Auto RX cleaning phase and oil consumption

[VeeDubb]

Hi All,
I'm finishing up the initial cleaning phase on the wife's Volvo 850 turbo (127,000 miles). I noticed a severe increase in oil consumption during the cleaning phase and am wondering if I should be concerned. The car normally consumes about 1 quart every 5000 miles with GC or Mobil 1. But during the 1500 mile cleaning phase, it consumed a whopping 1.5 quarts of Havoline conventional 10w30 with the Auto Rx in it. Plus, there are various drip spots on the garage floor now. Is this normal and will it slow down after the second application?

Thanks

 

[Rick20]

It is highly likely that they will. More than likely they will diminish during the first rinse phase as the seals reconform to the rotating shafts. Please review the ARX web site and the information related to seal leaks and proper application. It is also likely as contaminants are dissolved out of the oiling system, a return to the real sump capacity and oiling system is occuring. Perhaps you had a case of false seals in this motor whereby oil flow was damed up in front of the seals, robbing the seals of proper lubrication and cooling. The second application would be highly recommended.

 

[TR3-2001SE]

What Rick20 said is correct. You are cleaning the seals and it leaks during this period. It took 2 cleaning cycles before mine did this but then I have 252,000 on my car and more gunk to clean out. I went through 1 quart in 100 miles during my second rinse. Now I have gone 500 miles with zero consumption so far.

 

[Sin City]

I agree with Rick20 and TR3-2001-SE. I would only add on item to their recommendations. Why not try one of the "diesel" 15w40 oils for the rinse cycle. An API SL/CI-4 oil is going to have more detergents than a typical passenger car motor oil and and should give additional help in cleaning your engine. The higher viscosity will reduce oil consumption.

If you want to continue using Havoline then I would suggest using either 10W-40 for your next oil change or you could use 10w30 and also add one quart of 20W-50.

[ May 18, 2004, 08:24 PM: Message edited by: Sin City ]

 

[VeeDubb]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Rick,
Yes I did notice that there is some leaking from the front seals so I think you are probably right. Hopefully, the second application can help the seals reset.

I'll keep you updated about my experience.

 

[jeepzj]

The rear main seal on my '98 Jeep Grand Cherokee started to leak very slightly after I switched from dino over to Amsoil 10W30 ATM at 40K miles. I think the leak started at 50K-55K miles. Had that leak since then and didn't think anything of it since it was so minor....no oil consumption. Used auto-rx at 71K miles followig the seal leak directions. I just completed the entire auto-rx treatment and switched back to Amsoil 10W30 this past weekend. I took another peak at the location where I had the rear main seal leak while dumping the oil and it is absolutely bone dry so the leak stopped. It was during the 2nd rinse(last 3K miles) in which the leak stopped. Don't know at exactly what mileage since I didn't check until this past weekend but I'm happy ARX stopped the leak. Let's just hope it doesn't start leaking again now that I'm using Amsoil synthetic again. Did I gain MPG? I do notice that my overhead console for fuel economy gained .5 mpg which isn't much but than again I drive a Jeep. I will calculate the MPG the right way by driving 100% city on my next fill up. Before auto-rx I was getting exactly 12MPG 100% city driving. This was driving to and from work using the same roads and same driving habbits. To calculate the MPG I did\will do the following:

-Fill up the tank using 89 octane.
-Reset my tripometer to 0.
-Refill the tank when the needle is below the 1/4 mark.
-Note the miles driven.
-Note the amount of gas used to fill up the tank.
-Divide the mileage driven by the amount of gas to fill up tank = MPG.

[ May 19, 2004, 08:33 AM: Message edited by: jeepzj ]

 

[Rick20]

Your method of calculating MPG is correct. It is the only fair way to test it. Releying on a computor system within the cars electronics is not always accurate. Odometers and fuel pump meters are.