using Restore?

[wickedmerc]

My '03 MM (60k miles) smokes at start-up most of the time. I know, there are tons of threads about it here. I've seen many of them. Most discuss when it happens and possible reasons behind it. Few discuss repairs beyond tearing down the engine or just living with it.
My question is: has anyone tried Restore in their smoking motor? I used it years ago in my tired Olds motor and I was impressed with the results. But then again, the issue there was more blow-by/compression loss.
Before I try it, I wanted to check if anyone tried it already and if so, results?

[boatmangc]

My .02
Don't think it will help.
I have used it with success on old tired motors with low compression/low oil pressure.
It has scratch healing properties but I don't think it will do anything for leaking seals.

[Blk Mamba]

They say the oil puffing at start up is normal, mine doesn't, but others do. Restore, IMHO is one of the best products on the market.

[wickedmerc]

Thanks guys.
I was at a local show this evening. When I was getting ready to go, my "normal" puff of blue smoke gathered a fair amount of attention...not in a good way. Big cloud of burnt synthetic oil floating around. It's awfully embarrassing. If I see a car smoking, I think it's not cared for and possibly a POS. My MM is neither.
I think I'm gonna try the Restore. Don't think it could hurt. I'll read it again but I thought it's supposed to help improve seals and fill in cylinder wall scratches. Don't see why it wouldn't help at the seals.

[Spectragod]

Thanks guys.
I was at a local show this evening. When I was getting ready to go, my "normal" puff of blue smoke gathered a fair amount of attention...not in a good way. Big cloud of burnt synthetic oil floating around. It's awfully embarrassing. If I see a car smoking, I think it's not cared for and possibly a POS. My MM is neither.
I think I'm gonna try the Restore. Don't think it could hurt. I'll read it again but I thought it's supposed to help improve seals and fill in cylinder wall scratches. Don't see why it wouldn't help at the seals.

When you start the car, and there are people around, upon startup, powerbrake the car, burn the tires to oblivian:burnout:, problem solved, no more embarrasment..... FTMFW!

You can try the Restore, see what it does, it may or may not work. I'm doubtful it will hurt your motor.

[RacerX]

Do you want to see the possible smoke culprit? See pic here:
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=63260
BTW, all that in there and my car barely smokes.:dunno: It't the knocking I'm worried about!

[babbage]

Restore is nasty and dangerous. Don't use it. It is a harsh chemical mix that may damage your engine.

The smoke on starup is caused by BAD VALVE SEALS. To clean and recondition the valve seals use auto-rx. http://www.auto-rx.com/

My MM used to smoke on start-up but it doesn't anymore. hmm. I wonder what I did.

[MrBluGruv]

NOW he says don't use it. :(

[babbage]

NOW he says don't use it. :(


Did you do this already? Restore is a HEAVY solvent. You don't want that.

Auto-Rx is a "natural" type of compound and works slowly over 1500 miles. Then you have to drop the oil change filter and run a rinse cycle for 1500 miles. look at the website.

This stuff works. I post it everytime someone mentions smoke on startup. Does anyone listen or try it? :rolleyes:

It will clean and recondition your seals. Most times this will STOP the smoke on startup.

[MrBluGruv]

I don't have a smoking problem yet, but I'm about 100 miles away from turning 100K on the clock. I had a gift card to auto zone, so I decided I'd pick up the fuel additive and oil additive forms of this stuff, looked and seemed pretty solid. I haven't put them in yet though.

[babbage]

I think of restore as being like paint thinner. Might work too well. Got $6000 for the aluminator sitting around?

[MrBluGruv]

Methinks we'll be taking a return trip to another autozone tomorrow for an exchange with something less dangerous, like maybe tire cleaner. :D

[babbage]

Methinks we'll be taking a return trip to another autozone tomorrow for an exchange with something less dangerous, like maybe tire cleaner. :D


http://www.auto-rx.com - this is the safe way to clean. did you look at the site?

[wickedmerc]

@ Spectragod...an immediate burnout would probably deflect attention but if she gets a little squirrely in the rear, it could get ugly!

@ RacerX...those pics are pretty wild...and your car didn't smoke?!?

@ Babbage...thanks for the input. I looked into that product web site. It clearly states it must not be used with synthetic oil. I just got an oil change less than 500 miles ago. Those synthetic ones aren't too cheap. The guy I bought the car from also ran synthetic (and I'm beginning to understand why he ran 10W40 when it says right on the filler cap that 5W20 is recommended!).

Not sure what I'm gonna do. The Restore web site is not very informative. I'll probably go to the store and read the can. If it says anything about reconditioning valve seats, I'll probably try it. We'll see......

[RF Overlord]

I have never been a fan of "miracle-in-a-can" products, and I do not have any direct experience with Restore, but I have heard nothing but good things about Auto-Rx. That is the ONLY thing I'd consider putting in my crankcase, just like Techron and Regane are the only things I'd put in the fuel tank.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

Re: 10W40, I would not do that. People think that heavy oil will burn slower but it really doesn't. Just run the correct weight oil and if your car smokes, either live with it, or fix it.

[RF Overlord]

Agree w/SitBS above^^^

10W-40 is loaded with viscosity index improvers and has been known to gum up ring packs. GM even issued a TSB a while back stating that they do NOT recommend its use in any modern engine. If you've been using 10W-40, you might indeed want to try a run of Auto-Rx.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

I just know that I had an extreme oil burning car (GM 1.9 Saturn engine which had known oil consumption issues due to no drain back holes in the oil ring land) and I tried running everything from stock 5w30 oil to 10W40 in it and it made absolutely zero difference in oil consumption. So I gathered from that, if there is no advantage to putting a heavier than stock specified oil in, and potential harm from running an engine with bearing clearances designed for a thinner oil, why do it. If someone told me they put 10w40 in their marauder for its life I wouldn't buy it from them.

[Phrog_gunner]

it's supposed to help improve seals and fill in cylinder wall scratches.

If it's solid enough to fill a scratch I would think its solid enough to make new scratches if it doesn't have one to fit into? Either way, the problem with most of these motors are the valve guide seals (like many others have mentioned) and if you decide to use a miracle in a can at least use one for seals. I never saw anything good come from the use of Restore back in my auto parts store days.

[wickedmerc]

Thanks for all the input and advice guys. :beer:
I have decided not to use the Restore...too risky. I have used the product in the past and was happy with the results. However, the patient there was a tired, old Olds motor. A completely different animal.

For the record, I'm the 4th owner of this car. To my knowledge, 10w40 oil was only used once and was in there when I got it. I just recently switched back to the 5w20 synthetic. Seems to be smoking more now (75%+ start-ups) but only smokes on start-up and not when warmed. I didn't know enough about the DOHC motor, or Fords at all, to realize the 10w40 was incorrect for the car and could've been a red flag. Otherwise she runs great, sounds great, looks great and I'm quite enjoying the car.