Auto-Rx Customers Questions & Answers

94Mesquite · Newbie

Ad Auto-Rx now or after ATF change?

onthefritz8 · Veteran Member

My thinking on this and I'm no expert but if you are long overdue for changing the fluid, it may be compromised with dirt and who knows what else. Also the filter may be full to the point of if adding Auto-RX now would just make matters worse. If it was me I would change the fluid and filter and then add the Auto-RX and run it the 1000 miles and then change fluid and filter again. Don't forget to have the fluid changed by a T-Tech method to exchange all of the fluid including the torque converter. If you are having slight irregularities now maybe changing the fluid and filter would help the situation. The sooner you start the Auto-RX the better. I used it in my '95 Camry Wagon a year ago and so far no problems and in my opinion is working better now than before I used Auto-RX.

brent olsen · Senior Member

Since you are long overdue for a trans fluid change and you are noticing some problems then I would go ahead and get it changed.

After you get it changed add 6 ounces of auto-rx and drive 1000 miles. Then go ahead and get a T-Tech method to exchange most of the trans fluid.

94Mesquite · Newbie

Great, I'll go ahead and change the fluid and filter. After I drive the 1000 miles with the Auto-Rx, is it recommended that I change the Transmission Filter again or do I just need to change the fluid?

Also, the linked method of changing the transmission fluid was recommended to me for my specific model of transmission.
http://www.fordtrucks.com/article/idx/9/057/article/Changing_ATF_Fluid_in_a_E4OD_and_4R100_transmission.html
Is this essentially the same as the T-Tech method? Will it work just as well?

brent olsen · Senior Member

I would change the transmission filter too be on the safe side.

geeaea · Senior Member

Yes, that procedure on the Ford forum will work for you. The guy kinda drags it out a bit ..but it's detailed enough I guess.

dbdeland · Senior Member

94Mesquite,

Thank you for purchasing ARX and how is it ARX working for you? do you have a update?

Daryl

catchme_srini · Newbie

Hello:

I am new to this board and Auto-Rx. I have a 01 Mazda MPV having 79850 miles on it. For the last month or so i am having poor acceleration and power loss concerns. No wonder my transmission(Automatic) lever is shifting hard from P and above and the vehicle jerks on running while the AT shifts. My home mechanic was quick to point to the reason 'transmission slip'. He suggested a transmission fluid flush and fill. This is where i am thinking to add Auto-Rx. I have few questions listed below that might have been answered in some other posts (excuse me if it is repeated)
->I do not know the condition of the fluid and i do not know if it has ever been changed
Given the above conditions, do i need to first clean the fluid and refill it with Auto-rx and then drive for 3000 miles before changing the fluid once more?
->Assuming i have driven for 3000miles with Autorx and now if i clean the ATF. Do i need to add the Auto Rx second time as well?

Thanks.
Srini

dbdeland · Senior Member

catchme_srini,

no need to change the fluid now just add ARX and drive 3000 miles dump and add new fluid no more ARX is needed good luck and thank you for using ARX.

Daryl Baines

catchme_srini · Newbie

Thanks Daryl. I 'll do so.

But a quick question, what happens if the ATF level is not correct? Do you suggest me to top off and add auto-rx?

Thx.

dbdeland · Senior Member

catchme_srini,

I would add the ARX and top off with transmission fluid and you are good to go.

Daryl

-- Edited by dbdeland on Sunday 3rd of January 2010 03:47:56 PM

RichG · Veteran Member

Also, look at your transmission dipstick. What is the color of the fluid? It should be pink to reddish color. If it is brown or black, it is severely burnt and broken down. If that is the case, I would change the fluid right away. Auto-Rx is a great product, but unsatisfactory fluid with any additive is not going to fix it.

-- Edited by RichG on Monday 4th of January 2010 02:54:50 AM

johnoh · Veteran Member

In this situation, if you have a transmission drain plug, I would do a drain and fill before adding autorx. This replaces only 33%-50% of your fluid but at least improves it somewhat. Then you add arx, then drive 3000 miles, then do a full flush. This is a happy medium between justadding arx to very old oil versus doing a full flush twice.

catchme_srini · Newbie

Thanks guys for all your replies. The ATF was very black and rough. So i changed my ATF (Valvoline) and also changed engine oil to Valvoline Maxlife. Its been 150 miles since i added 6oz of Auto-Rx to my transmission and i have noticed a smoother shifting. I am waiting for it to solve the slippage and locked up torque converter!

