Auto-RX for a 2004 Civic EX with heavy sludge?

[Quest]

Originally Posted By: Durango
That's why I now believe every car manufacturer should automatically flush the engines once per year as part of the normal service schedule to keep the sludge issue to a minimum.

Durango


I beg to differ.

1st, I don't believe in running stoddard solvents in any kind annually to "flush" an engine. This may be true for cars back in pre API-SB detergent oil days where varnish and rapid base oil deterioriation was an issue. Now, API service SM oil is so full of detergent and such that none of these so-called sludge should have happen so long as the owner service their PCV valves, ignition components (spark plugs), use high quality gasoline (not all gasoline are created equally, esp. slo-mart cheep corner gas) and also observe conservative OCI on conventional oil.

Even for those so-called Toyota sludgers, so long as you observe a very conservative (3~5000miles on brandname conventional API SM/ILSAC GF4 oil) OCI in a religious manner, there's no such thing called "sludge" to begin with. But then again: how many motorists out there would diligently perform 3/4/5000miles OCI religiously these days??? How MANY??

Solvent is not a proper solution in this case and the owner is to blame for 100%, no excuses.

For laxative style cleanup, run solvent for all you want; for gentle, non-diarrhea type of cleaning, AutoRx is strongly recommended.

Q.

 

[The Critic]

Update:

I mailed off one bottle of Auto-RX to her today. I'll instruct her to add the entire bottle to the engine and run it for 3000 miles with a filter change halfway through.

I'll keep everyone posted.

 

[ThirdeYe]

10,000 miles later... "Do I change it yet?"

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: ThirdeYe
10,000 miles later... "Do I change it yet?"

 

[kc8adu]

Originally Posted By: ThirdeYe
10,000 miles later... "Do I change it yet?"

and why is this thing sounding like a cement mixer?

 

[Gary Allan]

I remember Island Vic having a female fellow deputy radioing in saying "my engine sounds funny". He had her check the oil and found it 3+ quarts light on oil. She further said that the last time that happened (the noise) that the engine blew up shortly thereafter. They were officer owned vehicles.

 

[oilboy123]

You mean I have to do more than add gas????

 

[Rick20]

Makes for a very scarey used car market. I often think of all the rental cars that get sent off for auction or a public fire sale. In my opinion cars that don't get proper service in the first 30K on the clock are pretty likely to become problem vehicles down the road.

 

[The Critic]

I just installed 12 ounces of Auto-RX into the vehicle on Sunday. Looking through the oil filler cap, it really didn't look that bad. There was no visible sludge that I could see. The metal didn't appear shiny in the sun, but I didn't see a big pot of tar inside either.

Maybe it's just "soft stuff" and it all drained out with the oil change?

Or perhaps it's all in the oil pan?

 

[02zx9r]

did you cut open the oil filter? Or are you going to after the auto-rx cycle and post pics?

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: 02zx9r
did you cut open the oil filter? Or are you going to after the auto-rx cycle and post pics?

The oil was changed a day before I made the original post, and I wasn't the one who did the change. I'll try to get some pictures of the 1250 filter change, but I probably won't be the one who does the service.

 

[Gary Allan]

C'mon, Critic!!! Get the images. Be assertive with this girl!!! Get in there and take command of this project.

 

[Oilgal]

Be decisive, yet not bossy, and involve her at the same time. She will like it. I know I do.

 

[Oilgal]

get over it you guys

ok ... so I sometimes get too grandmotherly ... so write yer congressperson or something

land sakes

 

[badtlc]

Originally Posted By: Quest

Even for those so-called Toyota sludgers, so long as you observe a very conservative (3~5000miles on brandname conventional API SM/ILSAC GF4 oil) OCI in a religious manner, there's no such thing called "sludge" to begin with. But then again: how many motorists out there would diligently perform 3/4/5000miles OCI religiously these days??? How MANY??



I'm sorry, I don't mean to get off topic but I must address this. This is most definitely not 100% true. Yes, it might eliminate the problem in many instances but my wife had a 1999 avalon and it never saw an OCI longer than 3,200 miles. It took longer than most, but it still sludged up. And all other maintenance was done at the proper intervals, too, so it wasn't a PCV issue or anything else.

 

[jonny-b]

Why wouldn't you use a product that is guaranteed to make your oil perform better, and keep contaminants away?
It is a cheap insurance to spend a few bucks on ARX, if you use ordinary oils.
At the same time, you will most probably reduce fuelconsumption and pass smog testing, easier.

 

[Rick20]

Any update on the Civic? What did the fresh fill of oil look like after a weeks time before you added the ARX?

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: Rick20
Any update on the Civic? What did the fresh fill of oil look like after a weeks time before you added the ARX?

I didn't even pull the stick to check. I will say that I did NOT see any visible sludge when I looked inside the valve cover.

 

[Gary Allan]

This would be a first for me. Not that I doubt it ..but it's hard to imagine a sump so congested with material that you couldn't freely drain the oil ..yet have no evidence of accumulations on the upper end of the engine.

Amazing

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
This would be a first for me. Not that I doubt it ..but it's hard to imagine a sump so congested with material that you couldn't freely drain the oil ..yet have no evidence of accumulations on the upper end of the engine.

Amazing

Maybe I just needed a flashlight.