What About Engine, Transmission & Fuel Additives?
#1
   
No maintenance book could be complete without some discussion on additives. The most popular question I am asked is to give my opinion on PTFE oil additives. Well, I think they stink. I think they are worthless and my view is shared by most everyone who knows anything about oil.

I call almost all engine oil additives "magic lotions". I have never, nor will I ever recommend that anyone spend $30 or so for a quart of regular oil and what may be a tablespoon of Teflon. Independent tests have clearly shown that there is no documentation to support those outrageous claims of eliminating wear by using a "magic lotion". Furthermore, Ford, GM, and Chrysler all warranty their car engines for up to seven years. If there was a product that stopped engine wear and virtually eliminated the possibility of major engine repair and did all of the other outlandish claims they say their products will do, why wouldn't these products be installed at the factory.

One independent test showed that one magic lotion actually caused more engine wear than regular oil. The most comprehensive testing I've seen done was in an article in Road Rider Magazine Aug '92. After seven pages of test results, they said, "...We doubt that PTFE is much slicker than some of the people marketing it.".

A different government report says they were never able to identify all the laboratories who tested and now tout these oil additives. It goes on to say that they were unable to document almost all of the claims made by these lotion salesman.

Even the inventor of Teflon, Dupont, says there is no evidence that their product mixed with engine oil will benefit the engine.

I have requested that most of the major players in the PTFE additive game provide me with documentation and data of the tests they claim they have run. Not one will provide so much as the name of the lab, the name of the person who did the tests, or any information other than those silly marketing brochures.

A message to wives: in one "magic lotion" commercial, a wife knocks a hole in the oil pan of her very expensive car. While all the oil runs out onto the ground, she calls her husband from the side of the road using her cellular phone. He says something like, "drive it on home honey, I've recently put xxx oil treatment in the engine." If this ever occurs to you, and your car is under any kind of warranty and you expect to collect on the claim, you better call a tow truck!

I'm not against additives. But don't use them because you think your car will love you more.

Use an additive (oil, transmission, radiator, fuel) when
you have a symptom to correct.

For instance, if you suspect you may have water in your fuel tank, use a fuel additive that absorbs water. A small radiator leak may require the use of a radiator stop leak. If your car is old and uses a lot of oil, use an oil additive that helps to control oil consumption.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD YOUR COMMENTS OR PROOF TO THE CONTRARY!
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#2
I did have success in MANUAL gearboxes and OPEN WHEEL rear axles with a product called MBL or 'Metal Based Lubricants'. The 'metal' bit is lead and zinc which are crushed between gear faces and 'slip' better. I thought the vehicle was smoother but you can convince yourself of anything.
I did not see any advantage in adding to engine oil as the filter would take the product out.
Auto trans rely on friction as do LSD's so I saw no use in the product there.

BTW NO car or engine manufacturer recomends anything other than brand name oils. They don't even repack others products to sell.
Just use what the handbook says for your year (that last bit was advise from Castrol).

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#3
I've never totally agreed with the PTFE bunch, We've all seen the test where they put a roller bearing under a spinning wheel and grind it to a halt, then put there ptfe additive and it spins smoothly, and doesn't lock up, well Chlorine Bleach will do the same thing, but I don' think you want that in your engine. So I'm pretty sure as the article says There is no magic lotion, and the people selling it are really just "Snake oil Salesman". As far as additives go. Your conventional motor oil is a base stock, and then has an "additive" package added to control resistance to heat, cold flow, extreme pressures, shear, and so on. So the Idea of additives goes back to the 50's when motor oil wasn't near as good as it is today. Thats why there are so many different classifications of oil. Now synthetics have changed the game all over again. I have a 2008 Mustang with the 4.0 v6 and I run the semi synthetic blend Ford recommends. On older stuff I usually run a quality 20w 50 with a touch of Lucas. The Lucas makes the oil cling to the part and virtually can't be wiped off even with repeated wiping. My mustang uses Dexron V oil in the 5 spd manual transmission, from day 1 the car has had a tendency, to not want to downshift to second. Ford checked it several times while under warranty, and said they saw no failure. I changed the oil in the trans and checked it for metal, none. When I refilled it I used the Dexron V and added a 1/2 quart of Lucas. The trans problem is completely gone. and it shifts far smoother then it did when new. I'm not a hundred percent sure if its due to better lubrication from the clinging effect of the Lucas or the slightly thicker fluid due to the Lucas but it works. Just a little food for thought. JTS 71 Mach1
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