Auto-Rx and oil pressure

[otis24]

I just completed an ARX treatment on my 1994 GMC Sonoma (4.3L V6). The oil pressure was running anywhere from the half mark (40) to the 3/4 mark (60).
I changed the oil yesterday to start the rinse phase. The oil pressure is running almost to the top of the gauge (80). Is this a positive effect of having used Auto-Rx? How much oil pressure is too much?

 

[Gary Allan]

This is a common side effect of Auto-Rx treatments. Well, let me restate that. It's not unusual to see this happen. It will typically return to normal as the rinse phase progresses.


..but, and just as an after thought, what visc oil are you running? There's always the slim chance that your oil pump's pressure relief was fouled and leaking and it's now restored to fully functional. I would say that if it retreats to some lower state when the engine is fully warmed ..that it's a correct reading. If it just hangs there all the time, I'd wait it out for a while. It should return to more sensible readings.

 

[otis24]

I am running 5w30, mostly. I picked up three quarts of TropArctic 5w30 (all that Wal-Mart had in stock). I finished off with 1/2 qt of Havoline 5w30 and 1 qt if Havoline 10w30.

 

[Gary Allan]

That's probably the spec'd oil ..so you should see the spec'd pressure (which I dunno what that would be). But, as I said, if you see no reduction in pressure with the engine warming, then I'd say that the sensor is temporarily fouled. It should clear up in time.

 

[otis24]

It seems to have cleared up. I am steadily running about 60 psi, where before, it fluctuated between 40-60. Thanks for the input.

 

[ChiTDI]

The oil galleys are becoming less restricted and allowing for higher pressure, no?

 

[another Todd]

No.

 

[ARB1977]

Could be since your on the rinse phase that the filter could be getting filled with junk causing your pressure to rise....then again i could be wrong. I guess ill find out tomorrow when i start my cleaning phase in my Tacoma.

 

[otis24]

I wouldn't think that the filter would fill up right away. I just started my rinse phase a couple of days ago. The pressure seems to have normalized. It seems to be maintainin a more consistant level of pressure than before.

 

[Big O Dave]

When I ARX'd our '83 F250, I was driving down the freeway, when the oil pressure suddenly dropped to zero, as indicated by the oil pressure gauge. That continued for two weeks. When I changed the oil, I also replaced the oil pressure sending unit, and the gauge resumed indicating oil pressure at the correct levels.

If I had not read about this "side effect" of ARX, I would have gone bonkers. Instead, I knew that crud was likely fouling the sending unit, and I didn't stress (well, too much, anyway!).

Once the ARX treatment was completed on that truck, we changed the valve covers and gaskets (the original valve covers were bent and leaking at the gasket flange) we were amazed at the pristine cleanliness of the engine - it looked like it had been hot-tanked!

I love the stuff.

 

[lewk]

25-50 psi@ 1200 rpm, 42-60 psi@2400-5000 rpm all
except vin w.
vin w engine 6 psi@1000 rpm, 18 psi@ 2000 rpm, 24 psi@ 4000 rpm.

per haynes manual

 

[cosynthetics]

It's so hard to say. To me it's always a little scary. Is it the auto-rx or did something really fail? I'm glad it came back for you. I think I'd breathe a big sigh of relief.

Originally Posted By: Big O Dave
Once the ARX treatment was completed on that truck, we changed the valve covers and gaskets (the original valve covers were bent and leaking at the gasket flange) we were amazed at the pristine cleanliness of the engine - it looked like it had been hot-tanked!

I love the stuff.


That's not necessarily the ARX. My car was also pristine with no cleaners ever ran through it.

 

[Big O Dave]

Originally Posted By: cosynthetics
It's so hard to say. To me it's always a little scary. Is it the auto-rx or did something really fail? I'm glad it came back for you. I think I'd breathe a big sigh of relief.

Originally Posted By: Big O Dave
Once the ARX treatment was completed on that truck, we changed the valve covers and gaskets (the original valve covers were bent and leaking at the gasket flange) we were amazed at the pristine cleanliness of the engine - it looked like it had been hot-tanked!

I love the stuff.


That's not necessarily the ARX. My car was also pristine with no cleaners ever ran through it.


Actually, in my situation it was necessarily the ARX, since we had the valve covers off before the ARX treatment and saw the deposits in the engine. Since I always buy used vehicles, ARX is very useful in getting the engine into a level of cleanliness I can maintain.