What do people think of engine additives?

[geo1400]

Check this out for example:

http://www.xado.co.uk/

My dad used this product in his old Suzuki 4x4 and said he noticed a difference in the general smoothness of the engine. Got it off a guy who uses the stuff in a Subaru 3.0 turbo thing!!

I've heard additives are a no no for BMW's, this true?

Cheers Geo1400

[Turbo-Brown]

Probably about as good as Snake Oil.

Just buy proper oil from a reputable brand and supplier and forget about additives.

[FBF]

if an engine additive was as good as they claimed and actually did what they say then oil companys would put the additive in the oil we buy in the first place..... additives are for plonkas with more money than sense. the type of guy who buys one of those wonder plugs to get better feul economy

[ric325i]

touchy subject!

when talking to some people ( not zoners) about track days, i got some good information about additives to protect the engine.

cant remember them because it was too much for my tiny little mind to keep names such as

"advance super grade 8461927474237598672hjfgfkjlwhfcbhwopett stuffy jobbie"

but what i do remember is that although some promise to line the engine and protect, that lining after time can chip of and then get mixed up with the oil and restrict and destroy engine.

so if they do work (which i would like to think they do) then find the right one! dont use cheap or say bye-bye to the engine

[dobbie82]

I dont know about oil additives and havent used slick50 in anything other than clapped out fords and vauxhalls, but i think the BP fuel with cleaning additives in is great! only took a few tanks to make a massive difference to my mpg on my toyota

[fuzzy]

if an engine additive was as good as they claimed and actually did what they say then oil companys would put the additive in the oil we buy in the first place..... additives are for plonkas with more money than sense. the type of guy who buys one of those wonder plugs to get better feul economy

ive no idea wether they work or not but it wouldnt be in the oil companies interest to mix them together as they want to sell you as many different products as possible to make more money .everyone has a different opinion ,some people swear by them and others think like FBF.

[geo1400]

Thats a pretty mixed opion. I understand FBF's point, don't believe the gimmicks, but at the end of the day if you've got a tired old engine (like my dad), and you use summit that makes a difference, then no harm done!

I've used fuel additives before and it's more piece of mind that I 'think' my fuel systems nice and clean!

Oh well, lets see if there are any more stories about additives...

[FBF]

geo just read my own post back i wasnt calling your old man a plonka if that makes sense...

well i kind of was but not directly

[Chris-W]

Some of the additives do serve a purpose - a sticky hydraulic tappet may not necessarily be cured with just an oil change. Don't completely believe the conspiracy theorists.

[buster]

Ive always used slick50 in my engines,but dont really know if it does protect as it says.

[d6dph]

There was a thread on this stemming from the pistonheads discussion on the same subject: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topi ... 3&f=66&h=0

An interesting read.

[geo1400]

I hear Slick50 is one of the best. It's quite expensive all the same, which is why a lot of people might go for the cheaper alternatives that don't actually work?

[d6dph]

I have also heard that slick50 is no longer allowed to say it works, as they can not proove anything

[DanThe]

What about "10K ENGINE BOOST!"

Isnt this a performance mod?

Or was that brake and clutch cleaner.......

[Morat]

The only additive I use is Kangaroo Petrol, great for traffic jam fun!

[geo1400]

Now that is a heated discussion on Piston heads!! I kinda feel sorry for the guy trying to defend his product. Thats interesting about Slick50, thats really is the one that everyone talks about. I bought some stuff today froma local factors, made by Lucas oils or summit. They had a really impressive little thing on the counter that displayed how it works, you spin a little wheel and see how the oil lubricates the mechanism...
I'm almost emarrased about being sucked in but i'll let you know if I notice anything. I'll be the guinea pig!

[d6dph]

Lucas oil stabiliser? In a litre bottle, white with blue cap?

We sell that stuff at my shop, get the die hard fans who come in and buy it, mainly for classics. Can't say I have tried it tbh.

[geo1400]

Yep thats the stuff! certainly tells a good story on the bottle. Any inside info?

[d6dph]

Sorry, Don't know much about it. but the display stand is great fun!

From what I can tell it keeps the oil at a constant thickness, I guess to protect on cold starts ect.

[mark_i]

What do people think of engine additives?

There are a number of answers depending on what you want the additive to do and if the additive is for petrol or oil

Petrol additives could be useful for cleaning injectors and deposits after many years and gallons of poor quality fuel.
Oil additives are useless especially if you change the golden stuff regularly with a good quality synthetic.
True, that a sticky tappet might get the benefit, but as for the claim of suspended metal particles restoring damaged bearing and cylinder surfaces, have a cup of tea, a lie-down and think about it... I don't think so.

[FBF]

love the pistonheads thread! they all sound like bored, bitter old men!... hope i dont get like that when i buy my first ferrari