a cleaner engine....I hope nothing else went.

 

[VWFox74]

The check engine light came on, and the care seems to be misfiring. But this is probably the spark plugs... for some reason I seem to go through an inordinate amount of plugs on this vehicle. Every time the check engine light comes on, it turns out to be the plugs.

But it doesn't appear to be damaged, other then the engine coated in antifreeze. My wife was able to get the car pulled over pretty quickly. I haven't done any compression checks, but it seemed to run fine yesterday, and I took it all the way up to 90mph with no problems.

 

[Frank]

Auto-Rx would have distributed this high heat evenly throughout the oil (carrier) continue the rinse phase.You did not damage anything in this short time span.

When you use Auto-Rx to clean and a oil say like Amsoil you have effectively extended the mean time before oil lubricated parts failure. How because after cleaning oil can lubricate every nook&cranny
in your engine, you have no non lubricated areas because of dirt,etc.

 

[Big O Dave]

During my ARX clean phase in my '83 F250, I had the thermostat stick in the closed position and a pretty good overheat ensued. I just replaced the t-stat and went on with my ARX clean phase (w/o changing the oil) and all was fine, and still is.

Of course, different engine and different oil (I had Rotella 5W-40 in my engine). I'm now onto my first rinse phase and everything is going well.

I'm glad I had the ARX in there when the overheat occurred, because its ester-based formulation works as an EP, in addition to cleaning the engine.

 

[VWFox74]

Frank,

Thanks for the info. I'll leave the ARX in, and change the car back to a synthetic on the next oil change.

I was extremely skeptical about this product when I first start reading about it. But after all the glowing reviews, I figured I'll give it a try. I've used it in the aforementioned Saturn SC2 with what appears to be succes. I never measured the oil consumption in my saturn before I used ARX, but I do know there was a measurable difference in 1k. Thus far 1k into the rinse phase, there has been no oil burning that I can detect. This is a car that was burning oil at 30k.

I am going to ARX a 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan next. It has a valve tap, which apparently these 3.8 liter engines are notorous for. I am fairly certain that a ARX treatment is going to fix this problem.

 

[trynew]

Regarding your spark plug problem, I had a Honda Civic that used a lot of spark plugs, until I started adding Marvel Mystery Oil to each tank of gas, and then the problem disappeared. I tried a bunch of other products, but nothing seemed to work except MMO.

Since then, I found out about Fuel Power and have been using it. I don't have the Civic anymore, but I have been very impressed with FP's effect on my current vehicles.

 

[ted s]

DONT be surprised that 10 minutes with the gauage pegged did internal engine damage

 

[Drew99GT]

quote:

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Originally posted by ted s:
DONT be surprised that 10 minutes with the gauage pegged did internal engine damage

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Seriously! Get it pressure tested at least to confirm nothing cracked or warped.

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

VW, I'm glad to see you're happy with the results in your Saturn! My 96SL2 couldn't be happier! Currently running A-rx with Castrol Blend 5w-30...almost 41MPG on the past tankful of gas. That's a record for this car!