Ist use of LC, oil is DARK

[Drew99GT]

Man, my oil turned dark really quick with this stuff. It's obviosuly doing some serious scrubbing. The engine in question has already had 2 doses of Auto-RX.

My oil level was down quite a bit too. I'm not concerned at all, just an observation.

 

[jsharp]

I'm using LC with M1R and I noticed the oil getting dark more quickly than other oils I've used, but this is the first time I've used LC. I have no consumption issues though. If anything I'm seeing the oil level rise over time from adding the LC...

 

[JohnBrowning]

In my newer car LC does not do this but in the wifes older 1997 Buick it got dark really fast the first two times I used LC. I did an Auto-Rx on the wifes buick about 2 years ago. The auto-rx did not touch the vrnish in the head or anyplace else in the engine. THe engien did not have any sludge just varnish. The LC removed all the varnish from the head. The first LC usuage you could see the varnish floatin gin the oil when you checked the dipstick within 150-500 miles of adding the LC. I did not do the 16 once flush first.

LC seems to work great on varnish!!!

 

[Dr. T]

2 follow-up questions re: LC:

1. If the oil turns dark/black quick, do you change it out before the recommended 10k interval by LC??? eg. after 2-3k and then add 1-2 ounces per qt. to the new oil?

2. If there is consumption, eg. 1qt./1k mi., do you add more LC to compensate for the top-up amount(s)? ie. an extra ounce???

[ April 21, 2005, 10:09 AM: Message edited by: Dr. T ]

 

[ChiTDI]

I'm at 15000 past the Auto RX double treatment, and the oil goes dark at 2000 mile still with LC.
I change it at three and will go to 10 when it doesn't go dark. Hope this makes sense.

 

[LCD]

ChiTDI,

Have you had or oil analyzed? You may need to go 2-3 ounces of LC per 1000 miles if your oil is oxidizing.

Jeff

 

[Drew99GT]

I for sure wouldn't do 10K for the 1st couple uses. My oil is pitch black after about 2,000 miles. Hopefully the concumption will slow too after a couple runs with LC. My engine had a hair of varnish left after using Auto-RX, but I didn't think it'd be enough to make LC turn the oil this dark, this quick!

 

[ChiTDI]

quote:

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Originally posted by lcd:
ChiTDI,

Have you had or oil analyzed? You may need to go 2-3 ounces of LC per 1000 miles if your oil is oxidizing.

Jeff

---

No I haven't since the Auto Rxing and the LC use. I have enjoyed the smooth performance and economy boost though.

 

[Drew99GT]

Just another update...Consumption is still pretty bad, but it feels like my car now has even more compression and power after using LC. I went fishing yesterday in the mountains and I've driven the route probably 100 or more times, so I know each and every incline and how my car normally reacts. My little Corolla actually felt for the 1st time like it had decent power! I could easily pull 60-65 mph in 5th gear up 6%-7% grade by just barely giving it throttle. Before on a lot of the steeper grades, the speed would just fall off in 5th and I'd be forced to drop 4th and that would just KILL my momentum. Also, coming back, I could tell a huge difference in engine breaking ability. I practically didn't even have to use the breaks on the same 6-7% grades coming back; to the contrary, the engine breaking was so strong, I was having to give it a bit of throttle to keep my speeds up going down hill. I'm impressed! I just hope the consumption tapers off.

 

[4.8 Silverado]

I had the same darkening and loss of oil the first 2 times I started using L.C. Now it stays clean and the oil level has stablized running 15K OCI`s.Couldn`t be happier with the product.

 

[Drew99GT]

Another update. recently changed the oil, added more LC, and have driven around 500-600 miles. Oil consumption is now the lowest it's ever been! Guess my motor is about thoroughly cleaned up. Also, gas mileage on a couple runs has been getting into the 38mpg range for the 1st time since I've owned the car (all highway; rated 35 mpg by the EPA). I'm sold!

 

[Ken2]

Just dark oil is not in itself a problem. I've gotten lots of analyses of diesel lube back where the oil was black and still good.

In this case, the LC was probably removing different stuff that the A-Rx removes. I know the A-Rx won't remove the harmless brown stain in the pores of cast aluminium cylinder heads and valve covers. Maybe the LC is disolving this stuff.


Ken

 

[Drew99GT]

I'll be able to tell in about 15K as a timing belt change will be in order. The last time I had the valve cover off, there was just a hint of varnish left on top of the head. I think the rings were majorly gooked up cause when I got this car, the thermostat was stuck open and the varnish on the dipstick was immense.

 

[Pablo]

quote:

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I think the rings were majorly gooked up cause when I got this car, the thermostat was stuck open and the varnish on the dipstick was immense.

---

yorg....

This kinda grunge takes awhile for all the noogsnkrannies to come clean. Many thousands of miles. Keep it up I guess.

What is of really interest, would be to run another AutoRx treatment to see it all becomes spotless....and then do the LC...

 

[Drew99GT]

Actually I've already run 2 bottles of Auto-RX, which definetally helped a lot. Totally removed the varnish from the dipstick and made a seat of the pants difference in compression. But I think there was just a lot of crud in the noogsnkrannies like you say Pablo. Think I'll stay with LC for the time being as the price is right. The previous owner had records for oil changes, but there were some rather lengthy gaps between a few changes; the owner assured me it was changed but he just didn't record it. When he showed me he used ramps to change the oil on it, I kind of cringed because the drain plug is on the front side of the pan, so all the oil had to have rushed to the back of the pan not allowing it to completely drain. Oh well, car's runnin good now adays.

 

[JohnBrowning]

This is why I think that LC and Auto-Rx compliment one another in an engine. While I would never use them together they both have their place. I think two treatment of Auto-Rx is enough to do just about anyting. What might be left behind is better removed with LC then a third or forth or fith treatment of Auto-Rx. I also thing that LC is a much more economical chemistry for maintaining your engine after4 Auto-Rx has done the heavy lifting!

Two different chemistrys, two different actions within the engine! Both excellent products.

 

[Dr. T]

My question is still:

What is there that auto-rx can remove that ONLY using LC won't?