My cars have developed some issues after using auto-rx. Some of you guys on here are experts on this type of stuff so maybe you can help me figure out if my problems are a coincidence or not. I used auto-rx on my 1996 nissan maxima with 214,000 miles and my 1995 chevy z28 camaro with 142,000 miles. Shortly after starting the rinsing phase both the cars developed problems. My camaro developed a bad oil leak but I haven't found where it's coming from yet. It drains around 1 quart a week and half of it burns off on the headers. The engine has also gotten noticably louder. It now has a loud ticking noise. The maxima has had synthetic almost it's whole life. It has always been very quiet. Around the same time the leak and noises started on the camaro, the maxima developed a very light clunking noise under the hood. The sound is not a steady constant noise. It isn't that loud now but I'm hoping it doesn't get worse. I don't know if it's really auto-rx causing this or not but it just seems fishy to me that I got noises and leaks at the same time on 2 different cars using auto-rx. Either way I will never use auto-rx in any of my cars ever again just to be safe.
My experience with auto-rx
- Thread starter NYC32798
- Start date
- Status
The Camaro sounds like it's leaking from a valve cover, a very common occurance with a vehicle that old. Get new valve cover gaskets and a PCV, and I would bet it will run better than ever. AutoRX liquifies sludge safely, but sometimes through that process you will here noises you haven't before, they should go away when the engine gets clean, maybe after two applications. You should just keep up with it, be patient. Same thing happened to me as far as noises, but now they are gone. I did use MMO and Lucas UCL in my gas tank which I'm sure helped too. Those upper cylinder lubricants help with noisy lifters.
Here's a similar thread for information-
http://theoildrop.server101.com/forums/s...true#Post742323
http://theoildrop.server101.com/forums/s...true#Post742323
Thanks for the info. That pretty much explained exactly what I needed to know. As for the camaro, I replaced the pcv valve last month. I felt around for leaks around the valve cover and I found oil on the side of the valve cover itself but none right under it near the headers which was wierd. I guess i'll just give myself something to do tomorrow and replace the valve cover gasket and see what happens.
Rincon,
I recently did an ARX treatment and it simply liquefied the sludge, no pieces at all and nothing in the filter. The oil was very clear for the 1st hundred or two miles, then started to turn real black with tiny soot marks showing the Autorx was working. Some of us would rather remove the sludge from our engines, and for those of you who would rather leave it there I solute you too. I am loyal to nothing but results, and ARX is the only thing I've tried that has giving me these types of results.
I recently did an ARX treatment and it simply liquefied the sludge, no pieces at all and nothing in the filter. The oil was very clear for the 1st hundred or two miles, then started to turn real black with tiny soot marks showing the Autorx was working. Some of us would rather remove the sludge from our engines, and for those of you who would rather leave it there I solute you too. I am loyal to nothing but results, and ARX is the only thing I've tried that has giving me these types of results.
http://theoildrop.server101.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=UBB3&Number=249638
There's a cleaning phase. 4010 miles.
http://theoildrop.server101.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=UBB3&Number=747501
The first column is a 3500+ mile rinse phase.
Those are results on extended auto-rx phases.
Before/After photos are of little meaning. Cosmetic appearance of the valve train isn't very important. My increases in gas mileage on almost every single vehicle I've used it on (some were low mileage) and reduced oil consumption on every vehicle I've used it on have made me a believer.
Before and after oil filter pics, lol? The filters are new so I'm not sure what good that's going to do. To me it's simple, either leave the sludge there or take it out. I personally have never had any car that the oil turned black after 300 miles. Maybe I am just good at maintenace, but even my 93 5.8 Ford would have barely amber showing on the dip stick after 5k miles (on M1 synthetic). The proof for me is in the subsequent oil changes where the oil isn't black, even after 500 miles it isn't even amber. That's all I can comment on because I haven't put a full oil life on my engine yet after my first ARX applicatoion. I can comment in a month or two on that, it is my second vehicle and it doesn't get the miles as my daily. A question for you skeptics, do you guys think removing sludge is a good idea and if so what product do you recommend? If not, I can relate my neighbor has been working on cars for decades and he doesn't buy into the idea of removing sludge. I just disagree with him, but I also see his point of view.
I've used it on 3 vehicles. Two with clean looking engines and no running problems. It made exactly no noticeable difference in running or gas mileage.
On the 3rd, a truck with a bit over 100k miles, a ragged running condition cleared up shortly after I started using it. I suspect it freed up the piston rings. Or maybe it was a coincidence??
