Stiction additive
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 27,355
Likes: 5,951
From: Lake Hartwell, GA
My thoughts on oil additives for the purpose of preventing stiction is that the additives are not required. Although, if an oil additive gives you peace and lets you sleep a bit better at night, go right ahead!
I know I spend money on stupid crap that is not really needed, but it makes me feel better or I like to do it just because.
That said, I have sought the wisdom of cjfarm11 in the past and he runs an oil additive, so if you decide to kd5zll then you will be in good company. I would assume that an oil additive would do more than prevent stiction in the 7.3L diesel and that alone may be worth the cost. I do run Stanadyne Lubricity Formula in my fuel tanks which total 75 gallons capacity. Does it help, I don't know for sure...
I know I spend money on stupid crap that is not really needed, but it makes me feel better or I like to do it just because.
That said, I have sought the wisdom of cjfarm11 in the past and he runs an oil additive, so if you decide to kd5zll then you will be in good company. I would assume that an oil additive would do more than prevent stiction in the 7.3L diesel and that alone may be worth the cost. I do run Stanadyne Lubricity Formula in my fuel tanks which total 75 gallons capacity. Does it help, I don't know for sure...
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 835
Likes: 126
From: CSRA, SC
I have put Archoil in with my oil change 3 or 4 times. It costs more than a gold, frankincense and myrrh smoothie and none of the times I used it did I notice any difference of any performance metric of my engine in hot or cold weather especially not cold starts which I was curious if it would improve.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 911
Likes: 74
From: Montana
I’m have had a different experience then you. That said I’m not going to argue about what works and what doesn’t. I think it helps so I will continue to use it and that’s my peace. As for as oil goes I don’t think there is any reason or proof that says that running shell rotella T4, T5, or T6 will cause any damage to our internal engine components. A lot of the time maintenance and how the engine is used/treated goes along ways in how an oil performs. Some people have no idea what there oil temps are? Let alone how hot they get or for how long. Also idle time is hard on oil. Oil dilution from excessive idle time also compromises the overall film strength of oil. So even the best of the best oil can be compromised by lack of proper use. As said above(sous) there is wwwwwwwaaaaaaayyyy to many engines from ford and other makes that require a certain spec and nobody is going to leave these engines behind. The 7.3 is a great engine that lasts a very long time under some pretty extreme conditions and it will continue too for many years to come........even with the current oil standards.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,753
Likes: 34
From: Los Angeles, Ca.
As long as there's a demand for the right oil it'll keep being available, unless someone finds that what is needed to make it meet spec is an environmental issue, which it doesn't appear to be.
I didn't notice any difference when running the Archoil additive, but I was focused on 'fixing' cold injector stick which I don't think it can do on a 7.3. Since it has been proven in the 6.0 injectors it obviously does do something 'magical'. I still have some and I'm almost due for an oil change so maybe I'll try it again and see if I can notice anything now that my injectors are shimmed and working when cold.
I didn't notice any difference when running the Archoil additive, but I was focused on 'fixing' cold injector stick which I don't think it can do on a 7.3. Since it has been proven in the 6.0 injectors it obviously does do something 'magical'. I still have some and I'm almost due for an oil change so maybe I'll try it again and see if I can notice anything now that my injectors are shimmed and working when cold.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 835
Likes: 126
From: CSRA, SC
I'm in the Central Savannah River area so my cold starts aren't like a lot of people's. We will see lows in the high teens and low 20s at worst. In the past I thought maybe the additive could help based on what I had read around the interwebs. Now I believe my slightly longer cranking and white smoke in the cold is probably due to glow plugs on their last leg and injector o-rings needing to be refreshed. I am not sufficiently equipped to say that the stuff definitely does not work, only that it did not change anything for me. I can say though that a poppet valve is not really a sticky thing like a spool valve on a 6.0 injector. As always, YMMV
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 911
Likes: 74
From: Montana
Ok that’s kinda cold? But we you start getting below zero things seem to change with starting an older diesel. That’s why I believe and use archoil. Better cold starts for sure and in my mind if it’s helping with that it’s helping elsewhere.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 27,355
Likes: 5,951
From: Lake Hartwell, GA
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 911
Likes: 74
From: Montana
One 16oz bottle as recommended. I will say the archoil helps my 6.0L’s more then my 7.3’s in cold start situations but it helps nonetheless. I started using it in my 6.0’s and noticed a huge difference so I thought why not use it in my 7.3’s. So I did and will continue too. Just so we are clear the cold starts is where I noticed the most difference.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 27,355
Likes: 5,951
From: Lake Hartwell, GA
One last question and then I will retreat back to my chores around the house that must be done before camping season starts in a couple of weeks...
cjfarm11, have you tried any of the Hot Shot Secret products in lieu of Archoil and if so, what were your thoughts in comparison to the Archoil 9100?
cjfarm11, have you tried any of the Hot Shot Secret products in lieu of Archoil and if so, what were your thoughts in comparison to the Archoil 9100?
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