Not enough miles for AutoRx - now what?

[leecea]

I am totally convinced that AutoRx is great and have 3 bottle sitting ready to use on the cars I typically drive.

However, I'm in the process of buying an old car that has been sitting for a while and has some issues. It will rarely be driven, but I'd still like to clean out the engine. It will take ages - maybe a couple of years - to do the miles that an AutoxRx treatement needs.

Are there any good options for something quicker?

In case it matters, it's an 89 Ford 302 (Mustang).

Thanks.

 

[TurboJim]

If there is a substitute for ARX I've yet to hear about it. It does a lot of things that no other single product can do. Yes it works slowly.... but since you aren't putting a lot of miles on this vehicle anyway what is your hurry? ARX works when you work it. The product has no expiration date for success.

 

[PW01]

We haven't finished the cleaning phase, which was started in September, in our Honda - you'll be just fine!

 

[dnewton3]

I'm in the same quandry with my '66 289 Mustang. I only drive it about 500 miles or less a year.

I'm seriously considering putting in a 10w30 HDEO with a new filter, an ARX application, and just running it for a couple years.

When I do drive it, I get it out on a Sunday for a nice long drive, so condensation can't be that big of an issue. The add pack in the HDEO is going to have more TBN, and a more robust package overall. I would think this it's possible to run past the conventional " ... or one year" mentality in a special application such as this.

 

[Rick20]

I think if you go back in time, about 5 years ago, the cleaning phase was only 500 miles followed by a 2000 mile rinse. As time evolved it was proven that the cleaning ratio could be safely run for 2500 miles, so as to milk out every possible inckling of cleaning in the ARX experience. This is not to say that 500 miles worth of a cleaning run was not highly effective. We also know that ring pack cleansing occurs quite quickly with ARX. So in finality, if 500 to 1000 miles is all you are going to run in a years time, the short application is an option. Then just change out the oil and store the unit for the winter with fresh oil, which starts the rinse cycle.

By the same token, in the past it took me over a year to run a 1500 mile clean phase(two years ago), in a 1968 Pontiac motor and got very good results over two years finishing up with the rinse cycle. Either way, you will get good results with ARX.

 

[JMJNet]

Why don't you just drive it a little bit more.

 

[Rick20]

I sold my 68 Firebird to someone who was interested in investing some bucks towards restoration. Sad as I am, I think I found it a good home. Honestly, I wouldn't want to drive alot with todays fuel prices. The 350 - 4 bbl, coupled with a power glide averaged about 9 miles around town in heavy traffic and about 12.5 on the open highway at 65 mph. Add in the fact that it prefered at least 91 octane, makes for a pretty expensive ride.

 

[dargo]

..but this does not answer the posters question....

 

[Rick20]

The poster can:

A) Run the cleaning phase for as long as it takes to accumulate the miles of the cleaning phase.

OR

B) Run a shortened cleaning phase, if he is looking to decoke the rings, if that is his concern.

In either case, which he may choose, after dumping the cleaning phase oil, he will be in a rinsing phase for his whole OCI.

Pretty simple really.

 

[dargo]

Originally Posted By: Rick20
The poster can:

A) Run the cleaning phase for as long as it takes to accumulate the miles of the cleaning phase.

OR

B) Run a shortened cleaning phase, if he is looking to decoke the rings, if that is his concern.

In either case, which he may choose, after dumping the cleaning phase oil, he will be in a rinsing phase for his whole OCI.

Pretty simple really.


Simple, sure but I do not see it posted on the mfg site.Nor do I see a "Run a shortened cleaning phase" on the site...again, what is up here. Do you see what I am getting at? I hope so since it is pretty clear.

 

[Saturn_Fan]

I am the same boat as you. I am running ARX in the little 95 Nissan PU I just bought. It is used only for hauling my boat and four wheeler so it'll take forever to put the mileage on it for the clean and rinse phase. And pulling the trailer with the four wheeler, it only gets about 16ish for MPG. Definitely not something I wanna just drive around for the purpose of circulating ARX!

 

[Rick20]

If it were me, I would run the full 2500 miles, regardless of time on the clock, provided that the ARX was installed with fresh oil and filter. Worked well for me with a long clock cleaning cycle.

Others here on the board have run a double dose( 2 bottles in the sump) for a 1000 mile duration for a clean phase with very good results. But as I understand it, ARX makes no bona fide guarantee on this approach. Yet the testers were very satisfied with the results. Speeks volumes of the versatility of the product, IMO.

 

[Saturn_Fan]

Try running ARX without a working odometer like this pickup has. What a PITA. Wish I could fix it to tell me when I actually hit the mileage needed for the clean phase.

 

[Rick20]

Saturn Fan,

If the truck is not worth fixing the odometer, then use a simple fuel consumption approach. For conservasion sake use 15 mpg. When you have consumed 166 gallons of fuel, you are likely at 2500 miles. Go Badgers.

 

[Gary Allan]

The fuel quotient should work for your oil changes too. It's the best gauge, short of an OLM, to determine oil fatigue.