ending Arx rinse phase a little early? advice please...

[97tbird]

I'm currently 1600 miles in to my "rinse" phase of my Arx treatment for engines with less than 100k miles. I've done everything EXACTLY according to the instructions up to now.
(Car: 1997 T-bird with 4.6L, 90,000 miles)

However, I'm concerned with some new tapping/valve-clutter noises in my engine(even when fully warmed up), I'm thinking of changing the oil and filter NOW, without waiting for the car to reach a 2000-mile rinse phase.
would I lose any benifits from my Arx treatment by doing that?
I really am worried about the noises which began during the rinse phase...Also: I don't know how the filter is doing...can all the clatter/tapping/rattle be due to the filter reaching its limits? as far as I know this engine has not been super sludgy/dirty, but one never knows how the inside is...

(I must add that this is the 1st time I'm running 10/30 in this engine-used 10/40 earlier-, and it IS pretty cold outside, but the noises are there even when it's fully warmed up...)

so...should I go ahead and change oil+filter or must I wait another 400 miles? would it make that much of a difference?

Please advice me; Thanks in advance.

 

[Frank]

Finish the rinse miles that is noise coming from area in engine that is now clean and just starting to get full lubrication. When you finish correct miles and drain rinse oil and have new clean oil, noise will be gone. Better yet your engine will have compression gains,much better combustion efficency and please take a good look at what comes out along with rinse oil.

.

 

[Norm Olt]

Frank, a question (or three), please:

Since 97tbird is well into the rinse phase, what possible negative effect can be had by changing out the oil/filter at 1,600 (vs. 2,000, vs. 1,000, et al?) miles?

Does this not remove any possibility of a plugged oil filter, as well as removing any & all deposits already suspended in the oil?

I guess my real question is "What is the benefit of leaving the old oil & filter on for an additional 400 miles?"

 

[97tbird]

Frank and Norm olt,

First of all, thanks for the replies from both of you.

Norm olt;
Thanks for replying, and making my thoughts and concerns even clearer than I posted them...exactly what I wanted to ask, and I really am concerned about what you also said about the filter. now I don't know, but if I get fresh oil+filter I DO know they're new = piece of mind!

Frank,
I raelly hope also, that the noises go away with fresh oil/filter;
I really am not an expert, but I didn't understand how moving engine parts can make MORE noise AFTER beginning to be lubricated.(than when they were NOT lubricated due to dirt/sludge)

Why did the dirty/sludgy parts make LESS noise when they were NOT lubricated? was the dirt/sludge "cushioning" the moving parts?
Although I have no proof my that my filter is reaching its limits, is it worth to take a risk by going a further 400 miles?

Would appreciate it much if you/all others can clarify things further and quell my fears a little...

 

[cangreylegend]

I've got a not quite exact but similar situation. I'm taking the car in for a timing belt change and I'm going to have the oil pan gasket and some oil cooler seals changed at the same time since it's already up on the lift and common parts need to be taken off.
Trouble is that they'll chuck my oil that is only 1/3 of the way into the 2000 mile rinse. I can live with that.
But wouldn't new fresh oil a second time be even better for the rinse??

 

[greencrew]

97, after treating my 5.4 with ARX I too had a clatter on the driver's side of the engine. It went away durring the rinse phase. I never knew what it was, and still don't for sure, but after discussing it with others, and thinking about it have formulated an opinion that I'll offer up for discussion.

The clatter was always there, but the engine drowned it out so that I never noticed it. The ARX clearly quieted down engine noise, which allowed me to hear the clatter.

Ever since the rinse phase I have been using Neutra, and now molecule's brew. I'm thinking the clatter was my fuel injectors which are now cleared of varnish. The engine runs as quiet as it ever has, just like when it was new.

You now how when you take a short trip to the store and back, just far enough to get it warmed up, and when you shut it off the cats make a crackling noise as they expand from the heat. I can hear them crackle from inside the truck with the engine running.

 

[greencrew]

A similar thing happened with my JD tractor. When it was new the engine was very quiet, but the Tuff Torq transaxle had a bit of a whine to it. By 450 hours the whine was gone. After I ARXed the engine the whine in the transaxle came back. The whine was always there, but the engine was getting louder and I couldn't hear it util after I cleaned up the engine with ARX.

This spring I'll treat the transaxle with ARX and run it all summer until I change it out in fall.

 

[Rick20]

I would say that 1600 miles is sufficient for the rinse. So you could dump the oil and filter and start fresh. However if you are going to add an injector cleaner, I would wait on draining the oil, until after you have run the injector cleaner. May want to have the induction system cleaned. EGR valve may be clogged.

I assume that you switched to 10W30 due to cold weather. Perhaps you might want to go back to the 10W40, thats run the majority of the time.

Pay close attention to rinse oil and filter when draining. This will be your clue as to whether a second application is needed.

 

[97tbird]

"...Pay close attention to rinse oil and filter when draining. This will be your clue as to whether a second application is needed. .."

Rick20,

Can you please elaborate on that a little? how should oil/filter look if I need a 2nd application? really, really dirty?

Many Thanks.

 

[JohnnyO]

I have a while to go yet in my van. Following the 100k+ instructions. Question: After the 2000 mile rinse phase, it says to change the filter and put in more Auto-RX for 1000 miles but makes no mention of changing out the "rinse oil". Should I change the rinse oil at this time, or doesn't it matter? Or would it clean better if I left it in?

I have about 600 miles on my first treatment, swear-to-God it's running smoother already.