WARNING- Engine Oil Restore

[DRIPS]

I have used the Restore product with my oil changes on previous vehicles and have had no issues. Today I changed my engine oil and included the 8 cylinder formula Restore product as a replacement for 1/2 of a quart of 5w30...as instructions say..and as I have always done.

However, no noticable problems after the start, but after a little driving ISSSUUUESs.

When at Idle speed the engine bucks and struggles to stay alive!? My service engine light is now on and now I am pissed. I am contemplating dropping the fresh oil/restore and doing the oil change again to see if that helps.

Anyone had issues like this or can offer any help? Can I see what the diagnostic code is and get a description of the part that is causing it without a machine?

[ronez82]

You should be able to take it to your local auto zone or similar store and they can pull the code for you for free. You then have to reference the code to find out what the problem is. Sometimes they will help you with the code other wise you will have to reference the service manual.

God luck

[szh]

I have never heard of Restore, so cannot comment on that. What is it and what does it do?

In general, I prefer not to add anything to the engine oils in my car. If you change the oil and filter often enough, these additives are probably pretty useless. Plus, they could cause harm ... for example, check out http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/...s.htm to see why Lucas is Bad Stuff™!

The only gasoline additives I do like are: BG-44K and ISOHEET. For the usual reasons ...

Z

[DRIPS]

Just got back from Autozone....

I have four codes and all deal with timing of the engine. I used restore on my 95000 mile maxima numerous times, but I guess i should not have used it in this baby! I am going to drain it out and refill the oil tomorrow without that ****. I am bringing it to Infiniti Wednesday.

[szh]

Just got back from Autozone....

I have four codes and all deal with timing of the engine. I used restore on my 95000 mile maxima numerous times, but I guess i should not have used it in this baby! I am going to drain it out and refill the oil tomorrow without that ****. I am bringing it to Infiniti Wednesday.

Hmmm ... if you have a chance, put in an 11 ounce can of BG44K or the Nissan equivalent, fill the tank, and drive a lot of miles (one gas tank worth) before you do that oil change in a few days!

Might work wonders!

Z

[auditech10]

What is 44K going to do for his timing??? He has no fuel issues so doing that is not going to solve his problem.I say get rid of the oil with your additive and see what happens. Its possible that the additive you added is clogging or just thins out the oil where it cant build enough pressure to actuate the cam adjusters. Rule out the variables first.Good luck

[Double E]

Agreed. Put it back the way it was concerning oil. If AZ also reset the codes (they don't reset them where I am), if they come back, then take action. Use 44K as needed (in the fuel).

It is odd that the oil caused issues with timing. Can you post the codes?

Also, do we have a way to pull our own codes on the 03-04 cars?

EDIT: yes we do! hope this works.... http://www.infinitihelp.com/di...2.htm
Modified by Double E at 8:35 AM 3/4/2008

[GJEMD]

I agree, Z sounds like an old woman handing out castor oil for everythingthat ailes you. BK is not the end all. The car was not running bad the day before this occurence. Unlikley carbon deposits are in play

[szh]

What is 44K going to do for his timing??? He has no fuel issues so doing that is not going to solve his problem.I say get rid of the oil with your additive and see what happens. Its possible that the additive you added is clogging or just thins out the oil where it cant build enough pressure to actuate the cam adjusters. Rule out the variables first.Good luck

Yes, BG-44K will not affect timing agreed! However, and this is my point, on these VK engines, with their propensity for carbon deposits (and they can happen overnight for sure - I speak from experience about this!), it is an easy fix.

Remember that the reason the carbon deposits happen is sometimes because of oil blow-by from the "looser" rings tolerance. Hence, if the oil additive (as you say, got thinner) came by the rings, also burnt and created deposits, then the cleaning can help. It certainly will not hurt!

"Try it, you'll like it"!

Z

[szh]

I agree, Z sounds like an old woman handing out castor oil for everythingthat ailes you. BK is not the end all. The car was not running bad the day before this occurence. Unlikley carbon deposits are in play

That is because I am your grandmother! Didn't you know that?

Regardless, and I will say this again, carbon deposits can happen overnight and cause unusual engine misbehavior. Personal experience on my M45!

The point being that your oil perhaps changed a bit due to the additive, the blow-by past your rings may have increased and burnt and now you have the engine stumbling. If this gets bad enough performance-wise, it may also throw engine codes.

I am NOT saying that I am definitely right ... just have seen many of these VK engine misbehavior issues get "fixed" with a BG-44K session.

And, yes, I would regardless change the oil out too if you are concerned about the Restore.

Z

[DRIPS]

I changed the oil this morning and made sure every last drop dripped out! I am still going to bring it to Infiniti tomorrow for my appointment.

[maxnix]

No oil additves except BG MOA either!

Young 'uns should listen to the voices of experience over specious advertised claims.

[DRIPS]

The Restore tripped the Cam Shaft sensors...didnt need replacing tho. Still a 120 dollar mistake!

Back to normal tho!

BTW...anyone done this before on the 03/04 M? Were you successful? Did it flood the engine?http://www.infinitihelp.com/di...2.htm

[antzrus]

That is because I am your grandmother! Didn't you know that?

