Tip of the day on oil additives that you need to know

[mcgyver ky]

Well I have had a lot of people ask me about oil additives and I didn’t really know any information so I did a lot of homework and found out that a lot of test have been done using various types of oil additives but the only people that were doing the test were the people affiliated with the products being tested so I don’t think you will find bad results from them

I found out that the federal trade commission {who are responsible for false advertisements like claiming that a product can do something it can’t} took action against the manufacturers of two popular oil additives companies that contain Teflon particles who claim the Teflon in these products coated all moving parts inside the engine, and the coating resulting in reduced wear and better gas mileage, guess who won?

DUPONT who has many brand names one being Teflon, But DUPONT could not support any of the claims made by the oil additives companies they also go to say that adding Teflon particles like in the oil additives could be detrimental to the engine.

Teflon manufactured by Dupont is used in a lot of applications some are non-sticking cookware, composites of aircraft engine hoses and in fiber form to weave into fire resistant clothing.

Teflon is a very stable plastic material. It’s inert to all solvents and chemicals except molten alkali metals and high temperature fluorine gas. It is capable of withstanding continuous exposure to temperatures of zero to where it begins to de-polymerize at or above 1,100 degrees f. also being non-flammable.

The problem with the Teflon not that it wouldn’t bond with the metals of your engine is that it also bonds with it self thus causing blockage of oil pumps ports and oil filters also thus causing more problems than its worth.

Other additives in the oil additives are zinc-d and it does reduce friction and some of the heat of your engine but it also bypasses and goes out your exhaust and is a big problem with your catalytic converters clogging them in a short time. Also large amounts of chlorine, what the chlorine does are still a mystery. What chlorine does to almost all metals is speed up the oxidation process causing corrosion.

Test performed by NASA’s research company the Lewis research company found no benefits to add the oil additives containing Teflon or PTFE showing no benefits to the bearings, pistons or crank but it did show that it did accumulate in inlets, blocking the flow of oil and depriving parts of oil. Also after the oil additives were added the iron contamination doubles.

Also a lot of manufacturing companies will void your factory warranty if the use of oil additives containing Teflon also known as PTFE is found in the product.

Also something else the only people recommending the use of oil additives are the manufactures of the products. Furthermore oil already has it own additives one being a detergents and solvents that also clean as well as lubricates.

Well I hope this helps some of you out I wish I would have known this three months ago 300 hundred miles after I added z-max I lost three out of six cylinders in my ride in addition I have 250 pages of more proof of why its not a oil additives are not the way.

I would like to thank NASA’s research company the Lewis Research Company and LARRY BELL for tech supports

 

[Mike_H]

I have always thought that changing you oil like clockwork is better then any additive.

Keep the tips coming!

 

[leenjen]

good post. i've also heard from many people that the additives are bad for the engine. actually Slick 50 was the leading cause of my friend's blown engine in an escort ZX2 after only 35,000 miles.

 

[Abraxsis]

What about Lucas??

I have heard good things and have witnessed with my own vehicles the wonders of Lucas additives. Too bad my cat is freakin clogged and its bogging the X down. Oh well itll be fixed when I get back to my hometown this weekend. Ive heard that why Lucas works so well is that its 100% pure petro products, nothing synthetic or lab created. I dont know if thats true but I use it in conjunction with my Mobile One syn oil and Im completely happy with it. Just a thought.

 

[st5150]

Eh, whats the deal with magic aditives? My 5.OL V8 has 235,000+ miles on it and it runs like a champ. I run cheap 99 cent a quart oil in it and change it regularly.

At 220,000 miles it was still doing stuff like this:








No need to make things more complicated than need be. Add the type of oil recomended in the owners manual, change it regularly and mash the gas pedal

 

[Slick Rick]

Hey mcgyver, did ZMAX pay for the damage?

 

[mcgyver ky]

no z-max did not

they gave me the run around and said that it was a defective before i put it in and that i would have to prove that it was the additive that caused the problem well i didnt expect they would and was not holding my breath all i can say is when you use the additives you are taking a big risk but not knowing the facts you are taking a bigger risk so find out about anything you put in or on your truck do the homework or ask me i will do it for you.

me not doing mine put me back in a engine that had $7,000.00 in it no worries though i think i will enjoy the 5.0 more not to say more power too.

and i will do the homework and see if i can find anything about Lucas additives if its good i will tell you give me a bit and we will see and thanks for your support.

one more thing check out my truck it was in readers rides at http://4wheeldrive.about.com/cs/fordexplorerride/index.htm

 

[Black Magic]

It is ok to add Honey to your oil? I heard that was a good thing for like 4-7 HP!

 

[mcgyver ky]

ok here it goes

you ask about lucas oil and from what i could find out was it was founded in 1989 by forrest lucas and his wife charlotte the company has very good reviews about all there products especially the power steering fluid additive.

but the transmission and oil additives will work well if the engine has no problems if it does have problems it will only mask the inevitable fact that you need to repair the engine and you are taking a chance on it but by that point what do you have to lose.

i have seen statements from some that say the trans additive caused the seals to swell and split causing more damage than they had before using the product.

then on the oil additives statements said that there was a improvement with the engines blow by and leaking but it had to be added every oil change to insure that it wouldnt get any worse.

on the fuel additives i found no certifide proof that it improved or damaged the octain boost did find something interesting at this web site about it though go check it out http://eetd.lbl.gov/newsletter/nl5/mtbe.html then click on EETD Scientists Aid Research Efforts Leading to MTBE Ban

the company has done some great things and i do belive that it has some good products it also is a offical sponsor of the NHRA , IHBA {BOAT RACING} AND NASCAR so deside for yourself but by far it is better than the additives that i have mention in the post

thank you for the question and sorry it was so long winded

 

[explr1]

The only additive that I ever used was Restore in my old Beretta that had piston slap. It worked great. As for the X, I only use Mobil1!!!

