Auto RX test: before pictures

[Vikas]

Please follow the directions *exactly*. Otherwise you will be told *afterwards* ...

"You took too many highway trips" or
"You took too many small trips" or
"You changed filters too many times" or
my all time favorite "You did not work at it!"

- Vikas

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: cronk
PCV valve and tube were replaced recently when I did a tune up, as were spark plugs and wires, air and fuel filter, egr valve and oxygen sensor.
Some of this crud almost looks like its been cooked onto the motor.
It has never run hot since I have owned it, so I don't know...



Are you running the proper thermostat, in the heat range the mfg specs?

Frank

 

[kc8adu]

were the pcv and its vacuum tube blocked?

 

[cronk]

Has the proper 195 degree t stat.
PCV had some crud in it, but was still sucking vacuum.

 

[demarpaint]

Put it together and run your favorite cleaner and see what happens. Report back, pictures are always good!

 

[sprintman]

Drive like you stole it and put at least 5,000 miles on the clean phase.

 

[severach]

After seeing 3 5.7L valve cover pairs and 2 5.7L lifter valleys I'd say that's not enough sludge for 160K. Either you or someone else has already pulled the valve covers and scraped the sludge off allowing a new layer to form, or migrate. It's easy and can be done many times for almost nothing. Chipping off the hard surface allows the cleaners to remove the remaining soft sludge fairly easily. Before and after pictures of the lifter valley would be much more telling though it's not a zero cost 2 hour project to do like valve covers. Unfortunately the test would become invalid because knowingly putting an intake back on with what you find down there might give you nightmares.

If the after pictures are anything like mine then before pictures will not be necessary.

I don't mean to imply that MMO and ARX do nothing. They do good work elsewhere and can do good work on sludge. It's just that some sludge won't budge without being prodded with pointy objects or machine shop cleaners.

 

[caprice_2nv]

What do you mean that's not enough sludge for 160k? I had the valve covers off a 5.0L (same engine basically)at almost 200k and it was spotless, and looking through the oil filler of my 89 305 with 323k on it looks a lot cleaner than this one.

 

[demarpaint]

Shame you didn't run MMO for a full OCI since you already started with it. 500 miles isn't enough time.

Good luck cleaning it up! Report back.

 

[Trav]

Originally Posted By: sprintman
Drive like you stole it and put at least 5,000 miles on the clean phase.


Here we go with this drive it like you stole it Bull.
Quite simple,if you have to beat the snot out of the engine possibly blowing a head gasket of tossing a rod for this stuff to work then something is really wrong.

 

[Mystic]

I am very impressed. A guy who actually takes before photographs (before using Auto-RX). Many have said they would do it, but few actually have gone through and done it.

It will be interesting seeing what the results are (the results of using Auto-RX).

 

[sprintman]

I didn't mean 8,000 rpm, I meant don't 'baby' it. Hot oil is required, the hotter the better. And why no before compression test?

 

[badtlc]

Yeah, the pics will be interesting but the compression tests are where you see real, beneficial improvements that actually affect engine performance.

 

[Mystic]

Photographs, compression tests, and anything else that might help us determine whether Auto-RX actually works or not would all be useful.

I think we need to thank Cronk for actually being willing to take the photographs.

I am pretty much willing to move on as far as Auto-RX is concerned myself. If the stuff works to some degree maybe I will actually use the 2 bottles of Auto-RX I still have.

 

[sprintman]

If not send it to me.

 

[cronk]

Update
I have 2300 miles on my clean phase oil so far.
I changed the oil filter this morning and topped off with some oil and Auto-RX mixture.
Appears to be doing some cleaning, no valve cover pics yet, but peeking through the filler hole looks cleaner than before.
Here are some filter pics of the crud it caught.

AC Delco Ecore filter held up well, even pleating, endcaps securely bonded. I replaced with another of the same, I have a stash I got at Walmart on clearance for $1.50 each.

 

[StevieC]

Excellent, thanks for posting this!

Good Pics!

 

[jmb106]

Thank you for the update! Can't wait to see more pics as the miles roll up.
Joe

 

[expat]

Some of that particulate matter seems quite large, and whats seen in the filter must have passed through the oil pump screen.
How much and how big are the unseen particles

 

[lipadj46]

Yeah I would be worrying about the pickup screen. It may not be a bad idea to drop the sump and check it out.