I have been a long time user of Auto RX, but recently have experienced my first problem using it.
1997 Toyota 4Runner 4wd 3.4 w/ 205,000 miles
About 1 month/600 miles ago I did an oil change using a good name brand filter, Walmart 5w-30 oil and 1 bottle of Auto RX.
Prior to the oil change, it had a very small leak near the valve covers and even a smaller leak near the pan.
Not thinking much of it, I started the Auto RX treatment and have been running the truck like I should. It wasnt until 2 weeks ago I noticed much more oil around the pass side valve cover and the underside. Thinking it was the pass. side valve cover leaking down, I replaced it. Its now leak free.
However, the leak on the bottom side has gotten much worse and is dripping when parked.
It should be mentioned, that I have replaced the PCV valve in the last 600 miles.
-- Edited by dbdeland on Tuesday 25th of January 2011 03:17:41 PM
I can't believe this is missing from our web site under "Seal Leaks' Auto-Rx does not swell seals in order to stop a leak we clean the seal material on both sides thereby making the seal extremely pliable just top off with oil. Seal will leak more until your done Auto-Rx Application.
We want you to use group 11 or 111 oil for this application after it is completed. The simple additive package in these oils will restore firm pliability stopping leak with in a few hundred miles.
This works providing you don't have a ripped or torn seal. Stay with this type oil (no synthetic-semi synthetic or high mileage oil) you can go to Auto-Rx Maintenance Plan after first OCI.
-- Edited by Frank Miller on Friday 26th of November 2010 09:22:55 AM
-- Edited by Frank Miller on Friday 26th of November 2010 09:23:25 AM
-- Edited by Frank Miller on Friday 26th of November 2010 10:26:29 AM
The possibility does exist that with 205,000 miles on it things do wear out and break. Another idea might be that the PCV valve you put in could be defective or maybe the hose if there is one is plugged or kinked. That could cause pressure to build in the engine and be the cause of an increase of the oil leaks. Just me guessing.
etc wrote:1997 Toyota 4Runner 4wd 3.4 w/ 205,000 miles
Prior to the oil change, it had a very small leak near the valve covers and even a smaller leak near the pan.
Not thinking much of it, I started the Auto RX treatment and have been running the truck like I should. It wasnt until 2 weeks ago I noticed much more oil around the pass side valve cover and the underside. Thinking it was the pass. side valve cover leaking down, I replaced it. Its now leak free.
However, the leak on the bottom side has gotten much worse and is dripping when parked.
It should be mentioned, that I have replaced the PCV valve in the last 600 miles.
This is pretty normal for a high mileage engine that has never been treated with autorx. The sludge buildup on and around the seals on such an engine will result in leaks when that sludge is removed. You just need to be patient and monitor your oil level while the seals regain their shape. It may take you until the second rinse phase before the leak stops. I have a transmission seal leak that started after my autorx transmission treatment 7k miles ago that has yet to stop. Its annoying, but its a small inconvenience compared to the alternative.
Well since I started the thread, I have seen no signs of the oil stopping. Just as a precaution, I checked the oil pan bolts and the DS valve cover bolts. I found the valve cover gaskets to be loose, as I suspected, but the pan bolts were tight.
I'm currently at 2,200 miles in my treatment, so I still have time... :)
I didnt mention it in any of my posts, however, I did have a slight tick on my drivers side, but a couple hundred miles ago it went away :)
-- Edited by etc on Saturday 22nd of January 2011 12:09:16 AM
I have been a long time user of Auto RX, but recently have experienced my first problem using it.
1997 Toyota 4Runner 4wd 3.4 w/ 205,000 miles
About 1 month/600 miles ago I did an oil change using a good name brand filter, Walmart 5w-30 oil and 1 bottle of Auto RX.
Prior to the oil change, it had a very small leak near the valve covers and even a smaller leak near the pan.
Not thinking much of it, I started the Auto RX treatment and have been running the truck like I should. It wasnt until 2 weeks ago I noticed much more oil around the pass side valve cover and the underside. Thinking it was the pass. side valve cover leaking down, I replaced it. Its now leak free.
However, the leak on the bottom side has gotten much worse and is dripping when parked.
It should be mentioned, that I have replaced the PCV valve in the last 600 miles.
Auto-Rx nor any other product can repair a valve cover gasket nor oil pan gasket leak.
Auto-Rx can only help solve rotary seal issues, such as a crank shaft or cam shaft seal. Gaskets such a a valve cover needs to be replaced. It is likely that if the valve cover was loose then the gasket was damaged. Simply re-torquing down the valve cover bolts will not likely solve your issue. However the gasket is relatively cheap and on most motor designs fairly easy to replace.
The same would hold true for an oil pan gasket. Gaskets can crack over time and the only remedy is replacement. This can occur even if the pan bolts are still tight.
-- Edited by dbdeland on Tuesday 25th of January 2011 07:38:12 PM
