Tudds

iTrader: (4)

I work at Autobarn and when no one is around I read all the bottles of pretty much everything. I see a lot of "oil additives" that are supposed to stick better and all that. They are made of 100% petroleum.
Are these things good or what? They have little demos that show you how it works and we have the ZMax video playing constantly and it makes sense to me but I'm not too experienced in the topic.
What are your thoughts on these? I use mobil 1 5w-30 now. On the little demo machine it says the regular oil is 10w-30, I was gonna try to crack the demo to put mobil 1 in but who knows haha
Any input please

Patman

Definitely nay!

If you use a good oil, it's got everything you need in it to keep your engine wear at it's lowest.

There is only one oil additive I know for sure works, but it's more of a cleaner for higher mileage engines. It's called Auto-rx www.auto-rx.com I've used it on my 95 Formula and it definitely works, before and after oil analysis results showed a drastic improvement in engine wear and internal engine cleanliness. But most of you won't need this product unless you have over 50k on your engine.

Tudds

iTrader: (4)

<--86k daily driver LS1 here <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

Orange Krush

Patman how about the Lucas stuff? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" />

http://www.lucasoil.com/Products_List.cfm

Kevin 276

No way. Someone posted a pic a while back on a engine that needed new inners. I guess when they pulled the pistons etc, it was all gummed up. That stuff is snake oil and should be outlawed

jimmyblue

iTrader: (11)

There's a product I like to throw in there
every once in a while, it's the "Greased
Lightning" teflon stuff that comes in the
little metal bottle. I got into using it on
my older vehicles and found it really sped
up the cranking / starting, which indicated
to me that it was doing a fair bit to improve
the metal-metal scrub friction when oil
pressure isn't up.

It's sort of like sacrificing a chicken,
doesn't hurt nothin' (except the chicken).

Can't say anything about the other goos....

Tudds

iTrader: (4)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Orange Krush:
<strong> Patman how about the Lucas stuff? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" />

http://www.lucasoil.com/Products_List.cfm </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yeah thats one of the displays

Country Boy

iTrader: (24)

I like the Lucas oil ALOT!!!!! It kept a car of mine running for 2 years with one nasty rod knock. I had to put in 4 bottles of Lucas and 1 bottle of 85-140 to get decent oil pressure and keep the smoking down <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> LOL

Lucas is way to thick for the LS1. The LS1 has too tight of tolerances.

Ive seen the Lucas tranny stuff work wonders also. A friend of mine had 0 gears left on an auto... every gear was neutral. He put that Lucas tranny stuff in and he had every gear and shifted like new for the next 50k.

<small>[ March 27, 2003, 05:49 PM: Message edited by: Country Boy ]</small>

sawedoff

iTrader: (3)

It's a nay here to. Most of those additives are really nothing much more than patent medicine remedies or snake oil.

gwj

It's weird, isn't it, that every couple 'a years a "new" additive comes out.
I'm not yay or nay against them: I ran additives in a Z24 for 185K miles and never had a problem. Probably just dumb luck. I don't use them now.

Stuff like Zmax SEEM to claim that there are micron-sized particles that "fill" the spaces between molecules in the metal in your engine.
'Course then the teflon based additives claim the same thing.
My thinking is that what tiny orifices that exist in the surface area grain structure of metal would serve a purpose by "holding" lubricant.
Are the additives beneficial? Who the hell knows?
Caveat Emptor, my friend.

gMAG

iTrader: (1)

I'd like to think that the guys with the high profile who promote things like Prolong, and Z-Max, etc, have the scoop on the best additives. They also have access to extensive testing of these same products. I've tried them all under various driving circumstances, and although I don't claim the same testing resources, I'm convinced that TUFOIL is head and shoulders above the others. It IS a teflon based colloidal which holds the "Guiness Book of World Records" for the slipperiest man-made substance. It'll make your engine feel like it's delivering 5% more power, and will run cooler due to less friction. I drove my 84 Thunderburger 200k(beat the pants off it,& towed HEAVY boat), before rebuilding. The guy that did the rebuild claimed the innards looked new. Also used it(8oz)in addition to MOBIL1 in a 426 SBC. The difference with and without TUFOIL, was like night and day. I don't work for, or know anyone personally who sells or works for Flouramics, the makers of TUFOIL.

sawedoff

iTrader: (3)

I'm pretty sure that alot of those endorsements are the result of them being paid a hefty endorsement fee in return for face time in front of the camera. I think Carroll Shelby is endorsing Z Max, because I keep hearing his add on the radio.

gMAG

iTrader: (1)

sawedoff, I entirely agree with you. My lawnmower now makes a wierd metallic sound after adding the "correct" amount of Z-Max, and seems not to be getting proper lubrication. It's almost like the Z-Max displaced the lube! It all sounded soooo good on the infomercial. But, as gwj stated best, "Caveat Emptor". Hey, I'm wondering if the Tufoil people saw my comments. Maybe they'll send ME da money!

jason hamilton

BG PRODUCTS They have an additive called MOA. the only sell to professional shops though. very good chemical i have had nothing but excellen luck with it.

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

I don't support any additives I have never seen one add any value. In some cases some of the additives are harmful.

Jpr5690

iTrader: (13)

i know this is a little off topic but what you all tink of red line watter wetter it seems to make perfice sence (the theory behind how it cools) they say basiclly its a corrsion inhibitor that allows you to use 100% distilled water in any radiator without it causing corrsion. I was thinking to run 25% anti freese as so not to freezemy block from ac or winter time and 75% water with redline to get more cooling.. i emailed them and they said i could get away with 15% dexcool in fl all year long????
does this stuff work and should i use it on a mostly stock* ls1?

*by mostly stock i mean i just have the usual boltons along with a hpp3 and 160 thermo

SixPak

the only additive I've ever put in my work beater is a quart of trans fluid in the crankcase just prior to doing an oil change. I do this every 2nd or 3rd oil change. the idea is that the high amount of detergents in the trans fluid will clean up the engine a little. I drive it around for 10 miles or so and then change the oil. the rigs got 150k on it and has never left a spot in the driveway. bought it new in '93 and change the oil (dino)every 90 days regardless of miles. the LS1 gets an oil change every 6 mos, redline 10-30 and a k-n filter, no other additives.
<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />

<small>[ April 04, 2003, 06:03 PM: Message edited by: SixPak ]</small>

Tudds

iTrader: (4)

You buy a new filter every 6 months? You know you can clean them right? <img border="0" alt="[bang head]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_banghead.gif" />

Patman

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by SixPak:
<strong> the only additive I've ever put in my work beater is a quart of trans fluid in the crankcase just prior to doing an oil change. I do this every 2nd or 3rd oil change. the idea is that the high amount of detergents in the trans fluid will clean up the engine a little. I drive it around for 10 miles or so and then change the oil. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">It's a myth, trans fluid does not contain more detergents. Someone did a virgin analysis on trans fluid on BOBISTHEOILGUY.com and proved it. Trans fluid is simply very thin fluid, which is why it might somewhat clean your engine, but it really doesn't do as good of a job as you think. If you really want to clean your engine, use Auto-rx.

seabirdak

I would have to say yes. Motor oil alone can only do so much. Cold starts are murder on an engine. If it's possible to reduce that then the life of the motor can be drastically increased.
I'm a believer in Tufoil, the worlds most efficient lubricant. Cars that use it on a regular basis reach 250k miles without skipping a beat.