Auto-Rx Customers Questions & Answers

TurboJim · Moderator

Compression Challenged

HeadnSouth · Veteran Member

What are your options? A rebuild or try some Auto-rx? Is it worth a bottle or 2 of ARX and an a couple of OCI's?
Guess it'll really all depend if its a mechanical problem or just something gunked up. I'd be willing to try ARX before digging into your engine.

TrevorsYota · Member

Hey, Thanks TurboJim for posting this for me. If this works I will definitely be a true believer in auto-rx.

This is my truck and TurboJim did a nice thing and posted this for me...thanks again!!!

It is pretty believable that sludge is my problem. Since I have been driving it more often and giving it a lot of gas it has been getting a little smoother top end wise and does not have a rev limiter feel to it any more...it just slows way down.

So, my options are NOT to rebuild it right now. I will have to wait till summer to do so.

Forgot to mention - The engine DOES NOT smoke any blue smoke (oil) at all. Last time I checked the oil it was over the full mark. I think that the dipstick was not all the way in the last time I checked it and I believed what I saw so I put in another quart and I believe it is too full right now. It does not leak it either. I have never seen any oil drop underneith it and I was in the snow idling for a half an hour or so and no oil drops underneith it.

I can try ARX, but can you ONLY order it online? What are OCI's?

Thanks guys

-- Edited by TrevorsYota at 18:43, 2008-01-25

TurboJim · Moderator

TrevorsYota,

I don't think you'll find another product out there that does all that ARX can do. Cleans contaminents, restores rotating seals, and it can be used in so many different applicaions - engines, transmissions, differentials, P/S systems. (I know, the last one won't apply to you)

There is a whole wealth of information to be found on the main ARX website. Here are a few link's I think you'll find of interest -

http://www.auto-rx.com/pages/pov89.html

http://www.auto-rx.com/pages/faqs.htm

http://www.auto-rx.com/pages/heavy_sludge_app.html

-- Edited by TurboJim at 20:12, 2008-01-25

brent olsen · Senior Member

I would definetly do another compression check on number 3, maybe you did not have the gauge screwed in all the way, no smoke, no oil loss, how did the spark plug in number 3 look, something seems strange here, maybe try another gauge, from that reading on number 3 it seems like the engine would be running terrible, I remember one time I could not get one of my spark plugs out and broke the plug, I drove the car for a mile to my friends shop, the car was only running on 7 cylinders, its a V-8 and it was running like crap, do the Auto-Rx thing and see what happens.

TrevorsYota · Member

I redid the compression check and it was still at 60. I took off the valve cover and absolutely NO sludge. The timing chain has just been replaced and it is definitely noticeable. It's not the fact that I don't want to try this product...it is the fact that I am short on cash and I will be borrowing money from my brother to do this as I just spent all my money on this truck.

I do plan on trying this product as soon as I get my engine problem fixed.

Btw - I have run a 4cylinder suburu on 2 cylinders for a couple of weeks...and yes...it ran...but like crap.

Thanks

TurboJim · Moderator

I'm glad you didn't find any sludge under the valve cover, that's a relief. When ever you want to try ARX we'll be here to help you out with any questions you may have.

If you have a moment check out the search feature on the main ARX site. I typed in 22RE and found several articles of interest.

http://search.freefind.com/find.html?pageid=r&id=32942784&mode=ALL&query=22re&ics=1&fr=0

-- Edited by TurboJim at 01:24, 2008-01-26

HeadnSouth · Veteran Member

OCI= Oil Change Intervals

Trevors, do a search on my nic and you can see what improvements it made in my vehicles. While your engine may not be sludged (mine wasn't) oil tends to gunk up the piston rings ect. ARX will clean up these problems. Let us know how it works out when you do try ARX.

TrevorsYota · Member

Will do. Sounds like a great product if there is even a forum for it. I can't wait to try it. I hope I get my problem fixed soon...but I hope I also don't screw anything up while taking the head off.
Thanks, Trevor

HeadnSouth · Veteran Member

Have you ever removed a head before?

My 97 Saturn with 172K miles had one cylinder that was low. Not quite as low as yours is and with using ARX its slowly coming back. I believe my problem is a valve issue and ARX is cleaning whatever it is thats causing the low comp #'s. I'm still in the cleaning phase and will continue to do comp tests to see what kind of improvements ARX has made.

brent olsen · Senior Member

From my experience any crud that is in your engine is going to be where you cannot see it, I would think it would be cheaper to do Auto-Rx, it sounds like maybe your valves or something else like your rings are gummed up, if the car is running fine I would try Auto-Rx, don't worry about what this compression gauge is reading, I have 355,000 miles, at 210,000 miles I remember having a compression test done, my mechanic friend did it as a favor, he told me that one of the cylinders was low, I just kept driving it, my engine runs better at 355K then it did at 210K , are you taking the engine apart yourself or having someone else doing it, if your engine has consumed over 2 quarts in 2400 miles do you have any leaks, it just sounds like you will be throwing away more money trying to fix this car, my car with 355K, no leaks, no oil loss, no blowby, but that is because I used Auto-Rx, all the junk inside your engine is what is causing your problems, my case was either rebuild my engine, get a new engine, or the cheaper route Auto-Rx.

TrevorsYota · Member

Yes, I have taken heads off before. And this is the easiest engine I have done yet...try a subaru loyale...3 times.

Yes, if it does not turn out to be a valve then I will try Auto-RX and see if it revives the compression. If that doesn't work then I will be rebuilding it this summer. I am taking the engine apart myself. It actually wasn't quite 2 quarts...the dipstick stuck out a little when I took the last test and I just added a quart then it was too high. It was a mistake and it won't happen again.

TrevorsYota · Member

Just got finished taking the head off today and can you guess what is wrong?

O.k, I'll tell ya...#3 exhaust valve was stuck open...not too far but enough to cause problems...I am actually kind of happy. I can't wait to get her running again and run a bottle of ARX through her.

-- Edited by TrevorsYota at 18:23, 2008-01-27

HeadnSouth · Veteran Member

I'd be willing to bet ARX would have unstuck that valve.
Glad you found the problem. :)

TrevorsYota · Member

It could have. We will never know...unless I put it back on a put ARX in but I would be crazy to do that. I wonder what is wrong with the valve. I'm taking it into a machine shop today so let's see what they say.
Thanks