I thought I would share some information on an Auto-Rx application, not particularly approved by Auto-Rx. I ran a maintenance dose without first cleaning and rinsing, oops.
The car is driven basically 50% highway and 50% city. I would also note that of the 50% city driving, 1 hour per day is stop and go, mostly stop. Driving environmental conditions are very dusty, gritty air. On the weekend my driving is usually short trips of less than 5 miles. I would consider this to be severe driving.
I had run PP for the first 25,000 KM. And have run Amsoil 0W20 to date. The oil analysis numbers on the left are from an extended drain on the Amsoil alone. The numbers on the right are of an extended drain with a 3 fluid ounce maintenance dose installed. I plan on running a couple more extended drains with the maintenance dose installed(approx. 15,000 miles). Then plan on running a longer interval with another UOA.
Full Flow Filter 15 micronFull Flow Filter 15 micron
Unit Time 85440 KMUnit Time 108,815 KM
Lube Time 25,140 KM(15,621 miles)Lube Time 23,375 KM(14,525 miles)
Wear Metals(ppm)Wear Metals(ppm)
Iron15Iron9
Chromium1Chromium0
Nickel0Nickel0
Aluminum2Aluminum1
Copper2Copper0
Lead0Lead 0
Tin 1Tin1
Cadmium0Cadmium0
Silver0Silver0
Titanium0Titanium0
Vanadium0Vanadium0
Contaminant Metals (ppm)Contaminant Metals (ppm)
Silicon31Silicon34
Sodium17Sodium12
Potassium2Potassium3
Multi Source Metals (ppm)Multi Source Metals (ppm)
Molybdenum6Molybdenum1
Antimony0Antimony0
Manganese2Manganese0
Lithium0Lithium2
Boron19Boron7
Additive Metals (ppm)Additive Metals (ppm)
Magnesium10Magnesium8
Calcium2996Calcium2690
Barium0Barium0
Phosphorus520Phosphorus547
Zinc635 Zinc576
Fuel Volume <0.5%Fuel Volume <0.5%
Soot<0.1%Soot<0.1%
Water<0.1%Water<0.1%
Continued 2.0 liter DodgeContinued 2.0 liter Dodge
Amsoil 0W20 SyntheticAmsoil 0w20 with ARX 3 oz.
Viscosity 100C/ cs11.4Viscosity 100C/cs12.7
TBN2.38TBN7.76
Oxidation44Oxidation29
Nitration31Nitration21
Points of concern:Fairly high levels of Silicon found in both UOAs. A result of very dusty driving climate.
TBN low in the oil analysis from the run with Amsoil 0W20, run for 15,621 miles. TBN very stout on the run with the maintenance dose installed.
Viscosity higher than desirable in both runs. Higher in the run with the maintenance dose,likely due to cleaning of past deposits now suspended in the oil sample.
Points of improvement:
*Improvement in wear metal counts with ARX installed.
*Substantial reduction in oxidation and nitration with ARXinstalled.
*TBN remained stout on the run with ARX installed.
Is it a good idea to do a maintenance dose eventhough you have not done cleaning and rising? If it is than I would just add 3oz to it every time I change my oil. Thanks.
It is a good idea however these results are from a customers engine he stated as clean. You can't expect these results if engine dirty in that case you should do basic application than go to maintenance plan.
IMO if i am unsure of the cleanliness of my engine 4 ounces would be my maintenance dose. This above referenced test is NOT an approved application.
If money is your consideration rather than do nothing might consider 4 ounces of Auto-Rx every OCI.
I started a Maintenance Dose on my Mercury Marauder when I got the car with 10,000 miles, it now has 27,000 miles on it.
Things are going great, but at each oil change the oil is dirty and the filter is heavy. I am due for an oil change soon, but somewhere along the line I will be doing a Clean and Rinse.
My 1983 Chevrolet El Camino after 3 Clean and Rinses I have noticed now that the oil that comes out is not as dirty looking and the oil filter when changed is very light, this leads me to believe that almost everything is cleaned out.
I feel my El Camino is cleaner inside than the Marauder that is why I will eventually do a Clean and Rinse in the Marauder.
