I have a 1997 Mazda MPV 3L V6 with 164k miles. It does not have any significant oil usage or leaks, maybe 1/2 qt every 10k miles. At 32k I switch to synthetic (mobil 1) and have generally changed the oil every 7500+/- miles.
The MPG is down about 1-2miles per gallon compared to its peak (15 vs 17 City), and when I look in the fill tube it is stained and the cap has some crap on it. The oil is very dark within days of an oil change. Over all, it runs fine.
Last oil change, about 1000 miles ago, I put in Mobil 1 high mileage which has additives to remove sludge and swell seals. I know folks here do not like swelling seals. In all honesty, I have had great luck with Mobil 1 over many cars and have family members who have conducted controlled tests with Mobil 1 showing very little sludging or varnish if used from day 1.
The question is can I just add RX to this oil, do a rinse and then repeate the whole thing as it is a high milage car or should I change the oil to dino now and do the treatment?
Go read the sludge application. Auto RX does not work well with high mileage oils. It would be best to wait till your next oil change and change it to some inexpensive non-high mileage oil before you poured your Auto Rx in there.
Go read the sludge application. Auto RX does not work well with high mileage oils. It would be best to wait till your next oil change and change it to some inexpensive non-high mileage oil before you poured your Auto Rx in there.
After posting I started to get a cam seal leak. Not a lot but a noticable drip drip after running. I am thinking the addatives in the high milage may have started to remove some build up on the seal causing a leak. I swapped out with dino, added Auto Rx and replaced the PCV valve. The dripping is reduced but still there after 200 miles or so. I am hoping it will resolve in time and will post.
My other car (2002 Volvo S60 T6 91k) just finished the transmission treatment and is 2000k into the engine treatment. I noticed no observable change in the transmission even after replacing fluid and filter, but it was not really presenting problems. The engine runs the same, but the MPG has moved slowly up from about 16.5 to about 18.5 on a consistent trip. Warmer weather is comming, so that may confuse the gains, but I do think I have made a real MPG gain.
Changed out the Volvo's filter and oil & started the rinse phase. The filter is very dark almost black but no obvious mass or grit just very dark and saturated after a 2500 mile clean phase. I have nver paid much attention to what the filter looked like in the past, but the oil was always dark. I will see if I can post a picture to let others decide if it is normal.
If you see any more leaks during the rinse phase it might be a good idea to change the oil filter halfway into the Rinse Phase.
It would be wise to do another clean and rinse using regular dino oil, your leaks should eventually stop sometime, maybe after you are done the 2nd clean and rinse.
I would not go back to Mobil 1, if you want to use a synthetic try a Group III synthetic oil after the 2nd clean and rinse phase are over.
Some Group III synthetic oil's are Pennzoil Platinum or Amsoil XL.
