ARX in my 3.0 Caravan

[Gary Allan]

There are severe cases where true pudding sludge engines will plug a filter very quickly. It's not so scary considering that they were driving around like that to begin with. If I think about it, I tell anyone who has visible formations to consider changing the filters early on in the treatment.

Get a filter cutter! Join the fun of forensic filter analysis via autopsy!!

 

[Oilgal]

Will do. I plan on posting pics of the filter. I am going to change it tomorrow, and I bet it will weigh a bit.

 

[Dave H]

I have cut open my oil filters for several years now on my Maxima and wife's '88 Nissan pickup. The filters from the clean phase on both vehicles had the small black particles you mentioned, dispersed pretty evenly over the filter media. Filters prior to AutoRx never had them. What was really surprising, and consistent with what I've read on here, were the filters from the rinse phase. They had even more of the black particles, to the point of actually building up in the creases of the pleats.
I would suggest continuing the AutoRx treatment. And cut open the filters like Gary said. The first one I did during the AutoRx treatment was an eye opener. I thought my vehicles were well taken care of, with routine 3000 mile OCI with "quality" oils. But carbon still builds up more than I would have guessed.
I wish I had taken compression and vacuum tests before, during, and after treatment. Mainly to satisfy my curiosity. I can say that both vehicles run smoother since the treatments.
I had good results with AutoRx, and would recommend it to anyone. I will hopefully do another treatment in both of my vehicles when my situation allows.

Dave

 

[Oilgal]

Hi Dave H,

At 1400 miles, into the 3000 mile clean phase, my experience is the same as you described. I changed the filter this morning and cut open the old one. It was exactly as you described. I have never had a filter look all black and grainy like that before.

The drain back passage to the filter is now sparkling clean. The cam, as viewed through the oil fill port, and the inside of the 710 cap are both looking much better now also. This Auto-RX stuff is really something.

 

[Oilgal]

No disrespect intended to all the kerosene and solvent engine flush fans. I doubt that stuff can decoke ring packs like ARX does though.

I am only 1400 miles into the 3000 mile clean phase. I changed the filter this morning and cut open the old one, and I have never had a filter look all black and grainy like that before.

The drain back passage to the filter is now sparkling clean, and the cam, as viewed through the oil fill port, is really cleaning up now. I have a pillar mounted Autometer boost/vacuum gauge, and absolute manifold vacuum has increased by 1"Hg since beginning the ARX clean phase. So ARX is actually decoking the ring packs, on my 3.0L V6, with over 120,000 miles on it! I also no longer have a trace of hydraulic lash adjuster clatter anymore either.

This Auto-RX stuff is amazing! I don't sell the stuff, and I get nothing for telling you guys about this. I finally tried it because others reported the same thing, and I am super glad they bothered to recommend it.

Here is my 3.0l engine bay. Click to enlarge.






You gotta try this Auto-Rx stuff!

 

[Gary Allan]

Well ...pop the cap (or pull the valve cover) and show give us a peak inside. Come ON!! Where's your BITOG spirit??

 

[Oilgal]

I hate trying to work in my unheated, uninsulated, chicken shack of a garage in wintertime. I also have to choose, because of limited funds, between spending money on decent lighting and a heater or buying more parts, and so far buying parts keeps on winning. Right now I need clothes instead anyway. I kept putting it off in hopes I would loose more weight first.

I usually don't work on the van at all in wintertime, unless something goes all haywire and must be fixed. The last few weeks of perfect weather, not too hot, not too cold, has meant that I was working on it day in and day out, and so my hands are already torn up enough, and my manicure is like totally shot right now. I need a break Gary. In my best sponge-bob voice. GARY I NEED A BREAK.

So those are my excuses anyway. Besides, you have all seen enough boring ARX cleaned cams/followers/lash adjusters pics, haven't you? And .... besides that ... I am only half way into the clean phase. From what I could see, through the fill port, things are cleaning up nicely in there though. You don't think old oilgal would fib to you do ya? Please take my word for it.

My toolbox is closed for the season, unless I absolutely have to fix something, and if I can afford to I will take it to my friends shop instead.

 

[Oilgal]

In the spongebob show, Gary is spongebob's pet snail that meows like a cat, and every onece in a while he yells, GARY blah blah blah or something. It was a joke Gary. I wasn't yelling at you or anything.

