I just picked up a 1995 BMW 325is coupe. This car has 164,800 on it now and is 230 miles into its first cleaning cycle. I am the third owner of the car and I have ALL of its service records since new. The car was well cared for and the oil was changed every 5K with M1 10w30. I started the cleaning by using Castrol GTX 10W30 dino. I may switch to 10W40 for the 1st rinse. I really am confused as to what weight oil to put in. All of the changes have been the 30 weight, but all the owners manual talks about and endorses it "special oil". It's pretty funny, the graphic they use makes this "special oil" look like the next best thing since sliced bread. Given the mileage and age, I think a 40wt would be better.
Anyway, the car does seem to start better and is a little smoother. It is still early in the cleaning phase, so more updates are a comin'. I have used ARX on 2 of my other vehicles with very positive results- Ford Expedition and Acura TL-S
I wouldn't put too much faith in an owners manual that was printed 12 years ago. Oil technology / standards have come a long way since then. What hasn't changed though is the specification of the recommended oil pressure at a given reference point. It's usually in the neighborhood of 10 PSI per 1,000 RPM.
As long as you are meeting your minimum pressure standards a thicker oil becomes counter productive. Thinner oils flow better, run cooler, consume less energy.
I was surprised (well, maybe not) on how vague the manual was in the oil section. That shows they want you to take it to the dealer for the $80 oil change. Yeah right.......... Thanks for the reply turbojim.
I'm 500 miles into the cleaning #1. I noticed some light, funky, wispy smoke coming out of the tailpipe at about 220 miles. I thought this was exhaust vapor from just being started and 60 degree ambient temp, but none of the other cars on the road had vapors. Perhaps some cleaning has started to take place at that point. At 500 miles into the clean and 165+ on the odo, the car seems to rev faster into its power band 3k rpm. The car runs a little quieter, but I need to run a 40 wt oil for the rinse and replace the primary timing chain tensioner.
When I ARXed my Expedition, I really started to notice a big difference at about the 750 mile mark. We'll see what happens next.
I have roughly 400 miles left of cleaning cycle #1. I've also changed the plugs and coils for each plug. The car runs much better. I did notice the cleaning cycle improving performance before the coils and plugs were added. There is still some valve train noise only when the engine is hot. 10/40 Castrol GTX will be the rinse fill. Things are progressing nicely.
1911, I'd just point out several people in the past have noticed odd sounds and the like during the auto-rx clean/rinse. Maybe it's just that or maybe not.
The car is running very rough all of the sudden. It is definately not the auto rx. I think I have some vaccum leaks. I put in a KN air filter and it was running really well. The next day its sputtering and spitting. I found a GIANT hole in the intake hose between the MAF sensor and throttle body. I replaced the part (caught the dealer ripping me off......another story for another time...........) and it runs better but not 100%. I'm gonna have the O2 sensor replaced and new fuel filter when I take it in (NOT TO THE DEALER). I need to check to see if any of the plugs are fouled before I take it in. I have a feeling some vaccum hoses are leaking.
This is holding my arx treatment back because I can't get it in until next Tuesday. Once again, the problems I'm experiencing are due to a 12 year old BMW, not ARX. When it ran, it was definately better pre arx condition.
All fixed. I had a coil that was arcing to the valve cover and a bad o2 sensor. The car is running well (knock on wood) and is 350 miles from the rinse. ARX has stopped valve cover leaks into the spark plug holes and has boosted compression- butt dyno assesment.
Thanks for the post. Many times on engines with discernible noises-mystery sounds Auto-Rx will accelerate all this until engine is clean and crud has been rinsed off . Now new oil can lubicate every sqare inch of engine many areas are getting oil for the first time. (Remember oil can't lubricate through dirt-contaminants) Auto-Rx works slowly & safely.
Brian, I am having a blast with this car. I put in a Turner motorsport chip in and it runs even better. In fact, that chip has made the biggest improvement in performance than any other mod I've done to any other car I have owned.
That being said, ARX is THE best oil additive I have ever felt. You can honestly feel your engine being cleaned as it runs better and better as the cleaning process progresses.
Frank, I'm posting this as a progress indicator for other european car owners to show that it is ok and beneficial to run ARX in thier autos.
In my research of the valvetrain noises I'm hearing, I found out that the M50 engines are notorious for this noise. When I do the first rinse (in 75 miles), like I said earlier, I'm going with a 10w40 dino and see if it quiets down. I'm speculating that with rinsing taking place and a heavier weight oil the chances of reduced noise are high. We'll see............ I'll post after rinse #1 application has begun.
Rinse #1 has begun with castrol gtx in 10w40. Valvetrain noise is much quieter with this weight. I put in a Mann filter to catch all the debris. I also think the 40 wt oil has decreased the gas mileage a bit. Mileage at this point is 166200 and running smooth.
I'm now 850 miles into rinse #1 and it is making less noise and running smoother. I'm thinking of running Castrol Syntec 5w40 for #2 clean and rinse cycles. Does anyone know if that oil is a group 3? The reason for switching is better flow at startup as it gets colder.
400 miles to go until I add round 2 of arx cleaning. I'm looking foward to see what the filter looks like. For round 2, I'm gonna use Castrol Syntec 5/40 for cleaning and rinse.
1st application will be complete tomorrow. Oil change and cleaning #2 will commence under new application directions. The car runs smoother and quieter. It has more power from higher compression due to cleaner ring packs (but dyno assesment) and has cleaned up the VANOS system as that is not rattling anymore. For those that don't know, E36 BMW's are well known and prone to the "vanos rattle". Mine appeared at 1500 rpm while accelerating and that rattle has all but dissapeared. Can't wait to see what a 2nd clean/rinse cycle will bring. I'll take some pictures of the oil filter when I take it out.
New directions: 2500 clean and 3000 rinse? I'll be using Castrol Syntec 5w/40 for both apps due to cold weather approaching.
