Auto-Rx Customers Questions & Answers

CD101 · Newbie

Ok, just ordered 2 bottles of ARX... can't wait!

johnoh · Veteran Member

That 1.8l engine had two versions. Check the label on the side of your engine. You'll see it when you stand on the passenger side of the engine and look in the middle of the loop made by the serpentine belt. There is a white sticker on the engine and the last 4 characters on that sticker are either K75N or K85N. The K85N fixed the consumption issue which plagued the K75N engines. I have the K85N in my 2001 1.8l prizm and it consumes no oil at all. Supposedly the 2002 models are all K85N, so I am surprised at your problem.

Having said that, your engine may be beyond worthwhile repair. Good idea to try arx on it just to see what it does.

-- Edited by johnoh on Wednesday 15th of September 2010 01:53:54 PM

CD101 · Newbie

I'll have to check the sticker.

Yes, I think it's beyond repair, which is exactly why I'm giving ARX a try. Well, beyond repair as far as making sense to get it repaired.

Actually, the foreign auto mechanic that looked at my car told me I should probably start looking for something newer.

CD101 · Newbie

I checked, and the sticker is K75N. It was manufactured in mid 2001.

johnoh · Veteran Member

sorry to hear that. Let us know of any changes to your symptoms once you put in arx.

geeaea · Senior Member

CD101

Have you played with the PCV system any? By that I mean tweak it? If you're not fouling plugs weekly, it's unlikely that this is a ring wear issue. That kinda points to it getting sucked into the manifold by the PCV valve. You might try lengthening the hose and even adapting it bigger (adapt bigger ..longer..adapt down again). That will lower the velocity of whatever is getting drafted into the intake manifold.

Your really limited driving will make this take a bit.

CD101 · Newbie

No, I haven't done anything with the PCV system.

Prior to doing the ARX treatment I'm going to pull and replace the plugs, and PCV valve. The plugs were badly fouled the last time I had it in. It was running poorly, had the plugs and an injector replaced. Ran great after that.

Lengthening the hose sounds like a good idea... I'll look into that and see what I can do.

Side not... Toyota did a compression test, and they said the compression was fine.

Jerry Makeever · Newbie

CD101

I have the same engine in a Chevy Prizm, but mine is the K85N type. The car has 200,000 miles on it and I just replaced the cylinder head. In highway driving, at 75 MPH I consume a little over a quart of oil every 100 miles. There is no visible smoke from the tailpipe, but the inside of the tailpipe is very black and sooty. My spark plugs look clean on the insulator and tip, but the round end right near the tip and insulator is black, but not oily. Compression on all cylinders is between 150 and 160. I believe the oil consumption is much less in city driving, but I cannot say for sure, as I bought the car just before I changed the cylinder head and have not driven it long enough in town to gather sufficient data. The car gets 28-29 MPG in town and 35-36 highway -- 3 speed automatic.The check engine light is on, indicating some issue with the catalytic converter. The PCV valve seems to be fine. I really like the car except for the ridiculous oil consumption.

I have heard that the problem may be stuck oil control rings, which according to some sources might be loosened with additives such as Seafoam, Marvel Mystery Oil, etc. I have tried Seafoam, added to my oil, and have also done an overnight piston soak with Marvel Mystery Oil. Nothing seems to have helped yet.

I am wondering have you had any success at all with Auto-Rx??

Does anyone have any advice for me?

bmwtechguy · Senior Member

I would first try Auto-Rx, because if the problem is stuck piston rings, this will help. Plus, compared to the cost of a rebuild or new engine, there is no comparison. After you get done trying this, look at a product called Oil Saver, made by Lubro-Moly and sold at some NAPA stores for about $6. They can order it for you. Another product that can help tremendously is Schaeffer Moly 132. For motor oil, try Maxlife 10W-40. This oil alone has helped to reduce consumption in many cases for me when engine repair was not an option.

-- Edited by bmwtechguy on Tuesday 9th of November 2010 09:20:56 PM

guiley · Newbie

2001 Chevy Prizm Owner

At 125,000 I was burning around 1 quart every 600 miles. I did the double treatment which was recommended at the time for an oil burner - 2 bottles of Auro-RX changing the filter every 1000 for 3000 miles followed by a 3000 mile rinse changing the filter half way through.

In my case, the oil consumption didn't change. I continued to burn oil and the rate increased over time to about 1 quart every 400 miles. A few weekends ago at 150,000 miles, the car started misfiring badly and I went ahead and re-ringed the pistons, replaced the burnt exhaust valve causing the misfire, and lapped the rest of the valves in. There is a great summary I followed of how to do the re-ring at http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/131-8th-generation-1998-2002/402362-diy-oil-consumption-fix.html.

A buddy of mine who owns a '99 Corolla with similar mileage helped on the project. He had done the work on his car a few weeks ago but hadn't used Auto-RX on his car prior to the repair. On his Corolla, the oil control rings on the piston were packed solid and he had difficulty removing them. On my Prizm, the oil control rings moved freely and had minimal sludge/carbon deposits. The drain holes were plugged on both cars.

In my opinion, the Auto-RX worked as promised on my car and freed up the stuck rings. Unfortunately for me the rings had wore or taken a permanent set and even though freed, they would no longer function to keep oil out of the cylinder. With the new rings installed and the new/bigger oil drain holes, I'm planning to maintain the gains with the Auto-RX maintenance program and conventional oil.

Frank · Senior Member

Thank you for your post.