new to board - ARX question

[bsakal]

Hey guys (and gals). I'm new to the board, some very interesting forum topics here. I have an Auto RX question, I've vistited their website, does their product really work?. I see a alot of people here use it. I just bought my neighbor's '96 Camry 4cyl, 125,000 miles, I thought of giving it the "
treatment"! Thanks for any advice or comments!

 

[boone88rr]

Try it.

If it works, it works. If it doesn't, move on.
Enough people here seem to use it and recommend it, so it must do something (

).

Personally, I'm about 1000 miles into the clean phase on my fiance's Ford ZX2 (90k miles). I can't offer any pictures yet or compression numbers but the idle is notably smoother. By notably, I mean, pre-ARx the car would shake, and I mean violently. Now, not quite smooth as glass but at least the mirrors remain stationary. I think after the rinse phase and a spark plug change the car will run nicely for the year and a half she plans on keeping it. This was a very neglected car before she met me. Now, I can almost stand to drive and ride in it.

 

[Volvohead]

I use it. I've repeatedly obtained favorable results with it. Not everyone reports favorable results in every instance. But the best way to make up your own mind is to try it and see if it works for you.

I believe the consensus around here is that it is not snake oil and more often than not produces results of varying degree.

BTW, WELCOME!

 

[surfstar]

I've never used it b/c I have felt that my car hasn't needed it, but if I felt that my car would benefit from ARX, no hesitation-I'd use it. My next used car will definately get an ARX treatment right away.

Frank also offers his money back gaurantee and really stands behind his product.

 

[Gary Allan]

Ah! You're just a stones throw away and some pucker factor on 422

Auto-Rx is the real deal. If you have nothing to clean up ...you can expect zero results

Use it ..follow the instructions and don't get too nervous if you hear a few odd ticks and clicks in the interum.

 

[bsakal]

yeah Gary, not too far, as a matter of fact, I went to St. Pius up there.

I think there is stuff to clean up, there was a small amount of sludge under the cap, the oil was changed regularly by the previous owner. I think I'll get some and try it.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

Check out the sticky in this section.

 

[Thatwouldbegreat]

ARX has me convinced!

This is an excellent product that does everything it says it will.

I am very pleased and impressed with ARX, it really has made a difference in every engine I've tried it in!

 

[RD400]

I'm in the middle of ARX cleaning on two vehicles, very positive results with each, most notably smoother and quieter idle. My truck has had nothing but Mobil 1 10w30 since 10K miles but there's still a significant difference. And it's still got 1000 miles to go before the rinse so hopefully the improvement trend continues the whole duration.

 

[RippyMan]

bsakal, I have the same year of Camry as your's, a 1996, with 150,000 miles on it. Which engine do you have, just curious? I've got the 5SFE 4-cylinder. I'm just about to complete the final rinse of Auto-RX on the car. It is noticeably better with much more power and smoothness! The previous owner of the car did abuse it and changed the oil probably with long intervals at Jiffy Lube, so the engine was pretty nasty underneath the valve cover. Auto-RX did seem to remove a lot of bad stuff, since my first rinse oil was BLACK! The engine is now much quicker and fuel economy is a little better, so I do recommend it for this car.
On a side note, I noticed it does not clean underneath the oil cap, like you mentioned. Mine has got a lot of stuff under there too, even after Auto-RX. My only guess is that the Auto-RX doesn’t reach that part, because the engine is mounted at an angle. Then again, you may have the V6. Another thing also, the guy who owned my car obviously wore the rear main seal out through his abuse, so it leaks there pretty badly there. It also leaked a little in the front main seal, which has for the most part disappeared with the treatment. Auto-RX has slowed the rear seal leaking some, but it has not stopped it. I’m hoping it’ll seal up over time, but most likely it is permanently damaged. Just remember to check your oil often during the treatment. I used Purolator Premium Plus filters and Exxon Superflo dino, but I’m sure any standard dino will work. Congratulations on your Camry. They are great cars!

 

[dbdeland]

RippyMan,

With 150k you should use 3 Auto-Rx applications for cleaning. I would use Dino oil for 2 or 3 oil changes before changing back to synthetic oil I had to use Dino oil for 3 changes before the leak stopped. If the seals are not damaged the leak should stop.

 

[Rick20]

There may not be dramatic improvement directly under the fill cap, if there is not a good flow of oil to that particular area. I'd pay closer attention to the cleaning rinse oil when its dumped after the first 1500 miles and what is in the filter. And more importantly what the rinse oil. If it darkens quickly then you will likely need a second application. Also if the rinse phase filter is loaded up, you will definitly want to go for a second application.

 

[bsakal]

Thanks for the tips!

 

[mburnickas]

Auto-RX should not even touch the stuff under the cap. It is a baffle area. Oil hits the area sometimes, not all. If you take off the VC you will see the baffle area. It will run the complete length of the VC.

I got (2) bottles of ARX for my car and the wifes. Both used Amsoil for 4 years and LC20 in the oil (for about 8 months)..I know my car had black oil with LC20 on first use; now it does not turn the oil any color. The wifes car is a different story. Second time using LC20 in oil and the stuff is black.

So we will see. Used Supertech dino (which killed me) but we will see. I had to drain BEFORE using ARX since it had LC20 in it.

 

[RippyMan]

quote:

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I had to use Dino oil for 3 changes before the leak stopped.

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dbdeland, that's good to hear! I'm trying to reassure my dad that it'll eventually seal up. He expected it to seal up on this rinse cycle. He doesn't want me running out of oil on a long trip. I didn't do a third application because I was following the directions, which said to do only two applications. But considering the way the previous owner abused it, the car probably needs a third treatment. The guy bragged that he had the oil changed every 3k at Jiffy Lube, with Pennzoil HM. I highly doubt that. But I am optimistic Auto-RX will stop any leakage. As for switching back to synthetic, I know I probably could with the engine all cleaned up, but I’m just going to continue to stick with Havoline dino on 4-5k changes. I would be worried about synthetic considering the seals are already questionable as it is. The car seems to do really well on either Havoline or Exxon, so I’ll probably stick with one of those. Thanks for you input!

quote:

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I have the 4 cylinder engine also. Automatic, A/C, cruise, etc

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Same as mine. The A/C in these cars is very good, much better than in my parents' 04 Civic. My cruise, though, leaves something to be desired. They certainly have improved that in newer cars. I wouldn't worry about under the oil cap. The only problem is that it gives off the appearance that the A-RX isn't doing its job.

 

[bsakal]

RippyMan,
I have the 4 cylinder engine also. Automatic, A/C, cruise, etc. 125,000 miles. I am waiting for my shipment of AutoRX to arrive, I ordered it sunday. I did just change the oil over the weekend, I use Napa Gold or Wix filters normally on my cars, but I put on the Napa Nascar Select on the Toyota for this oil change, and I had 2 qts of dino Pennzoil and 2 qts of dino Napa oil laying around. Both 10w30. I did scrape the bottom of the oil cap, I'll have to keep an eye on it. I will post results....