Paid posters for Auto Rx

[Mystic]

Thanks Johnny. You have always been one of the posters here I respect the most. I don't see how anybody could argue with what you said above. Like I have been saying also, anybody can drive a car or truck for a very long ways using just quality motor oil and reasonable OCIs. It is impossible to argue with this. A large number of people do this all the time. There are people who have driven cars and trucks for hundreds of thousands of miles just with quality oil and reasonable mileage and time periods for oil changes. It is a fact.

Having said that I still feel it would be nice if there was a proven and reliable internal engine cleaner for high mileage/abused engines. I think we are still looking for that cleaner. Auto-RX seemed like the best bet for me.

I don't like the idea of experimenting too much with my engine's health. Solvents and clorinated junk and stuff that might cause health problems for ME turn me off.

Not to mention the fact that there are claims for some motor oils (which are fully approved for use in engines) for engine cleaning. If there is any truth to these claims a person could clean their engine and keep it clean just using a quality motor oil.

The more I think about it the more I feel that I don't want to put MMO even into my gasoline. Not when I can go to Wal-Mart and buy some Regane fuel system cleaner or Techron and add these products to my gas. Somebody somewhere did actual research to make sure these products worked and did not harm the fuel system.

 

[postjeeprcr]

Originally Posted By: Mystic
Thanks Johnny. You have always been one of the posters here I respect the most.


I think this is because even though he worked for Pennzoil and someone asked a question he would not respond only use Pennzoil or SOPUS product. His advice is given based on reading what the original poster asked and was product neutral, meaning he wouldn't just recommend the company he worked for because he worked for them.

 

[c3po]

Quote:
I don't think Neutra OR MMO will ruin your engine or fuel system in the prescribed dosages.

 

[Bruce T]

Originally Posted By: Johnny
I do use fuel additives per the dose recommended only because gasoline is one of the nastiest substances know to man. If gasoline were invented today, the EPA would outlaw it.


Ha, great quote!

 

[c3po]

Originally Posted By: Johnny
I've had the solution to this whole problem of which additive is best for years. Don't use additives. Buy a well formulated motor oil and change it on a regular basis. It is just that simple guys. I've been doing that for over 50 years and I have never had a sludged or dirty engine and any car I've owned.

I do use fuel additives per the dose recommended only because gasoline is one of the nastiest substances know to man. If gasoline were invented today, the EPA would outlaw it.

Mystic and MolaKule, good post.


The only way to get around not using any oil additives is if everyone bought a brand new car, and used a well formulated motor oil and changed it on a regular basis.

The problem I see is that many people buy used cars with unknown maintenance histories and there is a good chance many of these engines are dirty from infrequent oil changes.

 

[Johnny]

I see you finally figured out how to use the quote system on here.

I also agree with what you said about the used car market. Shame it has to be that way. If the rest of the world was as anal as we are about auto maintenance, there would be no need for any kind of additives.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: loubapache
Thank you demarpaint and c3po for your fair and informational posts.

I picked up another 6 quarts of MMO yesterday for a little less than $3 per quart.


Thanks for the kind words, nice score on the MMO!

Wow, go away for a week and some things don't change. I did miss the you guys though!

I actually had an MMO experience LOL. I saw the new quart bottles at the WalMart located on Whidbey Island, WA. In fact I bought a quart tossed half of it in my son's 2000 BMW 323i oil, the other half in the gas tank [intentional OD]. Seems during his last deployment his Ex-GF was using it when it was supposed to be parked in her parents back yard. From what my son was told, the car saw about 4 months of abusive driving, and lots of stop and go driving. He had changed the oil just before his deployment, and again when he returned. He developed what sounded like a lifter tick, during start up he informed me when I noticed the noise and commented. If I didn't comment he would have never noticed it.

I dumped half a qt of MMO in his car and we logged about 300 miles on it while I was visiting him this past week. I'm happy to report the lifter tick is gone, and he will be changing the oil out in about another 700 miles or so.

No kick backs, just another positive MMO experience. After some conversation my son said the lifter noise has been there since August when he got back from Afghanistan.

