5w-40 Syntec As ARX Rinse ???

[ourfamo4]

I'm currently using Agip 15w40 during a cleaning phase in my 00 1.8T Passat. By the time this phase is complete it will be too cold to run 15w40 for a rinse phase. So I picked up Syntec 5w-40 at AAP this past week on sale. This being a GRP 3 oil can I use it for the rinse phase this winter?

 

[sprintman]

Check that it has no ester content. Oil companies tech line can answer that

 

[JohnBrowning]

You know you only have to get 500-1800 miles for the cleaning phase depending on how much junk is in your engine. How paranoid are you that you cannot run a dino 5W30 or 10W30 for that short time.......Seriously how hard is it to follow the optimum instruction for best cleaning results given by the maker of the product.

I amnot mad at you or anything but we all know it works best when you use dino for cleaning and rinse. We also know it is more important to use dino dureing the rinse thenit dureing the cleaning phase. If one use's a synthetic dureing the cleaning phase it take longer say 3000 miles to clean........Acording Frank the seals will not properly reset with anything other then dino and the [censored] that ARX has partial disolved will not let go as well into synthetic. It is not just the base stock but the additive chemistry as well.

If it was me instead of maybe wasting my money on ARX and doing poor planning!!!! I would get some Rotella 10W30 and drop it in that engine for about 800 miles then I would put my G-III in and run that fore the rest of winter.Rotella 10W30 is designed for mixed fleet useit can be used in Diesel or Gasoline engines.Then change the filter and put your 5W40 in. Do what we know works and forgett about trying to come up with a way around what we know to be best practice. A couple of miles say 800-1000 with non-synthetic isnot going to kill your engine. The more you deviate from the best practice the less likely your outcome will match the promised results!

 

[ourfamo4]

Originally Posted By: JohnBrowning
You know you only have to get 500-1800 miles for the cleaning phase depending on how much junk is in your engine. How paranoid are you that you cannot run a dino 5W30 or 10W30 for that short time.......Seriously how hard is it to follow the optimum instruction for best cleaning results given by the maker of the product.


I think I was supposed to follow these instructions...

First, change your motor oil and filter. Add 2 ounces of Auto-Rx® for each quart of oil your engine holds.

Auto-Rx® works best with conventional (non-synthetic) motor oil. If you must use a synthetic motor oil, we recommend using a Group III oil to avoid competing chemistries.

Drive 2,500 miles, changing your oil filter after approximately 1,250 miles. If necessary, top off oil (no Auto-Rx®), and finish cleaning application.

Rinse Mode: Drive an additional 3,000 miles with clean oil only (no Auto-Rx®), and change your oil filter after approximately 1,500 miles. If necessary, top off oil (no Auto-Rx®) and finish rinse mode. We strongly recommend changing the filter due to the possibilty of sludge buildup in the oil filter.

Engines following the sludge application require a second treatment. Repeat the instructions outlined above.

We strongly recommend that you follow-up your Auto-Rx® treatment by starting on the Auto-Rx® maintenance plan with regular oil change intervals. This will ensure you keep a clean motor by preventing future sludge buildup.

 

[hillclimber]

I think the instructions have changed over time. When I did the ARX treatment on my Passat they were recommending a 1,500 mile rinse at that time. I used the Syntec Blend for the rinse, 5w30 I think it was.

This is from memory, I can double-check my records tonight.

 

[blmqzjc]

I used conventional oil for both ARX clean and rinse, and the vehicle was a 2001 1.8T Passat, a.k.a the sludge bucket. I figure since the dealer had been using conventional oil in the thing from 2000 to 2004 (when the syn requirement and big filter came out from VWOA) on a 5k OCI, that running conventional for 2k for optimum ARX results certainly wasn't going to hurt anything.

Once the ARX cycle was complete, I used synthetic thereafter. That was in 2005 at about 60k miles on the clock. Four years later we're coming up on 100k miles with no oil related issues.

 

[ourfamo4]

Thanks for the info, I'm going to mix a blend of QS 5w30 & Agip 15w40 I have. Then back to A3 rated full synthetic at 5k OCI with a large filter.

It currently has 125k and I just flashed the ECU with APR 93, it runs very nice with no oil usage or smoke. So hopefully 200k will be no problem.

 

[sprintman]

2,500 miles minimum for cleaning phase, not 500 miles.