For me, on 2 out of 3 vehicles it made no difference. I suspect it helped the third vehicle and would use it again for similar problem that tuneups didn't fix. I think it has it's uses, but it's not the magic elixir some claim it to be.
On the 3rd, a truck with a bit over 100k miles, a ragged running condition cleared up shortly after I started using it. I suspect it freed up the piston rings. Or maybe it was a coincidence??
For me, on 2 out of 3 vehicles it made no difference. I suspect it helped the third vehicle and would use it again for similar problem that tuneups didn't fix. I think it has it's uses, but it's not the magic elixir some claim it to be.
I think XS650 is correct. Auto-RX did seem to work for me-it apparently stopped a small seal leak on a car I used to own. And some people have reported improved performance which maybe is a result of something like ring seals being cleaned up and freed up.
Now, without a doubt, a person could drive a car or truck a lot of miles and never have any serious problems with sludge in the engine as long as good quality oil was used and changed at reasonable intervals. Especially with a good quality synthetic oil it would probably be possible to drive a car or truck 100,000 or 200,000 miles with no problems.
But Auto-RX certainly is worth a try in cases where there may be problems with sludged up rings, seal leaks, vehicles that just have a lot of miles, and vehicles that are slude prone like certain Toyota cars and vans of certain years of production and certain Dodge Durrango vehicles.
If Auto-RX solves the problems with a problem vehicle it is certainly worth the price.
But again, there are a lot of people who drive cars and trucks a lot of miles with no major sludge problems and just using quality motor oil, either conventional or synthetic.
Now, without a doubt, a person could drive a car or truck a lot of miles and never have any serious problems with sludge in the engine as long as good quality oil was used and changed at reasonable intervals. Especially with a good quality synthetic oil it would probably be possible to drive a car or truck 100,000 or 200,000 miles with no problems.
But Auto-RX certainly is worth a try in cases where there may be problems with sludged up rings, seal leaks, vehicles that just have a lot of miles, and vehicles that are slude prone like certain Toyota cars and vans of certain years of production and certain Dodge Durrango vehicles.
If Auto-RX solves the problems with a problem vehicle it is certainly worth the price.
But again, there are a lot of people who drive cars and trucks a lot of miles with no major sludge problems and just using quality motor oil, either conventional or synthetic.
Even without noticeable mpg results it still did some good. Reduced wear, etc.
Plus, cleaning it would reset the dirt to zero. So even on a decently clean engine it will prolong how long it will take to get dirty.
Personally, I try to not recommend auto-rx as a "fix", but rather preventative maintenance. I wish people's vehicles were in good enough condition that they don't notice results. Noticable results = a problem was fixed. I'd rather it be used to prevent problems.
Plus, cleaning it would reset the dirt to zero. So even on a decently clean engine it will prolong how long it will take to get dirty.
Personally, I try to not recommend auto-rx as a "fix", but rather preventative maintenance. I wish people's vehicles were in good enough condition that they don't notice results. Noticable results = a problem was fixed. I'd rather it be used to prevent problems.
XS650 and Mystic, I think your right on and honest about what you expect from AutoRX and what its really for.
Other comments made begin to contradict previous statements made and those UOA's are suspect to being accurate as it was a friend’s car which he was honest about not having control over it. The second UOA is what it is, and nothing stands out. But is that really the only one out there?
IMO, there's big differences of what can be found in a motor. There's carbon deposits, *possible* sludge sitting in various corners, and *possible* waxy film build up on everything…sort of a hard sludge I guess you could call it.
I side with not using chemicals to clean a fine running engine. If your not doing it for looks, and warm and fuzzy feelings about clean motor internals, why use it on a good running motor?
I'm all for it being used as a possible quick fix for a problem, before dumping hundreds of thousands to fix...whatever it may be. Then there's the "use as routine maintenance" crowd, and others as an occasional user to "clean the motor". That is considered "Preventive maintenance"? I think everyone on this site who has ever torn down a motor would agree a good running motor can look dirty to human eyes and still run for hudreds of thousands of miles.
The important thing to remember is these are just my thoughts, opinions, and concerns. I feel there's a lot of people trying AutoRX for no other reason than its an all inclusive fad on this site. A site that rarely recommends using oil additives. Has anyone proved this better than the old “oil flush” in the silver can? Or anything else? Probably not.
Its your money, your engine.
Other comments made begin to contradict previous statements made and those UOA's are suspect to being accurate as it was a friend’s car which he was honest about not having control over it. The second UOA is what it is, and nothing stands out. But is that really the only one out there?
