Auto-rx And Sludge

wow, i thought my 7afe had varnish! the 'gunk' i can see in my valve cover is just a thin film of light brown that actually can be mostly wiped off with a rag.

Looks like some build-up, but I have seen worse as well. Let us know if you get it cleaned up.

Well, I finished the 'cleaning' phase at 1500 miles and started the rinse phase. Oil looked darker than usual for only 1500. I was going to cut open the filter, but didn't want to mess with it. It didn't look really badly gunked up. The Auto-RX folks say most of the sludge will be liquified anyway during the rinse phase. Will take pics at the end of the 2000 mile rinse and post here.

Well, I finished the 'cleaning' phase at 1500 miles and started the rinse phase. Oil looked darker than usual for only 1500. I was going to cut open the filter, but didn't want to mess with it. It didn't look really badly gunked up. The Auto-RX folks say most of the sludge will be liquified anyway during the rinse phase. Will take pics at the end of the 2000 mile rinse and post here.

The end result will tell if it really worked on not. Interesting to see if it is worth the time and trouble to use.

 

 

There really wasn't alot of trouble involved. Just the cost of it, and the additional oil/filter change. I suppose to a really objective analysis, I should have pulled the valve cover off before and after. I didn't mind trying it since the guy who invented it claims its the safest stuff on the market..so no harm in trying it.

I didn't mind trying it since the guy who invented it claims its the safest stuff on the market..so no harm in trying it.

now what would he possibly have to gain by saying that? im sure he stands to gain nothing by lying.

 

 

Well, I'm 1000 miles into the 2000 mile cleaning phase. I'll have to snap some pics of the oil filler to compare to the 1st pictures. I think either I'll need a '2nd' treatment, or I'll have to step up to a more powerful desludge..like Neutra 181..but it's really hard to get ahold of. Anybody know where I can get some, besides a case of 24 bottles from a distributor?

Well, I'm 1000 miles into the 2000 mile cleaning phase. I'll have to snap some pics of the oil filler to compare to the 1st pictures. I think either I'll need a '2nd' treatment, or I'll have to step up to a more powerful desludge..like Neutra 181..but it's really hard to get ahold of. Anybody know where I can get some, besides a case of 24 bottles from a distributor?

It has been awhile since your last post on this topic. Could you provide an update? Do you think this helped?

 

 

It has been awhile since your last post on this topic. Could you provide an update? Do you think this helped?

Well, Anything I notice is completely subjective, but it seems to run a bit smoother. Mileage is the same. My rinse phase has another 300 miles to go, so I will post here what the 2000 mile oil looks like when I change it.

OK i've changed the 'rinse' oil. Only 100 miles shy of the 2000 mile mark..mainly because the weather was in the 50s today in the middle of December ( Average is the low 30s ).

Here's the results of the Auto-RX treatment.

The varnish stains on the oil filler are still there. The rinse oil was very dark..darker than usual..so something was going on. The oil filter wasn't clogged with sludge or anything, and I was too lazy to cut it open, so I just don't know. The only way to be sure there were some objective results is to have either taken off the valve cover or to do an oil analysis. Pics:

https://s74.photobucket.com/albums/i265/NIl...cture-002-1.jpg

https://s74.photobucket.com/albums/i265/NIl...cture-001-1.jpg

https://s74.photobucket.com/albums/i265/NIl...cture-003-1.jpg

My conclusions:

Well, Auto-Rx is better than nothing at 'cleaning' sludge from the crankcase, but since my observations are completely subjective I have nothing to really go on. This is probably a bit more effective than just running a 1/2 qt of ATF fluid in the crank for 100 miles, but the price is ~$25 a pop makes it an expensive solution. It certainly didn't do any harm, as the manufacturer points out in their website, but effective with just one dose? I'll probably have to do another dose to actually see something conclusive.

I used a cycle of this stuff on my Jeep a while back and I thought I noticed a difference as well. The drained oil looked a bit darker and the inside of the valve cover was slightly cleaner.

it looks only a little lighter than 3000-3500 miles and 1/2qt of ATF. of course ive never popped my valve cover to look under it to see how clean it is or isnt. this spring/summer i'll be doing some maintenence and changing the tbelt i'll also pop the top and take a look under when i put on a new vc gasket.

I'd love to see the before and after pics Bitter. Pulling the valve cover is alot easier on the 7th gen than my 8th it seems.

I'd love to see the before and after pics Bitter. Pulling the valve cover is alot easier on the 7th gen than my 8th it seems.

when i goto change my oil in the spring i'll swipe some on a white paper and take a pic after 5 minutes, then do the same after 100 miles with 1/2 qt of ATF.

 

 

I'm extremely fearful of those Shock Flush products, like Gumout Engine Flush, as I've read they can really screw up the engine or even kill it.

Some of these "shock flush" products contain kerosene, a great solvent but apparently harsh on gaskets and seals. I prefer Gold Eagle Oil Flush, which is basically a very thin motor oil with lots of detergents. In my own testing (drain oil without using Gold Eagle, then put in new oil, run car for 3K miles, then drain oil with Gold Eagle, remove valve cover and look at cams) there seems to be a bit more gunk in the oil that is coming out.

I understand the inherent risk of removing sludge, of freeing up blocked gaskets which would then leak, or of releasing sludge into engine channels that then plug up starving engine, but so far, no problems.

-Dave

I prefer Gold Eagle Oil Flush, which is basically a very thin motor oil with lots of detergents.

I've never heard of it. How much does it sell for? I have about 500 miles to go until my next oil change. Usually i'll add a 1/2 qt. of ATF fluid and run it for 500 then change. I'll look for this brand.

Sorry to bring this back for the dead.

I am running auto-rx. I am 1600 mile into my cleaning phase. Already at 1300 miles i had to change my oil filter. It was heavy and solid. So i know that auto-rx is working. So far my MPG has gone up and my oil consumption is becoming less. My car is runnig stronger and smoother and the amount carbon build up on my bumber from my muffler is less. Once i start the clean phase of the auto-rx I should be able to see more improvements. If i get some improvement then i believe that auto-rx is working. Most likely i will run another application once i finsh with the first application. I want to see if the auto-rx will cure my oil consumption.

Sorry to bring this back for the dead.

No problem. I know that in my 98, oil consumption went from 1/2-1 qt every 3000miles down to almost nothing after treatment. If possible, can you post pics of your oil when you start the rinse?

the gf's family has a 98 escort with the 2.0 CVH engine thats NASTY under the valve cover. like a coat of tar on it all sort of...its nasty. the engine was popping the dipstick out, but seafoam cleaned enough out to stop that it seems.

think autorx would help clean up the rest of it, or is the 'tar' stuff too much for anything other than a manual cleaning? if nothing else she can run it through her car or i can run some through mine. neither are oil burners but im sure a little cleaning wouldnt hurt either.

Sorry to bring this back for the dead.

No problem. I know that in my 98, oil consumption went from 1/2-1 qt every 3000miles down to almost nothing after treatment. If possible, can you post pics of your oil when you start the rinse?

Sorry but could not get pics of the oil from the wash phase. But i did notice that the oil was black as i have ever seen it and the oil filter was heavier than when i changed it from the first 1300 miles. I have since started the rinse phase of auto-rx. I could tell right away that arx did work and look forward to the rinse phase to be over. It is still to early to tell if my mpg is effected or my oil consumption goes down. My feeling is that my mpg is gonna go up and my oil consumption issue might be come less. I plan on doing two treatments total. After the second treatment i hope to cure the oil consumption. Right now the engine sounds good and runs strong and i dont have to keep my foot on the gas as much. i definetly can feel the difference.