| Author |
Message |
    
bryan
| | Posted on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 11:10 pm: | 
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Does anyone have info regarding some of the engine/oil additives that claim to reduce smoking, oil consumption, LEAKING, etc. like the STP line of products. Are these too good to be true or do they really deliver.
97 D1
120K
Bryan |
perroneford
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 04, 2003 - 12:02 am: |
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Too good to be true. Engines smoke because oil is slipping past the rings. The only true way to combat that problem is tearing into the motor. Using thickening agents are a temporary band-aid, but can cause blockage in older motors.
I wouldn't touch the stuff personally, but maybe others here can shed some more light.
-P |
Tbow (Tbow)
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 04, 2003 - 12:13 am: |
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I used to manage a large (over 10,000) fleet of vehicles. We used only re-refined oil and changed every 6K miles. With the number of vehicles, I was always approached by "Snake oil" sales persons.
I had a standing offer, if they will allow me to do what they advertise i.e. drain the oil and drive across town in stop and go traffic, I'd buy enough for all the vehicles. NO ONE ever took me up on the deal.
Consumers report also did a study with NY taxi cabs many years ago. Their final conclusion, was that while the additives didn't harm the motor it didn't necessarily help either. So if it makes you feel better, then use them. Heck some have been around for well over 30 years. I've also used one of the oil treatments when I used to rebuild motors because it was very slick and sticky. |
Michael Noe (Noee)
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 04, 2003 - 07:47 am: |
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I've been using Lucas HD Oil Stabilizer in a 533i with 275K miles and a Protoge with 150K miles. Both had leaky valves, at least cyl 1 and 2 and were fouling plugs after only 1000 miles, not to mention using oil.
Now, oil consumption is down to "normal" levels on the bimmer (1/2 qt every 1500 miles) and the Mazda is using almost none.
Lucas HD has neither clorine or silicone according to the labels. Local BMW guy told me that Lucas has a "moisturizer" that penetrates old valve guides and if they're not too far gone, can help them to soften up and expand. I have no other proof that this is true.
FWIW, I've been mixing a little with my gear oil for the diffs/tcase on the rover. |
perroneford
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 04, 2003 - 08:29 am: |
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Lucas products seems to make some reasonable products. Others have used their power steering "stop-leak" with success. Notice they don't make any wild claims either. I'm actually thinking of trying their steering product, and maybe the climbing oil in the diffs.
It's that other wild-claim snakeoil stuff that I don't trust.
-P |
Dave M.
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 04, 2003 - 10:49 am: |
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My old Trooper burns oil if you go to thin stuff (like now in winter). So I've used a few different brands of "Stop Smoke" stuff. It slows down the burning, but who knows what it's doing to the engine.
It's a crappy old thing though so I don't really care. I wouldn't use that stuff in anything newer frankly. It's just that the Trooper isn't worth the engine work to fix the problem.
If I just run 10W-40 or thicker, I don't need the additives. I'm planning a full change and thicker oil soon.
I have heard some decidedly negative stuff about the additives with Teflon and PTFT. Dupont, who makes Teflon, was actually sued by one of the "Slick" companies for publicly saying that Teflon shouldn't be used inside an Internal Combution engine! |
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