Good candidate for Auto-RX?

[glennc]

I have a high mileage (230k) '89 BMW 325i. It runs great, smooth and strong. Some top-end noise, which is typical for these. My gas mileage has remained consistent during the time (years) I've owned the car, and quite good at that (25-32mpg). I run a bottle of Chevron w/ Techron through every 2.5k or so and have maintained 4-5k OCIs. No apparent sludging ever, though with the valve cover off a light coat of varnish is apparent on most surfaces.

As far as I can tell, most people run Auto-RX in response to a problem of some kind, and I have none. I have no reason to suspect any oiling problems or other issues that would be helped by cleaning the engine.

On the other hand I do believe in preventive maintenance, and I'd like to get another 100k out of it. My thoughts and questions are:

- What might I really gain by using Auto-RX to clean a functionally fine engine?

- Given the high mileage, I'm concerned that somewhere large amounts of stuff might be hiding, to do possible harm if released through treatment. Should that be a concern?

- I see lots of posts from people freaking out because Auto-RX is causing strange symptoms in their engines. I see relatively fewer posts from these people a month later, saying it's all better and Auto-RX did great things for them. For all I really know there might have been dozens of follow-up "my engine blew" posts, quickly deleted by admin. Should I rest easy?

- I know there are success stories, but there are also success stories for things like the Tornado and magnets on the fuel lines. What really objective evidence is there supporting the product?

Thanks,

- Glenn

 

[Blake Sobiloff]

Glenn, if you do some searches you'll find some heavily documented Auto-RX treatments. They all cleaned up the engine, but if there were mechanical problems like worn valve guides, etc., the engine still had problems. Auto-RX can clean, but it can't repair worn mechanicals.

My friend's car just hit 90K and I did an Auto-RX treatment on it for her. Not because there was sludge anywhere visible, but because after 90K miles of use I thought it was likely that there was grunge and grime throughout that could be cleaned up. (Plus, I want to move her to extended drains so I'm not having to change her oil as often.

You don't say if you do used oil analysis or not, but used oil analysis and keeping track of your MPG are two ways to assess whether Auto-RX may benefit your engine or not.

 

[Steelhead]

that's a high rpm high compression engine that lives and dies by it's ring pack. time for an Auto-RX cleaning. will restore the ring pack to like new cleanliness and sealing
valve cover is not the only place that deposits build up.
Auto-RX holds the carbon oil breakdown deposits in suspension while it is cleaning.
Try LC first in the oil for 2 2k OCI's with new filters if you are concerned about Auto-RX overloading the oil then do the Auto-RX cycle.
there is other forms of communication between members other than posts, if there was a problem with Auto-RX, the word would be spread world wide in days.

 

[surfstar]

for the first phase any oil is fine. just add it when you have 1500 miles left on your oil. after that you need conventional oil. maybe do a compression test before and after to try to quantify any results.

 

[Rich21]

I agree with surfstar, your current oil brew will be fine for the cleaning phase. Besure your filter is clean or new. I would add the ARX at the 2000 mile mark and run it to the 3500 mile mark.

After run a 2000 mile run on conventional oil for the rinse phase.

ARX is surely the safest product out there for internal oiling system cleaning.

 

[glennc]

Those are good replies. Thanks.

I think I'm going to try it, sometime in the next couple of months.

Any reason not to use it in the current fill, which is new but which has in it a bottle of Valvoline MaxLife oil additive (based on recommendations here)? Other than that I have 1 qt Mobil 1 5w30, approx 3.5 qt BMW 15w40 conventional. New oe filter.

 

[souroull]

my motor runs stronger and smoother than i first bought it, i got 100k, but i still used it. no problems before, no problems after