AutoRX Clean Phase complete

[bobo]

I completed the AutoRX clean phase on my 1995 Maxima SE, 5-speed. I replaced the oil with Pennzoil Conventional 5w30 oil and a Nissan OEM oil filter today.

The vehicle has 60,700 mostly highway miles on it. I don't believe the engine and crankcase were particulary sludge/varnish affected, but I went the AutoRX route as I am switching to Esso XD3, 0w30, full synthetic after the 2,000 mile rinse and have never run synthetic before.

I also ran a 12 oz. bottle of Chevron Techron through the fuel system just prior to the oil change.

I filled up yesterday, following a couple of previous partial fills, and achieved 27.1 mpg (US basis) over the last 600 plus miles with about 75/25 highway/city driving - no AC on, and a lot of cruise control at 70 mph or lower.

The car is a 5-speed and still has the original platinum plugs in it. I had the PCV valve replaced today for the first time, just for the **** of it.

So far pleased with fuel economy improvement (not placebo effect) and will be interested in seeing how the oil and filter look in 2K miles.

Another satisfied AutoRX customer thus far.

 

[Quest]

Congrats Bob!

NOw it's time to do the "rinse" and afterwards, you can then switch back to your Esso sync motor oil for long service life.

I've done AutoRx on my wifey's car (2nd rinse phase completed, power steering box cleaning/flushing completed and replaced with full sync DexronII) and also completed rinse phase on my dad's 2001 Civic engine.

Couldn't be happier with AutoRx..

Next thing is to start adding LC into motor oil in Civic and also wifey's camry and we shall see....

Quest->

 

[bobo]

You're right Quest. The rinse phase is now underway and I am a whopping 3 miles into it. I will be getting the car out on the highway in the next day or two and then running it through emissions testing at Air Care.

 

[sky jumper]

bobo - did you happen to do a compression check before you started auto rx? I'm wondering if your mpg increase is due to better compression?

 

[Radha kumar]

newbie to compression testing, may i know where to get the compression testing done and for how much ? thx

 

[sky jumper]

you can get a kit for $20 and do it yourself. if you can change spark plugs you can check compression. just follow the instructions, and also look online for additional tech tips (e.g. how to relieve fuel pressure, etc).

 

[bobo]

No, I didn't do a compression test. With the windows rolled up and the stereo off and no AC, I literally can not hear the engine at idle and I still have the original OEM platinum plugs in place with 61K on them.

 

[VelociRacer]

Compression test gages are available anywhere auto tools are sold. I got one from my local harbor freight for about $12. Works great and it should be REQUIRED prior to and during any phase of AutoRX.

My results were like this:
@start of clean phase #1: 170, 160, 145, 160
after 1000 miles: 170, 160, 160, 160

Same numbers now. AutoRX was completed 5k miles ago. Can't be 100% sure AutoRX cleaned cyl3 ring pack or the HDEO i ran all thru the AutoRX procedure (Esso XD-3 15w40). Car (99 Civic EX) has 131k miles and sounds and feels like the day I bought it (new). Still uses about 1qt in 2-3k miles which prompted me to use AutoRX. Experimenting with different oils now. This car saw M1 with no consumption until about 80k miles. It's been a steady 1qt per 2-3k since then.