 

[SL8R]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Originally Posted By: loubapache
Thank you demarpaint and c3po for your fair and informational posts.

I picked up another 6 quarts of MMO yesterday for a little less than $3 per quart.


Thanks for the kind words, nice score on the MMO!

Wow, go away for a week and some things don't change. I did miss the you guys though!

I actually had an MMO experience LOL. I saw the new quart bottles at the WalMart located on Whidbey Island, WA. In fact I bought a quart tossed half of it in my son's 2000 BMW 323i oil, the other half in the gas tank [intentional OD]. Seems during his last deployment his Ex-GF was using it when it was supposed to be parked in her parents back yard. From what my son was told, the car saw about 4 months of abusive driving, and lots of stop and go driving. He had changed the oil just before his deployment, and again when he returned. He developed what sounded like a lifter tick, during start up he informed me when I noticed the noise and commented. If I didn't comment he would have never noticed it.

I dumped half a qt of MMO in his car and we logged about 300 miles on it while I was visiting him this past week. I'm happy to report the lifter tick is gone, and he will be changing the oil out in about another 700 miles or so.

No kick backs, just another positive MMO experience. After some conversation my son said the lifter noise has been there since August when he got back from Afghanistan.


I think that I'm misunderstanding your story. How did he know the lifter noise had been there since August if he didn't notice it until you mentioned it?

In any case, I thank your son for his service overseas.

Cheers,

Jeff

 

[demarpaint]

My son is not the mechanical type. When I heard the noise I questioned him, because I've done work on this car a few times when I visit him and never noticed any noises. After I quizzed him about the noise he said, "oh yea, I noticed that when I came back from Afghanistan". "I was going to tell you about it when you came here." "My buddies said not to worry as long as the oil was full."

He does check the oil, and keep the car clean, but will take it to Jiffy Lube. When I visit if there is work that needs to be done, I take it with him to the Hobby Shack. He wasn't due for an OC, or I would have done it this time. Instead I opted for the MMO addition, and bought him oil and a filter for the up coming OCI.

These things to my son are non events. He didn't take after me in the car repair department.

Truth is if I didn't comment about the noise he would never have mentioned it.

 

[saberz]

I can't really comment on ARX and its merits as I have never used the product mainly due to availability and price(I don't mind shipping but I don't find it convenient to do it for oil/engine cleaning).

I can speak for MMO and as shown in my signature, I use it fairly often with some very good results. I can't make a comparison but maybe one of these days when I have extra cash I'll go for it. I won't speak ill-will of the product but I will say this.

Most products have a cult following, when the product is threatened, the cult will retaliate. This goes for Mobil, Pennzoil, MMO, Arx, Sega, Nintendo, Sony etc. Take it with a grain of salt and move on.

The only brand I am loyal to is the one that gives me my paycheck, and even then the loyalty only lasts till its punchout time

 

[c3po]

Originally Posted By: Johnny
I see you finally figured out how to use the quote system on here. thumbsup


I am learning Johnny, and I agree that it is a shame that we sometimes have to use oil additives. I remember Pming you before Pennzoil was a site sponsor and you told me that I would like the Pennzoil Platinum, and you were correct. At the time I was using Wal-Mart Super Tech with a Maintenance Dose of arx, I was amazed that after I did a 3000 mile OCI with the Pennzoil Platinum and the Maintenance Dose of arx that the oil came out much darker. You were kind enough to e-mail one of the Pennzoil Techs and he did confirm that Pennzoil Platinum did have some cleaning properties in there oil.

In a perfect world, we would all follow Johnny's advice and go out and buy brand new cars and follow the Manufactures OCI which would be listed in the owner's manual.

I do think that Johnny left out one important Maintenance Item that would help keep our engines clean, and its not arx or MMO, actually it is the PCV Valve and making sure the whole PCV System is clean.

On my El Camino I would change the PCV Valve every year, and on my Marauder it calls for a PCV Valve replacement at 100,000 miles, but I decided to change it at 30,000 miles. If you really want to keep the PCV System clean, you could change the PCV Valve once a year.