 

[lonestar]

I never believed any of those so called miracle additives. Just keep a well maintained machine and keep truckin.
The only time I could see a benefit is when your engine is already wasted, what do you got to loose.

My father used to run some of that STP oil treatment, (some kind of oil thickner) in the summer in one of our older cars. After about 5 years, whenever you came to a stop, the car would create large amounts of smoke screen. Pulled off the valve covers, and all the oil return ports were gummed up causing oil to be sucked in the PCV valve, not to mention the lack of oil in the crankcase because all the oil was stuck in the heads.

Never again. Now he just keeps clean fresh oil in there every 2k miles.

 

[mohog]

My friend used some duralube on his taurus and it just made problems worse, I used him as a guinnea pig so I made sure not to ruin my explorer. I did use the tranny additive and the fuel additive and they seemed to work pretty well.

 

[Magicfan25]

Duralube is crap. Prolong got sued by the government. Prolongs little stunt was driving across california with no oil after running the additive. The test was attempted with two rebuilt chevy V8s, they both seized nearly simultaneously shortly after draining the oil.

I think it was duralube that put he bearing on the little bench machine and clamped down it to show a wear scar. Fact is, household bleach will perform better in that test than any additive, but dont go adding it to your oil.

 

[Rick Wojahn]

I used Z-max in my high mileage 2.8 ranger and as others was truly disappointed (at first). After doing an oil change and engine flush, I added Z-max and power punch along with four quarts of 10w40. My gas mileage suffered and blowby got way worse. To the point I was embarrassed to drive through town. But after 350-400 miles it all but cleared up. Now at 1000+ miles since that oil change all the problems are at acceptable levels, No smoke screen pulling away from a stop light, no oil puddle under my truck from oil blowing out the dipstick tube!!! Now I realize my high mileage engine needs to be freshened up so I don't believe this stuff to be a miracle fixall by any means but it will probably extend the high cost of that adventure another two or three oil changes. My oil color is still dirty brown (not black as is in most engines with blowby) and consumption is almost zero. I only added one quart at about 300 miles and the oil level is still okay and my gas mileage is back to a terrible 15mpg!!!

 

[cecoen]

215K and counting. Doesn't smoke, knock, or clap. Just change the oil every now and then. Always used the cheap stuff unless I could afford something better but never any additives. I wish I could find a link for you guys, I remember some test that Consumer Reports did years ago on oil. If I recall, they found ALL of the government rated oils performed EXACTLY the same from the ultra cheap stuff to the high dollar synthetics. Any one else remember that issue?

Chad

 

[Shurup]

mcgyver ky
What can you say about Slick 50? I recently added it to my engine wich last oil change (Mobile 1).
I have 115K on my X and I used Slick 50 fuel injectors cleaner and ATF additive (for Camaro) and they worked great.

 

[dmasini]

How about "special" oils? I have started using the Penzoil High Mileage oil at (mostly) every change. Anyone ever hear any horror stories about it or other specialty oils?

I have been using an STP oil additive just about every oil change as well to mask the valve clatter. It seems to work for awhile but doesn't last the whole 3k miles. Only good thing I guess is the clatter doesn't seem to have gotten any worse so I don't think it's harming my engine in any way. I'm trying to grow enough sack to try that Sea Foam stuff...

 

[emon]

Originally posted by Black Magic
It is ok to add Honey to your oil? I heard that was a good thing for like 4-7 HP!

What brand do use? I use "Aunt Jemima" myself. No added horsepower but good for 10 lbs of torque.

 

[leenjen]

Originally posted by dmasini
How about "special" oils? I have started using the Penzoil High Mileage oil at (mostly) every change. Anyone ever hear any horror stories about it or other specialty oils?

that oil is fine. it's basically conventional oil with a few more additives (the good kind, not that PTFE crap that clogs oil passages and scratches cylinder walls)

 

[mcgyver ky]

well

here we go slick 50 , z-max, and prolong have PTFE or teflon as we know it also contains chlorine and zinc-d which are proven to harm your engine. the ptfe doesn't scratch the cilinder walls but clogs you oil ports there for depriving you engine of much needed oil.

and Rick Wojahn i have a engine that had nine thousand dollers in it that had no problem till i added the Z-MAX to it, it is now a six hundred pound paper weight this is based on facts from me , my buddy a certfide ford teck and hundreds of people who have had the same problems if you have luck with it more power to you.

i am not a fan of STP either the 5.0 i am building was full of it and though it didn't smoke or chatter it cant be good for it because after a oil change it didnt come out and was caked on every thing in the moter and it was dry and gumed on the heads, intake manafold, and lifters.

my advice to you is if you need this stuff do it and save you money cause a rebuild is in your near future.