Auto-RX in '05 4Runner

TateT · Jan 15, 2009

New member to the forum but have been lurking for a while read a lot about Auto-RX and other's experiences with it and would like to share mine (so far...I'm not finished yet).

2005 4Runner v6 bought a couple of months ago used with ~65k miles. Although supposedly "certified" by the selling dealer I had no history of the maintenance so decided to Auto-Rx it.

Oil looked freshly changed when I bought it so i used it for the clean phase and dumped in a bottle of auto-rx. Just recently changed the "clean" phase oil. No pics but it was VERY dark. I also noticed small particles in it. I was getting just under 17 MPG before and during the clean phase.

Using SuperTech 5w30 and Super Tech filter for the rinse phase now and have about 600 miles on the rinse phase now. It's amazing the difference I can feel in the power of the vehicle! Also, the latest tank I got just over 18 MPG. I plan to change out the filter half way just for grins (Super Tech filters are less than $3). I'll cut it open and post pics if anything interesting shows up.

After the rinse phase I'm gonna switch over to Pennzoil Platinum and OEM filter.

Will try to post again after rinse phase is completed as well.

Steve S · Jan 15, 2009

I will repeat my self I had a 92 X cab 4x4 Toy 6 cyl since new .I did a 400 mile oil change and around 800 miles started syn oil Redline,, M1, or Amsoil at 1 year oil changes I averaged about 8,000 mile oil change intervals at .pulling the valve cover at the 60,000 valve lash check the engine looked like it wasn't ever fired up,it was spotless. Any way after doing the A R/X clean and rinse the mpgs went up 2 mpgs which was the after break in mpgs .I like the A R/x and do the maint dose .

moribundman · Jan 15, 2009

Originally Posted By: Steve S
I will repeat my self

Whadda surprise.

Steve S · Jan 15, 2009

Mori that Shouldn't surprise you. yet it does.

bmwtechguy · Jan 15, 2009

So, if the engine was visually spotless when you adjusted the valve lash at 60k miles, what do you suppose the ARX had left to clean that would affect your fuel mileage? If I had to guess, I would say it cleaned some on the rings/pistons and improved cylinder sealing back to a newly-broken-in engine condition.

Which makes me believe, that even engines run on synthetics for reasonable intervals can still benefit some from a good ARX treatment and then a maintenance dose in subsequent oil changes afterwards. Might be overkill, but for some of us, it's all about the overkill.

panthermike · Jan 15, 2009

Originally Posted By: moribundman
Originally Posted By: Steve S
I will repeat my self

Whadda surprise.

Rick20 · Jan 17, 2009

TateT,
Will you be running the ARX maintenance dose with the PP, OCI's?

TateT · Jan 17, 2009

I haven't decided if I'll do the maintenance dose. Supposedly PP cleans out 46% of sludge in the first oil change, right? ;-) If not, I may just do a clean and rinse every 30k.

Gary Allan · Jan 18, 2009

Quote:
Supposedly PP cleans out 46% of sludge in the first oil change, right?

I always wondered just what the 100% was that it removed 46% of. Maybe they left out .."that it then redeposits 40% of within 4000 miles..."

30k is probably just beyond the break even point between maintenance dose and another single bottle cleaning.

Rick20 · Jan 18, 2009

I was asking based on the good used oil analysis of the maintenance dose in a variety of oils during extended drains.

TateT · Jan 18, 2009

Okay, so I never claimed to be a patient man. Again, since I have no real idea of the history on my "new" truck and my curiosity got the best of me, I changed the filter after 800 miles of rinse phase. SuperTech oil and filter if you recall. See the pictures in the links below.

My observations:

1) Oil is darker than I expected after 800 miles.
2) Can see some grit in the filter media but not much (I don't think?)
3) Some small chunks found in an oil sample I took from the old filter. Does this mean a SuperTech filter is worth about what you pay for them (under $3)? Or, just that Auto-Rx is doing its job?

http://pwp.att.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=...view=thumbs&ck=

http://pwp.att.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=...view=thumbs&ck=

Any thoughts?

I will of course finish the rinse as per the instructions.

casper · Jan 18, 2009

Swapped over to using AutoRX on a MX plan (4oz) with my Valvoline Synpower 5w30 with Super Tech filter. Truck has approx 49,000miles.

mileage has increased to about 18.5mpg in mostly city driving.

Also running 1qt of MMO with the 4oz of AutoRX.

Cant say enough about this combo. It sees duty in my 05 GTO and 04 Golf GL

Jax_RX8 · Jan 19, 2009

Originally Posted By: casper
Swapped over to using AutoRX on a MX plan (4oz) with my Valvoline Synpower 5w30 with Super Tech filter. Truck has approx 49,000miles.

mileage has increased to about 18.5mpg in mostly city driving.

Also running 1qt of MMO with the 4oz of AutoRX.

Cant say enough about this combo. It sees duty in my 05 GTO and 04 Golf GL

I was talking with someone in a PM exchange about this exact possibility - about an ARX/LC20 combo and/or an ARX/MMO combo in the oil - seems like either could cover the spectrum of cleaning needs from varnish to carbon to sludge better than just the one product alone...

Glad to here it is seems to be working for you.

casper · Jan 19, 2009

Thought I would give it a try and it really seems to be working. Sure I have slowed down my driving only slightly in the past few months, but my driving on a 1500mile trip to Sedona, AZ from Las Vegas and back at normal speeds showed a marked improvement in mileage.

with the 4.7l V8, I was normally seeing about 21-22 on the highway, on that trip I saw mileage near 24mpg.

Since my return from the trip, I have been averaging over 18mpg and closer to that of 19. This is in large contrast to just a few months ago where I was barely averaging 17mpg.

Seems like its worked although im interested to see if the Valvoline Synpower 10W30 has sheered down to something lower. If it has, I will probably stick with the 10W30 and not go back down to the Toyota spec 5W30. I have a few thousand miles to go (3000) till I think im going to pull the filter and ship in a sample for analysis.

All I know...I like it. Just need some analysis to help me out.

c3po · Jan 19, 2009

Originally Posted By: TateT
Okay, so I never claimed to be a patient man. Again, since I have no real idea of the history on my "new" truck and my curiosity got the best of me, I changed the filter after 800 miles of rinse phase. SuperTech oil and filter if you recall. See the pictures in the links below.

My observations:

1) Oil is darker than I expected after 800 miles.
2) Can see some grit in the filter media but not much (I don't think?)
3) Some small chunks found in an oil sample I took from the old filter. Does this mean a SuperTech filter is worth about what you pay for them (under $3)? Or, just that Auto-Rx is doing its job?

http://pwp.att.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=...view=thumbs&ck=

http://pwp.att.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=...view=thumbs&ck=

Any thoughts?

I will of course finish the rinse as per the instructions.

Tate, was your oil filter heavy after you dumped the oil out. It seems like things are going well, good luck and keep us posted.

TateT · Jan 19, 2009

Yes, it seemed like the filter was noticeably heavier than the new one.

c3po · Jan 19, 2009

Originally Posted By: TateT
Yes, it seemed like the filter was noticeably heavier than the new one.

That probably means that your old oil filter was filled up with contaniments or it had some contaniments. What I think is happening is that the Clean Phase loosened stuff up and the Rinse Phase is releasing it too your oil filter.

Rick20 · Jan 20, 2009

Sounds like progress to me as well.

Auto-RX in '05 4Runner

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