Modified Auto-Rx regimen . . . what do you think?

[Crusader]

Just changed the oil filters added Auto Rx with the existing Group 3 Synthetic oil in both my 91 4runner V6 and my 22r 85 Toyota Pickup. Both have around 150,000 miles on them. 4runner has Napa Synthetic 5w30 and 85 4x4 Truck has Shell Rotella T 5w-40 Synthetic. I'm only 1500 miles into each of these oils since the last oil change.

So I was thinking how about changing just the filters on them at the 1500 mile mark top of with conventional oil then run another 1500 miles before the rinse cycle with cheap conventional oil. I've heard it mentioned hear that synthetics slow down the process of Auto-Rx . . . so my logic was change the filter to be safe and let it go another 1500 on the clean cycle. . . ?

Any thoughts?

 

[Gary Allan]

I'd go so far as to dump the oil that I could get out of the filter(s) back in the engine(s).

 

[sprintman]

1500 miles isn't enough with dino let alone synthetic. Run it longer

 

[Dr_No]

Synthetic is recommended for clean but discouraged for rinse. Mainly because synthetic has ingredients to bond to metal, which voids the point of "rinse"
Rinse with dino only.

 

[leebae]

I have inquired on this forum and the A-Rx forum regarding possibly extending the cleaning phase. The response I got (A-Rx Forum) was that the application guidelines have been adjusted to provide the best results for the majority of users. I am just curious on what basis do you suggest that a 1500 mile clean phase is inadequate.

 

[Crusader]

Quote:

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I have inquired on this forum and the A-Rx forum regarding possibly extending the cleaning phase. The response I got (A-Rx Forum) was that the application guidelines have been adjusted to provide the best results for the majority of users. I am just curious on what basis do you suggest that a 1500 mile clean phase is inadequate.

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I basically base this on the fact that my engines are considered high mileage thus could probably benefit from a bit more cleaning cycle. Also since they are synthetic the cleaning phase could be slowed down a bit. Sorry I can't exactly remember how I came to this conclusion but I do remember several post over the last year or so that seemed to support this premise. The most important reason is I want to get the most bang for the buck out of the product and since I will be changing the filter out again at the 1500 mile mark why not let it run another 1500 miles. I typically run Group 3 synthetics to at least the 7500 or longer mileage mark. No sense in spending more on a 2nd Auto-Rx when you can possibly get most of the benefit of a second application out of the 1st treatment. If someone can show me some evidence that my premise is wrong I will go ahead with the double wash cycle along with another filter change. I will probably do a double dino rinse one at 2000 and another at 3000 after that. The other reason is that my 85 Toyota doesn't see that many miles in a year and the leaves will fall by the time the initial wash cycle is completing. By the time I'm done with wash cycle #2 w/filter it will probably be spring of 08. We have fairly cold weather here and again I've heard Auto-Rx works better in warmer weather so why not let it ride out a bit longer than 1500 miles.

 

[Gary Allan]

disclaimer/qualifier due to my experience - this is my speculation.

Look here:

and here:

Note the totally clean areas ..and those that are just starting to show through ...and some spots that just didn't get enough random exposure to get clean yet. The product did wonders in terms of my HLA noise ..and I can surely live with some stains ..but it probably would have done a bit more with a longer dwell time over the two bottle treatments. Still an amazing product when used as directed.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

Leave that A-rx in as long as the oil and filter are good to go.

 

[KieferS]

wait, Can Synthetic be used for the cleaning phase?

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

I believe Frank posted a 3k cleaning phase with syn. It's not optimal though.

 

[Frank]

You can go to 2000 miles in cleaning mode and 3000 miles in rinse mode in order to use synthetic oil for both processes.

If you want to use group 111 oils and do the same thing thats not going to cause problems.

If you want to use WalMart Super Tech and any other non synthetic oils stay will standard application mileage.

 

[Rick20]

I am a bit more conservative than most on this string. Rather than try to milk out every thing you can out of one cleaning and rinse, I tend to prefer two applications. Or begin the maintenance dose on relatively young motors. The reason I say that is why circulate dirty oil any longer than necessary. ARX does a nice job of liquifying the binders very slowly during the application, but what about the wear metal particulates that might be imbeded in these oxidized oil deposits. It seems reasonable to me that some larger wear metals may become liberated and circulate through the oiling system, small enough to pass through filtration.

 

[BrianWC]

Quote:

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I am a bit more conservative than most on this string. Rather than try to milk out every thing you can out of one cleaning and rinse, I tend to prefer two applications. Or begin the maintenance dose on relatively young motors. The reason I say that is why circulate dirty oil any longer than necessary. ARX does a nice job of liquifying the binders very slowly during the application, but what about the wear metal particulates that might be imbeded in these oxidized oil deposits. It seems reasonable to me that some larger wear metals may become liberated and circulate through the oiling system, small enough to pass through filtration.

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D'oh....never thought about that......

 

[Rick20]

I might be a bit anal, but any additional wear metals circulating at or greater than 10 or 15 microns will likely cause more wear metals. However after a recommended cleaning and rinses, I wouldn't hesitate to run ARX in the motor oil for extended drains, ala the maintenance dose in synthetics.