I recently began using the Auto-RX to clean my high mileage Saturn SL2 as these car are notorious for leaking past the piston rings, etc. The car was consuming approximately a quart every 3,000 miles. After beginning the Auto-RX treatment, the consumption has gone through the roof! It is now consuming a quart every 300 miles and I'm only 500 miles into the 1st cleaning phase... I will certainly keep adding oil until the cleaning phase is complete, but with such a higher rate of oil consumption, I assume the Auto-RX will be so diluted by the time the cleaning phase is complete that it won't be effective.
Is this normal? I was skeptical about this product and now I'm beginning to think I just waste my money.
From what I've read on Internet forums it's typical for some engines to experience an increase in oil consumption during the ARX treatment process. Afterward your oil consumption should return to what had been normal, hopefully it will be even less.
I understand your frustration but sometimes during an ARX treatment things get worse before they get better.
If you read the application for oil burning I would hope you understand right now your cleaning "crud' out of your engine especially ring packs. Certain years and engines (Saturn) are known to have major oil burning problems. I am sure you know that. I would urge you to reread the application for oil burning, accept the fact your engine has a design flaw in the piston area and keep topping of with kust plain non detergent oil. When finished with application be prepared to drive up to 3000 miles before you see improvement. Frank Miller Inventor
I would recommend that you finish the first application, cleaning and rinse, then do a second application. The piston rings should have cleaned up quite a bit in the first application. Oil consumption from valve stem seals will likely take two applications.
I agree with Turbo Jim in that sometimes things appear to get worse before they get better. Until the rings and lans are completely cleaned up where the rings are free to function, things will appear worse.
Even with the addition of a quart of oil at 500 miles, what does the oil look like? Black?
Yes, the oil is still black even with the addition of new oil. Thank you all for the advice--I will finish the first treatment, rinse and do a second treatment. Hopefully, things will get better with time.
FOLLOW THE APPLICATION FOR OIL BURNING ENGINES WE HAVE HAD SUCCESS WITH SATURN BY USING THIS APPLICATION. IT IS THE CLEANING FOLLOWED BY UP TO 3000 MILES OF DRIVING USING NON SYNTHETIC OIL. THAT REDUCES THE OIL CONSUMPTION.
A Ford 302 which prevoisly had some horrible blow-by and zero oil consumption went and consumed 2 quarts of oil in 500 miles. Even went so far as blowing blue smoke out of the tail pipes during the intial treatment. After the treatment had been completed however the consumption again returned to zero and the blow-by was mostly gone. So it usally gets worse before it gets better.
I've got a 97 SW2 with 170k on it and it'll use about a quart every 3-4k miles. I seriously wanting to try RX and wanting to see what I may encounter. So any updates on your Saturn Snowman?
I read your post on BITOG. Quite a few ARX users have experinced oil consumption drops I would use ARX to clean up the engine and ring packs at 170K what have you to loose.
Although I didn't experience that phenomenon in my car, the oil consumption should only be temporary and after you run 2 cycles of Auto-RX (as per the instructions for high mileage engines), it should slow down. Good luck! :)
This is exactly happening to my 99 Passat 1.8T right now. It's 900 miles into the cleaning cycle with Shell Rotella 5W40. I've been watching the oil consumption: - the first 500 miles there was barely any consumption at all - the last 400 miles (long weekend trip), it's a significant consumption (2/3 down from the top of hash mark)
The car has 80K miles and it has been on Mobil 1 since brand new. It's on a 5K OCI, but there was a lapse in OCI last year (got really busy), and it started leaking oil from the valve cover gaskets. I took it to the dealer to have it fixed under warranty and the leak has stopped since. I decided to do an Auto-RX treatment to clean the engine. I think I need to replace the breather hose and PCV valve too.
* Question: in terms of adding oil, should I be adding oil during the cleaning cycle or leave it alone since it's still in the safe zone? Not sure if diluting the Auto-RX more is a good thing, or no effect at all.
Just make sure you keep it at the safe zone you will be ok and thank you for using Auto-Rx. With the 1.8 engine stay on the maintenance program when have finished cleanin and the rinse phase.
I've got about 500 miles left on my rinse phase, and for the first time my truck has consumed some oil. Judging from the dipstick, it only looks to be between 6-10 ounces. Not a big deal, but it was always right on the full mark when it was time to change. By the way, I ran the clean phase for 1500 miles (before application changes were made) and have extended the rinse to 3000 miles (per Frank's recommendation).
__________________
2001 Ford Ranger, 4.0 V6. Mobil 1 0w-30, Motorcraft FL 820s filter, 3oz Auto Rx
