I have a slightly sludged LS1 engine. Manufacturer recommendation is a 5W30, but most choices of this type of oil are synth or semi-synth, how to apply Auto-RX ?
Normally the "house brand" at the auto parts store of your choice has oil that is at least not labeled semi-synthetic. Even when it's labeled semi-synthetic you're never sure just what percentage is synthetic and what percentage is conventional.
It shouldn't be too hard to find 5W-30 conventional oil. It's harder to find 5W-20 that isn't semi-synthetic, but it can be done. AutoZone's own brand, which makes no mention of it being semi-synthetic, is available in both weights.
I have found Quaker State green 5 qt. jug and yellow jug Pennzoil 5 qt at Wal-Mart for $12 ea. in all weights except 20W-50. Frank has recommended plain 'ole SuperTech as well. I think that the non-syn oil with the least complex additive package is what you are after for best results. I have had great results with any of the above oils. Some people just like to have at least a brand name in the crankcase. I have also used Mobil 5000, Exxon, Castrol GTX, and Shell. Stay away from High Mileage oils while using ARX clean or rinse cycles, for best results. You can go back to them afterwards, no problem.
looks like here in the Netherlands,the mineral 5w30 's have all gone ,the best I can get is a semi-synth 5w30. Have looked at lots of places for available renown and unknown brands in this weight; but never any luck.
How about castrol edge 5w30 indeed fully synth , its the one I am using now. Is this an option to use for the threatment ? Or could I buy like comma eurotech semi-synth 5w30 ? Which is half price compared to castrol.
I do not insist on 'brand' oil,but its all they have here ,or the regular 'unknow' automotive brand(comma etc.) in 5w30, even at the supermarkets its all 20w50 etc multigrade mineral,which is no good for my motor?
I have bought auto-rx to clean a previously neglected engine, but need to get the availability-thing sorted first...
By the half price oil extend the cleaning cycle to 3000 miles ( because of additive package in this oil) extend rinsing mileage to 3500 miles. (same reason) all will be well.
Thanks for the recommendation have just changed to semi-synth service classification:ACEA A1 B1 API SL CF 5W30 +filter) today and added the Auto-Rx.
I do not drive the Camaro Z28 that much ,so it will take a while before I have about 4800 kms.
I discovered the sludge when looking for the pcv-valve to replace and disconnected some hoses, they're covered inside with a black residue,also the pcv valve itself where it connects into the hose has some of that too, the same thing in the oil fill opening of the engine when I stuck my finger in there it has the gunk somewere below.Not a just an oilfilm...
Then I started looking for some kind of solution,so I have read an anti sludge shock therapy is not recommended for sludgy engines.Some people on Ls1tech and here and there, were quite enthousiastic about Auto-Rx. Hope it will work with this oil @7eur l. since officially have to use dino oil,which is as said impossible to find here in this weight.
Got the car at about 73000 km's ;the great engine has some 80000 kms on the clock now as said still runs strong,Must admit, when I got the car did an oilchange and what came out of the engine for oil,was not funny.Today the old oil was quite black as well.
Also when the when the engine is warm ,at least before the oilchange etc, has a very slight tick,only audible sometimes on driverside outside,caused by either la lifter or exhaustleak . When cold first seconds, slight pistonslap. The Ls1 seems to be renown for noisyness,so I have heard,no worries there.
I'll add that if it is a lifter tick, that the Auto-Rx will probably help as it has on several engines I have used it in. The tick was there steadily, then over time during the treament it would come and go, then finally after rinse cycle started, soon lifter tick was gone for good.
I have been driving 274km's with Auto-Rx in the oil and a note to add:
looks like the engine starts to run better:it feels like less throtttle is needed to accelerate and drive normally in traffic,the engine runs more quite/stable on idle.The lifter noise has become less audible. All purely subjective measurements.The wether over here has turned significantly colder last couple of days too.
Have done about 3000 miles with the Auto-Rx cleaning phase in the LS1,so it was about time for the rinsing phase.
The oil came out well used(brownish black slightly transparent),there goes the auto-rx...
Have added the required amount of 5W-30 5q(5,4l)and a clean oilfilter upf 44 and ...nothing...
The inside of the oil cap was slightly cleaner then when I putted in the rx,still sludge at inside of oilfill pipe,have cleaned this part out.
Fact: I do have some more backfiring and more compression when I decellerate from 120kph+ up until 95kph there is a nice pop that I have never heared before. Sotp:it looks like it needs less revs to go the same speed,more responsive to the throttle.
The slight valve-tick has become less,sometimes the tick has gone altogether.The engine itself, from nearby, seems to be slightly more noisy,valvetrain etc. when idling , but that seems normal for an ls1 and I have read that is to be expected if everything cleans up?
I have driven as normal during the cleaning phase: sometimes really beating the LS1 and for use in daily traffic.Mainly shorter distances, but every once in a while more then hour and a half .
Fact :After replacement of the pcv valve and adding the auto-rx, the oil consumption stopped to an acceptable amount of quarter dipstick since the last oil change (3000miles ago).
My chrome exhaust tips take longer to get black.88854kms on the clock.
Let the rinsing begin!
-- Edited by marthyh on Sunday 16th of August 2009 03:41:33 PM
