I would like to introduce this thread for the benefit of discussing oil additives.

What really perks up my suspicions is when a marketer of a new oil wonder additive makes outrageous or ridiculous claims.

Some even go so far as to claim engine restoration. Imagine that! Pour a cup of their potion into your engine's crankcase, and your engine renews itself as you drive!! All our mechanic friends will soon be out of a job.

This link will take you to a somewhat lengthy report on PTFE and other snake oil additives. It's well worth the time to read it:

http://www.vtr.org/maintain/oil-additives.html

 

i dont think any of them additives help much and if they did, your right there wouldnt be many mechanics, its just a way for them to make money. kinda like octane booster do any of you guys think that actually helps much, i dont, atleast when i use it theres no noticable power increasements.

 

Although most are useless, there are a few I would like to cover...

1. Restore: This additive did infact rasie compression on a few high mileage engines and I took multiple compression tests to prove it. Most additives increase compression by thickening the oil....the Restore actually leaves a chalky deposit on the bore scratches in order to help raise compression.

2. Marvel mystery oil: I use a small amount when I fill my tank in order to help lubricate the top end of the piston rings.....it has increased my mileage by 1 mpg. I also use this to help flush the engine oil out every 25k miles. This also helps free up sticky lifters and clean metal parts when working on an engine.

3. Octane boost: This is not a power adder in a bottle....it is more of a fuel stabilizer, it increases the amount of octane in your fuel. Higher compression engines typically have more power than do lower comp engines....thus needing a more stable fuel.

the octane booster merely makes pump gas usable in higher compression engines. Sometimes as engines age, they accumulate carbon deposits that then create hotspots.....this increases the engine's octane requirement. This is why good engine builders polish their combustion chambers.

Pump gas is considered octane....but has varying degrees of Heptane to it....
the more heptane, the lower the octane rating number....

Think of Heptane as a fuse for the octane.....the higher the compression, the
easier the lower octane fuel will preignite (or ping).....on the powerstroke phase

I hope this helps...

As far as synthetic oils, I am convinced they are better and last longer than the normal oils....I am sold on Royal purple synthetic oils....

If you have a newer engine, try royal purple....and feel the difference...

I thought Castrol syntec and Mobile 1 were good!!!

 

I started this thread yesterday on octane boosters: http://www.fordtruckenthusiasts.com/...hreadid=179475