Regardless, and I will say this again, carbon deposits can happen overnight and cause unusual engine misbehavior. Personal experience on my M45!

The point being that your oil perhaps changed a bit due to the additive, the blow-by past your rings may have increased and burnt and now you have the engine stumbling. If this gets bad enough performance-wise, it may also throw engine codes.

I am NOT saying that I am definitely right ... just have seen many of these VK engine misbehavior issues get "fixed" with a BB-44K session.

And, yes, I would regardless change the oil out too if you are concerned about the Restore.

Z

Thanx, grandma. Grandma's love their progeny. We love grandma. Do as grandma says. I use the stuff once during each oil cycle change.

[Q45tech]

Confusing an oil additive [MOA] with a gasoline detergent additive [BG44K]can lead to trouble each has its own fill location.

[Double E]

BTW...anyone done this before on the 03/04 M? Were you successful? Did it flood the engine?

No. The fuel delivery system in these cars (Injected) does not work that way. Depressing the accelerator in these engines does not simultaneously dump fuel into the intake unless the engine is running.

Carburated (sp?) engines do.

Here's the basics... http://www.howstuffworks.com/fuel-injection.htm

[szh]

I use the stuff once during each oil cycle change.

Good Stuff™!!

z

[szh]

Confusing an oil additive [MOA] with a gasoline detergent additive [BG44K]can lead to trouble each has its own fill location.

Yes, indeed! Like I said earlier:

In general, I prefer not to add anything to the engine oils in my car. If you change the oil and filter often enough, these additives are probably pretty useless.

The only gasoline additives I do like are: BG-44K and ISOHEET. For the usual reasons ...

With my clean engine, I don't bother with any oil additive. Just the BG-44K periodically (now, two tankfuls before an oil change) in the gas tank, and an occasional ISOHEET to take out water ... that reminds me, I need to put an ISOHEET bottle in tomorrow! Going to snow country this coming weekend, and I do not want my fuel lines to freeze due to water content.

BTW, folks, use ISOHEET and not HEET - the former is isopropyl alcohol and much safer for your car - the methanol in HEET is not good for your car!

Z

[radiohead78758]

The Restore tripped the Cam Shaft sensors...didnt need replacing tho. Still a 120 dollar mistake!

Back to normal tho!

BTW...anyone done this before on the 03/04 M? Were you successful? Did it flood the engine?http://www.infinitihelp.com/di...2.htm

So what was the resolution, DRIPS? Did Infiniti reset the computer? The same thing just happened to me yesterday, and I'm trying to decide what the best course of action is: flushing engine and replacing oil/filter, replacing sensors or simply trying the reset of the PCM to see if that works. Sadly, I made a connection--belatedly--that this Engine Restore product also caused the exact same problem when I was in Virginia over a year ago, but I didn't suspect it. Infiniti replaced the sensors as the vehicle was under warranty.

Thank you.

Regards

[The00Dustin]

Wow, I hadn't seen this thread. Who knew the warnings in the manual about additives were actually legit. I performed a cermet treatment on my 06 M45 with around 55K miles, and it has around 95K miles now. It doesn't burn any more oil than it did when I bought it and may even burn less. I'll probably re-treat it at 115K, but I'll be a lot more nervous about it now...

[Mammothbaron]

I have a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder LE with 150k miles. I have heard good things about Restore engine additive and read the product warnings to make sure I wasn't doing something wrong. I added a can of restore and drove for about 15 miles on the interstate. After putting vehicle into park, I noticed a strange, rough jerky idle. I turned it off and let it sit while I went shopping. Started it up and drove to another store a short distance away (2 miles). At RPM above 1200rpm there seemed to be no problem. I let the car go into idle and it seemed to be the same jerky idle or worse. Now the CEL came on. I had no doubt it was the restore additive. I called customer support and explained the problem, and they said it can cause issues with sensors. I drove to autozone and did a parking lot oil change. I started it up and drove it about 5 miles and let it go to idle....it was 90% better. I then drove the rest of my 200 mile trip and i didn't have any more issues. I am waiting to hear back from Restore customer service and feel lucky I was able to correct the issue. Tomorrow I'll get the code erased and get the CEL turned off.

[Ilya]

I have a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder LE with 150k miles. I have heard good things about Restore engine additive and read the product warnings to make sure I wasn't doing something wrong. I added a can of restore and drove for about 15 miles on the interstate. After putting vehicle into park, I noticed a strange, rough jerky idle. I turned it off and let it sit while I went shopping. Started it up and drove to another store a short distance away (2 miles). At RPM above 1200rpm there seemed to be no problem. I let the car go into idle and it seemed to be the same jerky idle or worse. Now the CEL came on. I had no doubt it was the restore additive. I called customer support and explained the problem, and they said it can cause issues with sensors. I drove to autozone and did a parking lot oil change. I started it up and drove it about 5 miles and let it go to idle....it was 90% better. I then drove the rest of my 200 mile trip and i didn't have any more issues. I am waiting to hear back from Restore customer service and feel lucky I was able to correct the issue. Tomorrow I'll get the code erased and get the CEL turned off.

Thanks for the report