auto-rx related? hesitate,check engine light

[chromatin]

96 pontiac bonneville se, 3.8L non-supercharger. almost 138 k miles.

Short story: the car hesitate during acceleration, check engine light on, yellow, steady. It can never go higher than 3000 rpm. But it can go to at least 75 mph, no problem, just slower because of the small rpm number. Haven't had the chance to get code yet. 1300 miles on the auto-rx cleaning cycle.

Longer story: I just had it for about a month now but only really started to use it two weeks ago. I commute 130 miles round trip each day at 70 mph. I changed the oil and filter two weeks ago, with auto-rx treatment. Now I am afraid the problem has something to do with it. The oil and filter used were supertech. So the filter may have been clogged enough but oil pressure is fine.

The car started to hesitate a bit during acceleration sometime this week but I didn't pay too much attention. Today it declined to go higher than 3000 rpm and the check engine light came on. It still drives fine and I came back home with it, still at 70 mph. Back home earlier is more important, isn't it? I don't know how much damage has happened though. No other warning sign.

Anyway, any thoughts? Thank you very much!

 

[JohnBrowning]

It has nothing to do with oil,filter or Auto-Rx. You need to look someplace else. Get AutoZone to read the code for they will do it for free. They can not read many transmission or airbag codes though. Has the fuel filter ever been changed? Is the transmission acting up? How is the fuel pressure,flow etc?????? Are the injectors leaking? WHat about plugs,wires,coil pack,coils,air filter etc????? Their is a lot of ground to cover and it sounds like you really have not done very much to trouble shoot yet.

 

[Gary Allan]

Well, let's get more information.

When you say it won't go over 3000 rpm .. what happens? That is, you obviously DO GET TO 75 MPH ..but how does this occur? Do you just put the pedal to the metal and the engine hits 3000 rpm and you let the trans sit there in a simulated WOT condition ..then decide to let off the gas a little and the trans shift ..repeat? Feather foot it?

Or when you hit 3000 rpm the concrete or macadam that you're on turns to wet cement? Or does it start breaking up (misfiring - that could be your code). I could go on in the varied ways that one could describe "how" one never gets above 3000 rpm. The conditions are vast when plucking from the remote viewing Chinese menu (one from column A one from column B ..)

See what I'm asking for?

 

[Merkava_4]

You're gonna need to get that code read; there's just no other way to proceed further without guessing at stuff.

Do you like toys? Do have an extra $100 dollars laying around? If so, this is a great code reader that I use for reading codes whenever the time comes:

INNOVA 3100

 

[carlprop]

Could be your catalytic converter is clogging up with junk that Auto-Rx is removing.

 

[adam123]

Im gonna say carl is right, Clogged converters Signifigantly reduce engine power and if clogged enough can lock enough exhaust gases that the engine cannot expel them fast enough to let the engine rev higher. Seen it many times.

 

[JohnBrowning]

Auto-Rx does not release anything into the exhaust that is not normaly already their! You know AUto-Rx is better studied then anything else on this site. I can say with complete confidence that Auto-Rx can not through any of it's mechanisms cause an engine to be limited to 3000 RPM's. Auto-Rx liquifies slude and carbon and allows the filter to trap it. Through what process is it going to cause the above? Even an engine with no oil at all will normaly still rev until something breaks, parts expand from heat to the point they can no longer move etc...Their is no amount of viscosity that his oil pump can pump that would cause enough drag either. It is good thing that I can not throw anything at you guys through the computer. I mean really trying to blame a problem that is clearly related to fuel induction or ignition on an oil additive is just crimanal. You might as well encourage the guy to see a voodoo witch doctor and get his car's moja cleansed. I hear a chicken sacraficed to the GM diety sprayed with rum and blowing cigar smoke is an effective service procedure for this condition.Heck who needs a code reader I hear Parker Brothers has an OBDII Oija Board. I know I know I went over board but really you guys open the barn door on this one! I have a twisted sense of humor. Keep us int he loop once you get the codes.

 

[Syntec-Man]

what is wrong with you people i first read this guy in the new members form hating on Rx now this guy! autorx does not harm anything man its something else it does not clean fast or strong enough to clog cats

 

[sprintman]

RX clog cat? Thought I'd seen everything on BITOG but they still keep coming.

 

[ThirdeYe]

Could also be your intake manifold gasket. I know when my mom's gave out on her Malibu, the car was really sluggish and hesitated often. Had it replaced and the oil changed and everything was fine after

 

[Gary Allan]

Well, guys ...errr...just because Auto-Rx didn't clog the cat ...doesn't mean that he doesn't have a clogged cat

The guy's car started developing an issue with his "really unreal" sustained commute in a new to him car. This could take months to duplicate in normal service. The Auto-Rx just happened to be part of the mix ..so it was as good a place to start asking about a cause. The first thing he would need to do is establish that he didn't do something stupid. Sure it appears to be looking for a product to be the scapegoat, but it's more to dismiss the fear that you went somewhere that you shouldn't have.

To the OP. Relax. Your engine operates flawlessly until the designated problem rpm range and you report no other issues that point to some lubrication source for your situation. Once you give finer details you will be flooded with likely causes for this condition.

 

[ALS]

Had the same problem it ended up being a bad knock sensor.
Again get the code read it will tell you where to look first.

 

[VK56VD]

if the catalytic converter is clogged what method can be used to clean it, if any?

 

[JohnBrowning]

You can flush them with lots of solvent but why bother. THey are so cheap to buy if you go with an aftermarket one and they last for a long long time.

 

[PW01]

Quote:

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Could be your catalytic converter is clogging up with junk that Auto-Rx is removing.

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