Auto-rx in a lawnmower?

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oilpan49

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Hey,

In about a months time, the mowing season will soon be over. I want to see to it that the mower is ready to go for next season and ensure everything is cleaned up properly.

I have a Craftsman 6.75HP front wheel self propelled mower with the big ol' plastic wheels on the back. The engines internals since the 3 years I have owned it has never been "cleaned" by any means. Just seasonal oil changes with Pennzoil SAE 30wt-HD oil. The mower runs fine but I would like to make it better.

The engine holds 20oz. oil and Auto-rx doesn't say anything about using it in 2cycle motors. My questions is would it be safe to use Auto-rx in a 2cycle motor or just very short OCI's with a synthetic to help clean it?? The mower runs about once a week for an hour straight for the yard. What would you pros reccomend for this operation?? Thanks,,,AR
 
First of all, that's not a 2 cycle motor. Yes, it would be "safe" to use it in a small engine, but it would be a waste. Just change the oil frequently, or switch to synthetic if you want to clean it out. (although if you bought it new, in 3 years it isn't going to be very dirty inside even if you never changed the oil)
 
I agree it's not worth messing with it.
With yearly oil changes and maybe using stabilized fuel for the last couple mowings of the season (fill the tank to the brim after the last mowing), the engine will outlast the deck.
 
Auto-rx can not be used in 2 cycle engines.Heres a copy and paste from the Auto-rx web site.

A: Auto-Rx® can be added to any engine with 4, 6, or 8 cylinders (even inboard boat engines).
The only engine Auto-Rx® will not work in is a 2-stroke engine, such as those in motorcycles or lawnmowers because Auto-Rx® does not mix with gasoline.


I used Auto-rx in a old early 80's Case riding mower.The mower has no filter just a splash type oil system.I ran the Auto-rx for 10 hours then changed the oil for the rinse phase.Im only about two hours into the rinse phase.So far it does not use as much oil.Still smokes thou.
 
The vast majority of smoke and oil loss in a lawnmoer is caused by worn valve guides and cylinders...both of which auto RX will have no effect on.
 
Hey,

Reason I ask is because I have 6oz of Auto-rx left from when I used it in my transmission before going over to Amsoil ATF. Sounds like the way to go is dump the pennzoil and dump in some M1 or redline 30wt. I'm leaning towards M1 because Redline straight weight viscosities are more for racing. Then again it seems like it couldn't hurt. Thanks,,,,,AR
 
I mixed some ARX to the top up oil bottle for my 1972 Western Auto push mower. I figured it could not hurt anything. After a couple of top ups the oil consumption has slowed down a lot. I think it is pretty neat.
 
Using Auto-Rx in a 3 year old B&S Quantum 5.5HP engine. It definitely helps. Using Castrol 40HD helped somewhat, but the combination of the two really keeps smoke to the lowest levels I've ever seen with this lawnmower.

It seems odd to add a-rx to a mower, but only 1-2oz provides real benefit in my situation.
 
Even though this thread is quite old now, I am also curious if anyone else has tried Auto-Rx on small four-stroke cycle engines...?

Methinks that an ounce or two in my 2001 Honda Harmony II mower would be beneficial to say the least.
 
I havent used it in a lawn engine myself.
But I remember reading on the auto-rx forum - use 3oz for 20oz oil. Run around 10-12 hrs then change oil.
 
I think I'll try some in my old tiller this year. It's been blowing smoke for several years and I've gone to 50w. I haven't always changed the oil like I should. Maybe I'll try some Seafoam or MMO. I'll take the head off and see what it looks like first...
 
I tried it in a B&S 6hp Toro Personnal Pace mower. The engine has used oil from the beginning. I too had some Auto-RX left over and put a couple of ounces in and started mowing. After about 20 minutes, the engine sputtered, choked down, blew out some gray smoke, picked back up, and has been running better since. Still uses some oil, but, it does run better. I also use Amsoil Performance Improver, (PI), in all my gasoline powered engines, including my Honda Fourtrax 4-wheeler. I mix an ounce or so in my five gallon fuel jugs. I can tell a difference in their performance since I started using the PI.
 
tilt mower up so that spark plug hole is near vertical. add 3>4 ounces of Seafoam or Berrymans thru spark plug hole and let set a couple hours...back to ground...with plug still out crank over until most of the liquid is blown out of the cylinder....pour part of can of cleaner in 1/4 tank of gas and fire the engine up....let run for 1/2 hr...change oil...
cleaned and ready to go for the season

cleans ring packs which the straight gas additives will not reach along with combustion chamber, exhaust and intake along with muffler.
 
Well, I went ahead and put about two ounces of Auto-Rx in along with a fresh batch of AMSOIL ASL 5w30 in it.

That mower flat-out amazes me- it sat for several months and it started on the very first pull.
 
I ARX'd my old 1977 JD210 with a Kohler 10HP. Might smoke a little bit less, but it's really hard to tell, it's very tired and in need of a rebuild at this point.
 
Put about an ounce (left over from an auto application) of Auto-Rx into the crankcase of a 9-yr old B&S 5.5hp engine. A couple of years ago the combustion chamber was soaked in Seafoam. The last couple of summers the mower ran gasoline treated with FP-60. Yearly maintenance (oil change, spark plug, air filter). B&S 30-wt oil. 6 hours into the "cleaning cycle".
The mower ran pretty well before. Now it starts on the very first pull. And I do mean very first one. The engine smoked for about 2 minutes after the initial start with Auto-Rx in the crankcase, but hasn't done it since. The engine seems to be running smoother now.
 
Quote:

The engine smoked for about 2 minutes after the initial start with Auto-Rx in the crankcase, but hasn't done it since.

Click to expand...


Last year I ran the cleaning phase and nothing unusual happened. This year, the first two rinse phase uses have been uneventful, until today when it smoked (white) for about 20 seconds upon starting, then was completely normal. Did it have anything to do with A-Rx? I can't say.
 
Just changed out the ARX'd oil today- even though I've ran synthetic oil in it from day one, the oil was still fairly dark, considerably more than usual at this hourage. I ran it about 15 hours total on the mix which was about two ounces of ARX in a near-pint sump.

Refilled it with AMSOIL ACD which should be adequate.

I really am a firm believer in this stuff.
 
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