IMO, there's big differences of what can be found in a motor. There's carbon deposits, *possible* sludge sitting in various corners, and *possible* waxy film build up on everything…sort of a hard sludge I guess you could call it.
I side with not using chemicals to clean a fine running engine. If your not doing it for looks, and warm and fuzzy feelings about clean motor internals, why use it on a good running motor?
I'm all for it being used as a possible quick fix for a problem, before dumping hundreds of thousands to fix...whatever it may be. Then there's the "use as routine maintenance" crowd, and others as an occasional user to "clean the motor". That is considered "Preventive maintenance"? I think everyone on this site who has ever torn down a motor would agree a good running motor can look dirty to human eyes and still run for hudreds of thousands of miles.
The important thing to remember is these are just my thoughts, opinions, and concerns. I feel there's a lot of people trying AutoRX for no other reason than its an all inclusive fad on this site. A site that rarely recommends using oil additives. Has anyone proved this better than the old “oil flush” in the silver can? Or anything else? Probably not.
Its your money, your engine.
Once again, it's not about making the engine "still running", it's about how well it runs during that time.
History has taught us on this site that the only people that think auto-rx doesn't work are people that haven't used it.
Want proof? Prove it to yourself. Take before/after pics. Take compression readings. The RMS13 "test" was done by a skeptic. He proved it to him so no one else had to prove it to him.
If you get no tangible results, Frank will give you your money back.
I've used AMSOIL's Engine Flush before and received no improvement in anything. I used auto-rx and gained mpg. I received no cosmetic appearance improvements in my valve train area on the one vehicle I removed the valve cover on, but I couldn't care less about that.
94 Ford Aspire - 1 to 2 mpg gain
98 Crown Vic - 2 to 3 mpg gain. Now my "average" mileage is higher than my previous best mile.
97 Ford F150 - No mpg improvement. Only 64k miles on engine
04 Ford F150 - Preventative maintenance
01? Grand Prix - 2 mpg
02? Intrepid - 1 mpg
94 Toyota Pickup - You wouldn't believe me if I told you. Emissions passed in the top 5 percentile!
78 Monte Carlo - We don't track mpg. Front main no longer leaks. Rear main, valve covers, oil pan, and about 10 other places still do. LOL.
And just yesterday my friend's 05 Taurus began a treatment.
Plus there's:
http://www.cycle-rx.com/test_data_cycle.html
and:
http://www.auto-rx.com/rms13
I can talk until I'm blue in the face and you'll most likely never change your mind. But until you've used it and YOU can honestly say it doesn't work than you shouldn't form an opinion on it.
History has taught us on this site that the only people that think auto-rx doesn't work are people that haven't used it.
Want proof? Prove it to yourself. Take before/after pics. Take compression readings. The RMS13 "test" was done by a skeptic. He proved it to him so no one else had to prove it to him.
If you get no tangible results, Frank will give you your money back.
I've used AMSOIL's Engine Flush before and received no improvement in anything. I used auto-rx and gained mpg. I received no cosmetic appearance improvements in my valve train area on the one vehicle I removed the valve cover on, but I couldn't care less about that.
94 Ford Aspire - 1 to 2 mpg gain
98 Crown Vic - 2 to 3 mpg gain. Now my "average" mileage is higher than my previous best mile.
97 Ford F150 - No mpg improvement. Only 64k miles on engine
04 Ford F150 - Preventative maintenance
01? Grand Prix - 2 mpg
02? Intrepid - 1 mpg
94 Toyota Pickup - You wouldn't believe me if I told you. Emissions passed in the top 5 percentile!
78 Monte Carlo - We don't track mpg. Front main no longer leaks. Rear main, valve covers, oil pan, and about 10 other places still do. LOL.
And just yesterday my friend's 05 Taurus began a treatment.
Plus there's:
http://www.cycle-rx.com/test_data_cycle.html
and:
http://www.auto-rx.com/rms13
I can talk until I'm blue in the face and you'll most likely never change your mind. But until you've used it and YOU can honestly say it doesn't work than you shouldn't form an opinion on it.
Auto-Rx is not a solvent or petroluem chemical (why we got a patent) it is an ecological metal cleaner, has nothing to do with your oil or it's additive package. Auto-Rx uses oil as a carrier only.