 

[Oilgal]

I am now just a mere 1800 miles into the first clean phase, and I am truly astonished that my engine performance continues to very noticeably improve. I would never have believed this, if I had not experienced first hand, just how much ARX can do.

Why is ARX not more widely used? It's extreme usefulness is absolutely undeniable. With all the environmentalist hysteria going around, I would think that using ARX, would by now be mandatory by law in California at least. So how come ARX is not flying off the shelves of every auto parts store on earth? It sure as heck should be. At the very least the US would be using a lot less oil.

I seriously believe that ARX can really help this world. I never thought I would ever say anything like this, but honestly and truly, the following statement is not by any means an exaggeration. It is your patriotic duty to try ARX. If not on your car then try it on a friends car.

 

[ALS]

Code:
Why is ARX not more widely used? It's extreme usefulness is absolutely undeniable. With all the environmentalist hysteria going around, I would think that using ARX, would by now be mandatory by law in California at least. So how come ARX is not flying off the shelves of every auto parts store on earth? It sure as heck should be. At the very least the US would be using a lot less oil.


People are really cheap and $20 a bottle would interfere with their Starbucks coffee budget. As far as it being sold in an auto parts store it's the same story, people are cheap.
Plus over the last 30 years there have been so many snake oils sold to the public that any miracle fix in a bottle is looked at very sceptically.

 

[tenderloin]

"People are really cheap and $20 a bottle would interfere with their Starbucks coffee budget"

If that was the case then the other "snake oil" additives, synthetic oils, high priced filters etc wouldn't be selling....

As I have stated many times, Auto RX is a fine product but a hassle for the public or shops to widely use. If Frank could make it where you put it in your oil, drive 3-5,000 miles then just change your oil and filter ...standard OCI's he would have something. Until then,, it is what it is.......

Oilgal....talk about hype and over the top "testimonials" Wow

 

[ALS]

tenderloin:
Quote: Oilgal....talk about hype and over the top "testimonials" Wow

You have been on this board long enough to have seen all the naysayers and there are more than just a few who say the cheapo flushes at the local parts stores are just as good as the real thing (Auto-Rx).
Frank, from what I have read here over the years has had people interested in adding Auto-Rx to their bottles of oil. They just didn't want spend the money to mix to the correct concentration to do the job right or they wanted Frank to practically give it away to them.
I have been using Auto-Rx since at least 2002 in my cars with great results. I love the stuff and have at least 4 bottles on the shelf right now.

 

[tenderloin]

ALS I have used AutoRX and have said it appeared to have worked well although my vehicle was not in bad shape and I did not tear it down to look inside.

I have nothing against AutoRX at all. More than enough people who are respected on this board swear by it, which is good enough for me to believe that it is the real deal. I was commenting on why I thought it was not widely avaiable.

Also I find it amusing that many products are called on the carpet for claims, yet some well known products here use customer testimonials and they are left alone. The following quote is an example. If this was printed by ZMAX, LubeGuard, Rislone etc, this board would have a field day. But because it is one of then "chosen" products...silence__

"I would think that using ARX, would by now be mandatory by law in California at least. So how come ARX is not flying off the shelves of every auto parts store on earth? It sure as heck should be. At the very least the US would be using a lot less oil.

I seriously believe that ARX can really help this world. I never thought I would ever say anything like this, but honestly and truly, the following statement is not by any means an exaggeration. It is your patriotic duty to try ARX. If not on your car then try it on a friends car".

 

[Oilgal]

The reason why ARX is not on every shelf, of every parts store, is really so very obvious. Most people have never even heard of ARX, and low consumer demand means chain stores wont carry it. Corporate chain stores, care only about potential sales, based upon consumer demand. They don't care if it is any good or not. They wouldn't sell snake oil if they cared about that. If it can't be proved, that what they sold you damaged your engine, then they are at no risk of liability, and they definitely will sell it as long as it makes them money.

Those who buy snake oil, most certainly would buy ARX, if they knew about it and they could buy it in stores. They are obviously willing, to try anything, as long as it is advertised and sold in stores. They are without a doubt, the biggest potential market, and they are also the least difficult to convince. So maybe it is time to stop focusing solely on those who are the hardest to convince. That has been done enough now. Word continues to spread, among real car people and professional mechanics, and so the groundwork has been done.

