Decarbonizing 7.3

[Goofyexponent]

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2001/02/zmax1.shtm

This is not the article I previously read, but here is something similar. But hey, if zmax works well in your vehicles, I would stick with it. Hope this doesn't open a new can of worms lol.
I just stick with the auto-rx in oil and seafoam in fuel...on occasion. The auto-rx cut down my oil consumption from a quart every 500 miles to a quart every 1500 or so miles. I am hoping the second treatment of auto-rx continues to decrease my engines oil consumption.

Hey, no worries. I mean just because I had good luck with it, don't mean everyone does. Maybe a catastrophic failure is just around the corner for me .

I appriciate the info though!

 

[smokin150]

So you're NOT using Rotella

And to the OP since we are talking about oil and seafoams and whatnot, I figgure I will toss you a bit of info on motor oils.

STAY AWAY FROM SHELL ROTELLA ENGINE OIL!!! Your engine will drink it like cold beers on a hot day. Ask some of us seinor guys how we know!! lol

Now u got me wondering if its the oil I'm using... all I've ever used has been rotella. Hell I was using it in my 300 Gasser before the oil pump died, run it in my freight shake and my 7.3, as well as my motohome with a 440 gasser , and never had problems

 

[Goofyexponent]

Now u got me wondering if its the oil I'm using... all I've ever used has been rotella. Hell I was using it in my 300 Gasser before the oil pump died, run it in my freight shake and my 7.3, as well as my motohome with a 440 gasser , and never had problems

A LOT of us used it once of twice with BAD results. My old 7.3 would go 3000 miles and lose about 1/2 a quart to consumption. And that was cheap wally world oil.

I thought, "hmmm...shell rotella seems to have a good name, and its all I ever put in the big rigs I drive at work, so it must be good!"

Within 1500 miles, I consumed a gallon. And when it came time to change my oil, it had consumed a little over a second gallon.

If I buy 6 gallons of oil I can usually do two oil changes and have a bit left over. With 6 gallons of Rotella, I did one oil change...added two gallons to the crankcase within the 3000 miles...and when it came time to change it again, I didn't have NEAR enough to do a second oil change with the rotella I had. I dumped the remainder in my fuel tank and burnt it as fuel.

I went back to wally world oil and never had a problem again.

There are several posts about it, and most had results like mine.

 

[smokin150]

A LOT of us used it once of twice with BAD results. My old 7.3 would go 3000 miles and lose about 1/2 a quart to consumption. And that was cheap wally world oil.

I thought, "hmmm...shell rotella seems to have a good name, and its all I ever put in the big rigs I drive at work, so it must be good!"

Within 1500 miles, I consumed a gallon. And when it came time to change my oil, it had consumed a little over a second gallon.

If I buy 6 gallons of oil I can usually do two oil changes and have a bit left over. With 6 gallons of Rotella, I did one oil change...added two gallons to the crankcase within the 3000 miles...and when it came time to change it again, I didn't have NEAR enough to do a second oil change with the rotella I had. I dumped the remainder in my fuel tank and burnt it as fuel.

I went back to wally world oil and never had a problem again.

There are several posts about it, and most had results like mine.

Hmmm that's interesting... I'll pay a bit more attention to how much I'm burning, usually about 1700-1800 miles I go thru about a quart and a half, plus I know I've got a few leaks so I'll look at it a little closer

 

[Blind Driver2]

I would rather spend my money and use synthetic oil then to use Rotella and have to add a quart every few hundred miles.

Been there, done that.

 

[jonathan]

My truck drinks all oil but rotella goes faster

 

[chris142]

I worked in a dyno shop for a while long ago (back when dynos were rare) and zmax rented in the dyno for a day. Basically, they wanted before and after tests showing power improvements using their products. There were none. They then did some tweaks to the car to make it gain more power, but we refused to give the data as it was not legit. They got pissed and left; just goes to show you that you can't trust everything you read.

Those clowns prolly backed the ignition timing off, ran the test then put it where it should be to show a huge improvement.

So you're NOT using Rotella


STAY AWAY FROM SHELL ROTELLA ENGINE OIL!!! Your engine will drink it like cold beers on a hot day. Ask some of us seinor guys how we know!! lol

Do they drink the 15w40? I put the 5w40 in mine and it sure does slurp that up.

 

[firehawk]

Same as the 3800 series 2 in my buick. It was NOT looked after at all until I got my hands on her. It was showing signs of sludge under the oil fill cap and down into the valvetrain if I shined a flashlight inside her. I did about 5 quick oil changed with Zmax in them, and it litterally washed the sludge out of the engine.

I KNOW it did it, because I cut the first filter open before Z max an it was pertty dirty. The next oil change I cut the filter open and it was packed with crud! It got worse until about the 4th oil change and then it got better and better. Now, I can go 3000 miles and have the oil come out only a few shages darker than it went in. It is almost clear on my dipstick at 3000 miles when I pull to check.