Of the single bottle of Auto-Rx i ordered i am left with 6oz. I am wondering if i can add this to my engine oil, though i do not have any engine issues. But the instruction to add it to the engine says 3oz of Auto-Rx per quarter of engine oil. I am in tight budget to order one more bottle of Auto-rx. So just adding the left over 6oz would really benefit me?

(FYI i drive a 01 Mazda MPV minivan that has 2.5L V6 Duratec engines by Ford)

-- Edited by catchme_srini on Monday 1st of February 2010 11:58:03 AM

-- Edited by catchme_srini on Monday 1st of February 2010 12:35:33 PM

dbdeland · Senior Member

catchme_srini

If your engine has no sludge issues you can use the maintenance program which is
3 to 4 fluid ounces (total) of Auto-Rx^® with each oil change. This will provide additional cleaning over the long haul and will prevent having to clean the engine again down the road.

catchme_srini · Newbie

Thank you dbdeland. Is there way to know that my engine has sludge? (pardon my ignorance. all that i can observe is that my engine runs good)

onthefritz8 · Veteran Member

Just thought it may be important, I can't remember where it was posted in here but it was suggested to go up to 3,000 miles for the transmission application. It's not posted on the main page yet but I do remember reading it somewhere in here not too long ago either. Actually I did find it and it was posted by Frank on 10-17-2009 and I found it by just searching 3,000.

Effective 10-17-09 We Have Posted New Application For Automatic Transmissions

Reply Quote

To get the most out of Auto-Rx®, we recommend the following simple steps:
STEP 1 Check the fluid level. If it is at or below the full mark, there is space available to add Auto-Rx. If the level is overfilled, it should be returned to the proper level before continuing.
STEP 2 Add approximately 6 ounces of Auto-Rx regardless of the fluid capacity. (For metric measurements, use 138 mL.)
STEP 3 Drive approximately 5 miles to circulate and evenly disperse the Auto-Rx into the transmission fluid.
STEP 4 Check the fluid level again. Add transmission fluid if the level is below the full mark.
STEP 5 Drive the vehicle for 3,000 miles.
STEP 6 Purge out the transmission fluid and replace with fresh fluid approved for your transmission.
STEP 7

1. Change the filter at this time if your transmission is so equipped in order to remove the contaminants that Auto-Rx has dissolved off the valve bodies and the torque convertor.

STEP 8 Congratulations! Your cleaning application is done.

PeterC · Newbie

The Transmission Application instructions now says:

"For vehicles operating under normal driving conditions, drive the vehicle normally for 1,000 miles (or 3,000 miles if under harsh conditions). "

What is the difference between normal and harsh conditions?

geeaea · Senior Member

Higher levels of oxidation (heat based fluid fatigue/deposits) would probably require longer dwell time for the product to work completely.

PeterC · Newbie

geeaea wrote:

Higher levels of oxidation (heat based fluid fatigue/deposits) would probably require longer dwell time for the product to work completely.

I'm sorry, can you elaborate what this means?

onthefritz8 · Veteran Member

To PeterC, I can't speak exactly for geeaea but I think what was meant was if your tranny fluid looks really bad and waaaaaay overdue for a change you might want to keep the Auto-RX in there for up to 3,000 miles. I think that's the english version.

Richone · Senior Member

In most cases, the addition of Auto-Rx at the precribed dose is effective when added to over used automatic transmission fluid. The normal filtration on an auto tranney is mainly a coarse screen and some form of a magnet to attract any gear chaffing that may have occured during the life of the over-used fluid. From my experience, Auto-Rx will dissolve gummed up deposits on shifting valves in dirty ATF, just as well is it would in old ATF. Automatic transmission are sometimes erroneously depicted as the weak link in many drive trains.

I believe this is mainly due to inproper service intervals. Many owners manuals state obserd change out intervals, while most transmission shops that perform rebuilds are pretty steady at 30K change outs to prolong the life of the transmission. Heck, I have family members that try to run the initial fill of ATF upwards of 80,000 miles, despite my recommendations.

Bottom line, it is super easy to add 6 fluid ounces or a 1/2 bottle dose to the existing fluid, drive 1000 miles and get the fluid exchanged out. Your tranney doesn't have to be the weak link, if cared for. Just my 2 cents.