 

[MolaKule]

Quote:
I am learning Johnny...I do think that Johnny left out one important Maintenance Item that would help keep our engines clean, and its not arx or MMO, actually it is the PCV Valve and making sure the whole PCV System is clean.


Yes, learning is a lifelong commitment.

The PCV system is important.

Having a slight vacuum in the crankcase and reducing vapors, especially moisture, is good.

And let's forget the PCV hoses/connections as well.

 

[demarpaint]

As long as we're talking PCV valves here let me this mention again. If you are replacing a PCV valve, spend a little more and get an OEM PCV valve. I've seen many an engine start using oil after changing a PCV valve with an aftermarket part. Does it happen all the time? No, but I've seen it happen enough times to make sure I only use an OEM PCV valve.

 

[demarpaint]

Wow I killed that first sentence

. Jet Lag. Hopefully you guys got what I was trying to say. LOL

 

[Cmarti]

Originally Posted By: Johnny
I've had the solution to this whole problem of which additive is best for years. Don't use additives. Buy a well formulated motor oil and change it on a regular basis. It is just that simple guys. I've been doing that for over 50 years and I have never had a sludged or dirty engine and any car I've owned.




As usual you are probably right, but it get's so boring debating wich oil is best,I think debating which oil additive is best is a nice change of pace

I have bought cars new, kill them with kindness and still have problems. Notably valve guides in 3.0 liter dodge causing oil consumption, and a continuously dirty intake in a 4.2 liter Ford. I have looked for help in a bottle(for the car, not me), to find an easier way. The Dodge Van was traded in, I continue to take the PCV & intake off the Ford. I humor myself by hoping a magic potions will keep the vavle cover area and PCV system clean during cold weather idle.

 

[demarpaint]

I think most of us on this board kill engines with kindness.

Have you tried blocking off a small section of the radiator during the winter for faster warm ups? That could help the Ford a bit. You could also look into a block heater or oil pan heater if you don't already have one. JMO

 

[Cmarti]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
I think most of us on this board kill engines with kindness.

Have you tried blocking off a small section of the radiator during the winter for faster warm ups? That could help the Ford a bit. You could also look into a block heater or oil pan heater if you don't already have one. JMO


Other good ideas!. I am putting a "catch can" (air compressor filter) in the PCV line this weekend, and running MMO for the entire OCI. We will see what happens. Some say run it with the lean codes on, but I have a mileage drop and performance loss.

My point was, we may gain some relief from the symptoms of a mechanical problems. So there may be some value to oil additives....i.e oil consumption, lifters, rings sludge.

 

[saberz]

In response to c3po's post about the old days(i wasn't around here then, but i've seen it before).I think a lot of it comes down to a lack of experience when it comes to discussing products.

I've tried MMO, Shell V-Power, Techron, Z-Max(OH NOES!) amongs a few things.

Like Myself, many others may have only tried MMO as a detergent in Oil. If Auto-RX were as affordable as MMO I am sure many others would have tried it. The term Snake-Oil gets thrown around a lot, initially with ARX, and now MMO(and MMO for me has worked.)

The other half of this debate is trial and error. People are afraid to try new things in fear of hurting their own investment. I think it takes some major General Patton sized coconuts to throw a product you know little of into your oil sump. If people don't know, they are afraid. When they are afraid they can be stubborn(key words, can be, not always but can be).

There are excellent products out there without a doubt, but BITOG is a place for discussion, a place to find out about the trial and error. A place for personal experimentation and comparisons of ones findings with anothers.

As a few excellent labels say: "Results May Vary". Your experiences here on the site, with the people, with products will vary. Your ability to process whats posted and discussed will vary.

So after all that, I am going to close and give you one word that describes BITOG at least to me.

Family.

The in-fighting, the moral support, the friends and foes we make and the information we share. Oil is the blood that runs in our veins, its what binds us and makes BITOG what it is. You can't change or stave off progression, but you can try to make the best out of that change and provide the newer BITOG generation with the insight, wisdom and support that made the older days special to you.

 

[Johnny]

Anies, well written. Thanks

 

[greenaccord02]

It is the oil that binds us.