I would be far more concerned with sludge getting washed away and clogging up and oil passage or causing the bypass to open in the filter. Sludge itself is not a problem, as all the oiling surfaces will not have any sludge; it just accumulates in low flow areas. I have pulled a motor that was so filled with sludge, the moving path in the valve train was the only thing sludge free. Pulled the heads and checked a few bearing, they all were in great shape and it later ran fine.

Now if the additive can free up stuck rings, then that is great. I would rather just do a rebuild and not worry about it.

 

[whiteboyslo]

FWIW, I run Chevron Delo 400 15w-40 and have zero consumption. Not super brand-loyal; it's just what they sell at Costco.

Mike

 

[92F350CC]

What about transmission fluid? I've never tried it myself, but my cousin had almost no oil pressure on his GMC pickup with the 5.3, and he put some transmission fluid in with an oil change and says he got his oil pressure back up and made the truck run better.

 

[Black dawg]

what they were probably suggesting was running the engine off of a very aggressive carbon solvent. THere are machines out there that make this a very easy process, and the results are very noticeable.

 

[idiabuse]

Spraying water will steam out all the carbon. Methanol will clean it out. But not in a afternoon. A water injection system spraying water or methanol will keep the engine nice and clean over a long period of time. You cant clean it out in any kind of hurry.
Yea Synthetic oil will cut down considerably on the buildup with carbon. I know from experience Synthetic oils leave less residue and sediment behind after a hard tow or severe service.
Now we can all argue on brands but Not me. I stick with my brand.

Javier

 

[79jasper]

What about transmission fluid? I've never tried it myself, but my cousin had almost no oil pressure on his GMC pickup with the 5.3, and he put some transmission fluid in with an oil change and says he got his oil pressure back up and made the truck run better.

I've done it on a s10 with the 4.3, ran it for about 500 miles. Half quart atf and a little marvel mystery oil. Came out dark as diesel oil and ran quieter.

 

[79jasper]

Not trying to pick a fight, but what types of problems did people encounter with Zmax. I have used it for almost 4 solid years on all my vehciles without an issue. I am just wondering what I should be looking out for.



Zmax isn't a horsepower addative. It's simply an oil addative that helps inprove oil flow, keep carbon deposits off the insides of an engine and promote lubricity within wear parts.

I would have laughed at them for trying to make horsepower with an oil supplement as well.

When I first got my IDI, it had what sounded to me like a sticking lifter. Tap, tap, tap....constantly. I changed the oil a coupld times in a quick interval, but no change. I poured a whole bottle of Zmax (as per instructions) and within 500 kilometers, it was gone completely. The sludge that was under my oil fill cap was gone as well.

Same as the 3800 series 2 in my buick. It was NOT looked after at all until I got my hands on her. It was showing signs of sludge under the oil fill cap and down into the valvetrain if I shined a flashlight inside her. I did about 5 quick oil changed with Zmax in them, and it litterally washed the sludge out of the engine.

I KNOW it did it, because I cut the first filter open before Z max an it was pertty dirty. The next oil change I cut the filter open and it was packed with crud! It got worse until about the 4th oil change and then it got better and better. Now, I can go 3000 miles and have the oil come out only a few shages darker than it went in. It is almost clear on my dipstick at 3000 miles when I pull to check.

When I pulled my valve pan cover to do the gaskets, it was sparkling clean in there. The engine has 255000 kilometers on it (158000 miles) and it's in perfect working order after having a HUGE Zmax infusion!

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Not bad for almost 160 000 miles

I am not saying it's a miracle "mechanic in a can" but it does a good job. I am sure auto RX is better, but look at the cost!!

I've used the Z-max before. Wouldn't do it again on a higher mileage engine. Had an 87 bronco II that I put it in. Within 2 weeks it threw a few rods. I know it had to have knocked stuff loose. The previous owner was some **** head so I doubt the oil had been changed before I got it. But I would use it again. Just make sure the engine is a little cleaner first.

 

[riotwarrior]

So you're NOT using Rotella

And to the OP since we are talking about oil and seafoams and whatnot, I figgure I will toss you a bit of info on motor oils.

STAY AWAY FROM SHELL ROTELLA ENGINE OIL!!! Your engine will drink it like cold beers on a hot day. Ask some of us seinor guys how we know!! lol

Nope I'm not but I plan on running some to see what happens, I dunno, I just gotta see for myself....

Maybe I'm one of those lucky ones and nothing will happen....who knows....

I'll get a bucket and give it a whirl ....

I've been using the NAPA 15/40 house branded stuff...and Napa filter...

Gotta find my oil analysis kit so I can send off a sample...

Still want to AUTO RX it though, really good dose clean her up good and prep for turbo install.... when cab change takes place

Al