I would ask you to click on the FAQ and it makes it clear that noises-fluctuating guages are to be expected.When oil can finally lubricate metal that has been without lubrication for an indefinite time.You get noises until your finished the application than sounds from dry spots-etc are gone (you need the rinse cycle to remove what you have cleaned ) hope this explains your concerns, no product has been more tested than Auto-Rx. Click on Larry D's Post a sticky above. "Auto-Rx Works If You Work It"
I would ask you to click on the FAQ and it makes it clear that noises-fluctuating guages are to be expected.When oil can finally lubricate metal that has been without lubrication for an indefinite time.You get noises until your finished the application than sounds from dry spots-etc are gone (you need the rinse cycle to remove what you have cleaned ) hope this explains your concerns, no product has been more tested than Auto-Rx. Click on Larry D's Post a sticky above. "Auto-Rx Works If You Work It"
I've had nothing but good experiences with ARX. A 68 pontiac, stopped from and rear main seal leaks. 1990 4.3 liter best emission reading at ever 125K on the clock. 2000 chevy 4.8 liter used for preventive maintenance. 2004 3.8 liter in an Impala, used for periodic preventive maintenance.
Shelby, if you had nothing in your filter you either had nothing to begin with or did something wrong!
The following are filters from 2 clean/rinse apps of arx. This stuff is no cure all and people seem to get seriously carried away sometimes over its ability. But it does work better than anything I've used in my current SAAB. My Saab's still got baked on crud in places but I have yet to break open a filter with as much gunk as these arx ones. What can you say?
The following are filters from 2 clean/rinse apps of arx. This stuff is no cure all and people seem to get seriously carried away sometimes over its ability. But it does work better than anything I've used in my current SAAB. My Saab's still got baked on crud in places but I have yet to break open a filter with as much gunk as these arx ones. What can you say?
I think ARX is one of the most unique and most effective auto care products out there!
I bought a troubled BMW convertible for dirt cheap, since I thought that with some new parts and some BITOG car care like ARX that everything would be great.
I was right! After some money and some effort the car is back to where it should be and is a great car. It was just neglected and luckily I found it before it was too far gone.
ARX does work , as long as the engine does not have mechanical dmamage.
I bought a troubled BMW convertible for dirt cheap, since I thought that with some new parts and some BITOG car care like ARX that everything would be great.
I was right! After some money and some effort the car is back to where it should be and is a great car. It was just neglected and luckily I found it before it was too far gone.
ARX does work , as long as the engine does not have mechanical dmamage.
Thatwouldbegreat I agree with you. There is certainly some evidence that Auto-RX works and can really work wonders in somewhat abused vehicles, vehicles with high mileage, and sludge prone vehicles like certain Toyota cars and vans, and some SUVs and trucks. I think there is more actual evidence that Auto-RX works than any other oil supplement or engine cleaner I have heard of.
Unless somebody flat out proves that Auto-RX does not work I will continue to use it. Maybe Auto-RX is a waste in a car or truck engine that is reasonably clean. But it certainly seems worth trying in a vehicle that has a dirty engine and leaking seals where the leak is caused by sludge buildup and not damage to the seals.
I think most of the evidence that Auto-RX does not work has come from people who tried it in very clean, well running engines. Auto-RXX might not make a difference in such vehicles. The real test is in vehicles with dirtyengines and/or seal leaks.
Unless somebody flat out proves that Auto-RX does not work I will continue to use it. Maybe Auto-RX is a waste in a car or truck engine that is reasonably clean. But it certainly seems worth trying in a vehicle that has a dirty engine and leaking seals where the leak is caused by sludge buildup and not damage to the seals.
I think most of the evidence that Auto-RX does not work has come from people who tried it in very clean, well running engines. Auto-RXX might not make a difference in such vehicles. The real test is in vehicles with dirtyengines and/or seal leaks.
Mystic,
I agree with you. I also think that if you want to keep a reasonably clean motor, reasonably clean, periodic use of ARX is money well spent. Keeping all key comoponents free from build up is an important step in maximizing performance for the life of the vehicle. There is no excuse for a motor failure, or inefficiency, when vehicles have evolved to greater life expentancies. Same goes for transmissions. Treat them right and you will likely be trading in the old unit due to cosmetic reasons, not mechanical. IMO, ARX is likely the best preventative maintenance product that has come along in quite some time.
I agree with you. I also think that if you want to keep a reasonably clean motor, reasonably clean, periodic use of ARX is money well spent. Keeping all key comoponents free from build up is an important step in maximizing performance for the life of the vehicle. There is no excuse for a motor failure, or inefficiency, when vehicles have evolved to greater life expentancies. Same goes for transmissions. Treat them right and you will likely be trading in the old unit due to cosmetic reasons, not mechanical. IMO, ARX is likely the best preventative maintenance product that has come along in quite some time.
- Status
Similar threads
