HELP!! My ARX froze!!!

[Screwdriver]

Finally finished my full treatment. 2 cleans, 2 rinses (Both rinses were done for ~2400 miles, 1st cleaning was done over 1500 miles, 2nd over 1200)

Just poured 4 quarts of MB1 EP with the MB EP oil filter and got the ARX from the trunk when nothing poured out. It's been pretty cold here in Chicago, so I held the covered bottle in a tub of hot water and then poured it in. Globs of ARX plopped into the crank. Is this ok?

 

[Frank]

Absoulutely not. Auto-Rx chemistry is not effected by cold or heat only it's pourability if stored in freezing weather and above posts tell how you to use in cold weather.

 

[MolaKule]

My recommendation is to bring all your oils and supplements inside and sit them near a heating vent overnight before using the next day.

Simple, logical, yet effective.

Blue99 has an excellent suggestion. Pour the hottest oil into the ARX bottle (about 4 ounces)to rinse. You want to get the last vestiges of the HD esters mixed into the oil.

 

[LarryD]

The globs will soon be liquefied in the hot oil, so nothing to worry about. It was probbaly not in the hot water long enough to completely thaw.

 

[Frank]

In cold weather run Auto-Rx under hot water for 10 minutes once in your oil Auto-Rx will take on the same viscosity and hot or cold will flow just like your oil.

 

[Blue99]

A component of the esters in AutoRx tends to form the "globs" and will remain in the bottle after the bulk amount is poured out.

It's always a good practice, regardless of the temperature, to rinse the AutoRx bottle with some of the fresh oil you are adding to the crankcase.

 

[rob-the-oil-nut]

For me, even at 70 F, blobs will come out of Auto-RX. I used to fret but there is no need to.
NEVER EVER EVER MICROWAVE AUTO-RX. I do not know what happens, I have no interest in finding out.
I would microwave a small tub of water, one just the right size to immerse A-RX in, bring it to near-boil, and put the A-RX bottle in it. Wait 10 mins or so, pour out A-RX into the crankcase. Then since Auto-RX is kinda pricey and I'm a dime-squeezer but also want every drop of Auto-RX, I rinsed it with room-temp oil and swished it and then poured into the crankcase. 2-3 times. Naturally if you are going to do this, you want to add the Auto-RX when you are down at least a quart.
I've said it before: I thought Frank would never test Auto-RX at a temp below -20 (C or F) and considering the thickness and chunks, I had the used oil checked for pour point (I have LONG drain intervals so I'm not even sure what oil it was, either Redline 5W30 or GC) and the pour point was 'the same' (there is a margin of error and $25+ tests on pour point are only accurate to plus or minus 5 degrees or so).
Follow what Frank has posted and the directions on BITOG / the bottle, follow them strictly and adhere fully. If that is the direction you follow, your chances of trouble are less that 1%. For all I know they are inder 0.1%
What Frank & MoleKule say should also be adhered to, they are wise gentlemen.
Long live BITOG
Rob

 

[SteveU]

Would it harm the ARX, make it less effective, ect, if it were kept in an unheated location and actually froze or does this not matter? I have always kept all my chemicals & oils in the barn & like Screwdriver's location it gets below 0 here. I don't want to ruin it so that it doesn't work.

 

[Gary Allan]

I haven't anything to add here. But this has got to be a site sponsor convention

I learned early with just mild cooler temps to prewarm my Auto-Rx before hand.