It is time for the next step.

Stop this myth COLD right now. ARX is NOT "just too hard for average people" to use. That is nothing but unconscious hubris, and even if that were true, then do what BIG PHARMA does. They advertise drugs that must be prescribed by a doctor, so people will ask their doctors to prescribe it for them. Get people to ask their mechanics to use ARX, and convince their mechanics to try it. As I have already said, the groundwork there, is done already.

Don't underestimate how many do it yourselfers there are. BITOG is only one small part of that world.

Don't forget the kids who spend lots of time and money, doing wildly stupid and even dangerous things to their cars, just to stand out from the crowd. Make ARX look cool and they will buy it and use it. In fact they will pay twice as much as it costs now for it.

Why does snake oil keep on selling despite all the good evidence against it? The answer is simple. It is advertised on TV and in magazines, and it is sold in big corporate chain auto parts stores. It has to be good. What harm could it do? What could go wrong? They sell it in all the auto parts stores!

 

[Oilgal]

Originally Posted By: tenderloin
If this was printed by ZMAX, LubeGuard, Rislone etc, this board would have a field day. But because it is one of then "chosen" products...silence__



It is only "chosen" by this, extremely skeptical and knowledgeable, crowd here, because there is real evidence that what I said is not merely an exaggerated claim.

So apples and oranges on that one.

 

[Dr_No]

My 2c

As far as I see it, OilGal is now the official Auto-Rx pope.
Too much possible bias with Oilgals posts to believe them.

IMO Auto-Rx is more hyped than any other product on this board.

 

[ALS]

I have promoted it on other automotive boards as time has gone on. More and more automobile owners are starting to come around. The biggest obstacle is still the price to these people.
It isn't until 3-4-5 or more of us chime in and say use the Auto-Rx before they come around. 1/2 the time I swear they agree to use it and then head down to Advance Auto for the $5 Gunk Flush. You never hear another word from them on how the Auto-Rx is working for them.
These are people that will tear apart a $25 relay and re-solder it every year for the next three or four years instead of getting off a buck and buying a new one.

The second issue you brought up is it is not available at the local store. I agree that is a biggie. But again how many people will buy it when the uneducated minimum wage worker behind the counter has no idea how it works and assumes it is just another over priced Slick 50, or Z-Max type product. How much is Frank suppose to sell it to them for? Most of these chain stores are pricing goods in the 40% to 50% cost-of-goods range. That means they are marking the product up 2.0 to 2.5 times their cost. I don't think Frank is going to sell them the Auto-Rx for $8 to $10 a bottle including shipping.

 

[Oilgal]

NO

 

[Oilgal]

Originally Posted By: ALS


The second issue you brought up is it is not available at the local store. I agree that is a biggie. But again how many people will buy it when the uneducated minimum wage worker behind the counter has no idea how it works and assumes it is just another over priced Slick 50, or Z-Max type product.

How much is Frank suppose to sell it to them for? Most of these chain stores are pricing goods in the 40% to 50% cost-of-goods range. That means they are marking the product up 2.0 to 2.5 times their cost. I don't think Frank is going to sell them the Auto-Rx for $8 to $10 a bottle including shipping.



The people who buy it, will be the very same people, who already pay even more for Slick 50 and zMax. It will actually work for them though and blow their noggins. Then they will buy it again and again and spread the word around further.

Frank already gives small volume discounts. Big corporate retail already well understands price curve structure. They write large orders, and they compete for first serve rights with advance payments and bonuses. Frank will make a lot more money than he does now, and we will pay less for it at the store.

It is also well known, that the higher price stuff actually has enhanced sell power, as long as it has a reputation for being exceptionally effective. Drop the price too low and sales will actually decline. Case in point, BG44K, at $20 a can. Known to be highly effective, people do buy it and use it, myself included.

As for closed minded jerks and cheapskates. ARX is too good for them anyway. They get what they deserve at their own hands. Poetic justice I say.

 

[Dr_No]

So because someone would rather just use motor oil, rather than use auto rx are jerks and cheapskates?
Thats taking it too far, Oilgal.

People that don't have the egg nog latte are cheapskates and closed minded jerks because they would rather have coffee with vanilla squirt. *Sarcasm*