it seems like everybody is happy with the results. Basically it cleans the oil compartmant and stops the oil leaks. I just saw it today and searched it here but no thread about it.
I believed that product..
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I dont know when people will start to understand that Mechanical Engineers are not Mechanics...
I'll check it out. I looked at that forum and most people did seem to be impressed. Normally, I would dismiss claims from the manufacturer but I like that there's personal testimony. I'll let you know if it helps clean as much as they said it did.
I'll vouch for the people at BITOG. There are a lot of good there, with many very knowledgeable and a few even have engineering and chemist backgrounds.
But Auto-Rx is not a product I've been too tempted to use.
Basically, it's an ester (Group V synthetic oil) based cleaning product. This is MUCH safer than solvent-based cleaners. The idea is to use it in your crankcase to remove old sludge or deposits. Also, the esters have a tendency to swell and rejuvenate old seals which has (supposedly) fixed oil leaks in some motors.
A buddy of mine tried some in a high-mileage Civic and didn't find it made much of a difference. However, it does seem to reduce engine wear in small, maintenance doses.
Do you have a motor which you suspect is heavily sludged up? Then Auto-Rx may be for you. If you've owned your car/motor and have changed the oil regularly as you should, I doubt you'll see too much (if any) benefit.
Schaeffer, another niche brand of oil, makes a product called Neutra 131 which is also ester-based but is much cheaper. It's mostly a fuel additive but the manufacturer also recommends it as a "purging" fluid. Basically, a few days before your oil change you can add a little of this (1oz. or less Neutra to each quart of motor oil) and it will help (gently) clean the motor and allow deposits or sludge to be drained out with the used oil.
I usually use about 1oz. and leave it in for the week prior to an oil change. I bought my car new and have maintained it immaculately. No reason to go overboard trying to clean a well-kept motor.
1 gallon of Neutra 131 was about $13+ S&H last time I ordered one so it's pretty cheap from a stocking dealer.
Schaeffer Oil also have a soy-based Neutra product (131C) which is supposedly even better as a fuel system additive ... but it is not dual-approved for use as a crankcase cleaner.
So far, after several thousand miles of using Auto-RX I am pleased with the results. But, in my case, I am using a product called Fuel Power in conjunction with the Auto-RX. I cannot attribute all the gains to the Auto-RX. Both my vehicles were not well maintained before I purchased them, so they needed a more thorough cleaning. Fuel economy is up, and power is up with both cars. Time will tell the overall benefits, since I have 5,000 miles to go on each car before I have complete two Auto-RX cleaning/rinse cycles. If I had a newer vehicle, I would never have used these products. Only trying to correct years of neglect. Maybe, that is why I am experiencing noticable gains, plus my Sentra just turned 170,000. Feeling stronger than it did almost 100,000 miles ago, but these things are relative. I will post problems if I notice any, otherwise I will try to let you know how it goes when the entire treatment is done on my Sentra. See you in about a year if all goes well!
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Truth alone triumphs, not untruth. :)
I see notice no difference ... but with a newish car which has been immaculately maintained, I probably shouldn't.
Bingo! ^ I was reading a post by someone over at BITOG who was disappointed since there newer truck with low mileage did not have noticeable gains using Fuel Power. In my case, for 3 years I drove 2 miles to work, many times per day, then drove it for years of stop and go. When I floor it I see the carbon going out the tailpipe (at least that is what I hope it is). The car was dying over 1 year ago and failed emissions. It is hard to believe it is the same car now.
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Truth alone triumphs, not untruth. :)
My car is 92 sentra with 96k currently on it and it has a oil leak (99% from front main seal) like 1quartz per 1500 miles and I know the owners of the car till the car has 32k in 95. BUT my friend didnt change the oil for 15k (from 80 to 95k) and when I bought the car I immediately changed the oil to shell high mileage but I think auto-rx may help me. on the other hand, last tank I got like 35 mpg with 75% highway. so the engine has a good potential for serving several years. I am a mechanical engineering Phd student, I talked with my professor(in thermodynamics area, a well known and like who gots high fund from GM) he is a cool guy, I gave him the printout of the basic materials in it, he said that no harm in using it and bought me 2 bottles from his fund it is pretty expensive though. I will be leaving the country in two weeks for a month and when I come back, I will start the threatment. I understand from the forum that it is useful for abused cars not regular.
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I dont know when people will start to understand that Mechanical Engineers are not Mechanics...
Last edited by znamya : Nov 22nd, 2004 at 09:57 PM.
I sent an email to Frank, the inventor of Auto-RX regarding using it for seal leaks. He responded basically saying it was up to me to use his product. Some of the experienced members at BITOG recommended Auto-RX to address seal leak concerns. There are two scenarios. The seal is in good enough shape that when all the crud is removed oil will be able to keep it pliable and the leak will stop. The other one is there is a false seal, and the seal is in bad shape. Remove the false seal, and the leak may become worse. At any rate, you will have a clean engine! Hope it works out for you. After 2,000 miles no extra leaking, just a few drops like before.
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Truth alone triumphs, not untruth. :)
I sent an email to Frank, the inventor of Auto-RX regarding using it for seal leaks. He responded basically saying it was up to me to use his product. Some of the experienced members at BITOG recommended Auto-RX to address seal leak concerns. There are two scenarios. The seal is in good enough shape that when all the crud is removed oil will be able to keep it pliable and the leak will stop. The other one is there is a false seal, and the seal is in bad shape. Remove the false seal, and the leak may become worse. At any rate, you will have a clean engine! Hope it works out for you. After 2,000 miles no extra leaking, just a few drops like before.
hmm, there is the catch, on the website it is not mentioned that it can increase leaks. I will try it no harm in trying that, anyhow I am planning on replacing the front main seal on march so the worst case, I will have a cleaner engine BITOG is very very nice forum because people are really experienced about motor oils and not telling something that they heard from someone else. I advise evryone to read that forums if you need answer to oil questions, oil additives, fuel additives and so on..
But Catman, you didnt observe any reduce in leak, right?..
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I dont know when people will start to understand that Mechanical Engineers are not Mechanics...
Last edited by znamya : Nov 23rd, 2004 at 11:37 AM.
on the website it is not mentioned that it can increase leaks.
I read a lot of the posts at the Auto-RX forum and go to BITOG every day. Sometimes the leak corrects itself after the rinse phase. Not everyone has success, but it seems like it is due to worn parts, poor engineering, or extreme neglect. I am with you about having a clean engine. When I dropped the pan last winter it was fairly clean, but there was some dry, caked on oil. Who knows how the previous owner maintained the car? Shortly after I purchased it the front main seal had to be replaced.
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But Catman, you didnt observe any reduce in leak, right?..
It is too early to get the full benefit of Auto-RX. For seal leaks you do a 1,500 mile cleaning phase, then a 2,000 mile rinse phase. Followed by a 1,000 mile cleaning phase and the 2,000-3,000 mile rinse phase. Then, it can take an additional 3,000 miles to completely stop the seal leak, according to the instructions. So, I am really just at the beginning. Too early to tell if it will do what I want it to do. This product does require some patience. But, it is easier to be patient, when you car is running better then it has for years!
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Truth alone triumphs, not untruth. :)
However, it does seem to reduce engine wear in small, maintenance doses.
Hope it works out for you. After 2,000 miles no extra leaking, just a few drops like before.
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