Are engine enhancing oil additives a gimmick?

[DukeCanBuildit]

Steer clear - I‘ve heard it’s actually damper fluid.

However, this is my favourite claim…

”It can even reverse existing engine wear”

I’m not an engineer or a chemist but I think it just might be able to reverse @Project Midnight ‘s engine wear.

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[Grumpaw]

Don't you all realize, that admen lay awake nights, thinking up these wonderful spats of language?

Add's have been around for decades.....

 

[VAMike]

yes but did he continue to wear a trench coat

Most importantly, did he wear more than just a trench coat?

 

[Motorpsychology]

I spent 20+years formulating engine oil additive systems for diesel trucks. I would not recommend use of any aftermarket oil additives. They will cause issues and likely just end up in the oil filter. Save your money and buy a good oil.

Ford says no, too.

edit: @OrangeStreak already pointed this out- didn't see it until now

 

[Motorpsychology]

Funny thing, Andy Granatelli was retired and lived in my area. He would be driven around local car shows in a golf cart. He was a very large man. He has since passed away.

Drifting away from topic, but I think read years ago somewhere that Andy Granitelli was once closer to ideal weight and suffered from a thyroid condition brought on by a major accident.

yes but did he continue to wear a trench coat

That remindes me more of the Bardahl "Agent"

 

[Fitzmotor]

I have had 2 different experiences with additives, years ago I added some PTFE additive to a engine, it immediately started to pump out blow-by, and smoke, it took 2 non detergent oil changes for it to slowly return back to normal.
But at Honda Racing, we actually had a additive that was so smelly, dark and thick, (super secret from Japan, only one certain guy could handle it) we would add only about 4 ounces to a engine that had a 10+ quart capacity, no joke, the power went right up, up to 5 Kw (6+HP) supposedly it was some whale oil derivative.

 

[rang19ca]

yes but did he continue to wear a trench coat

No I never saw him with one on. Just saw him in pants and shirt , rather large.

 

[Grumpaw]

I have had 2 different experiences with additives, years ago I added some PTFE additive to a engine, it immediately started to pump out blow-by, and smoke, it took 2 non detergent oil changes for it to slowly return back to normal.
But at Honda Racing, we actually had a additive that was so smelly, dark and thick, (super secret from Japan, only one certain guy could handle it) we would add only about 4 ounces to a engine that had a 10+ quart capacity, no joke, the power went right up, up to 5 Kw (6+HP) supposedly it was some whale oil derivative.

Wasn't whale "oil".....it was probably this.....

 

[tugger50]

I remember back in the 60's we used to joke about what STP really stood for, like "stop teenage pregnancy" and "share the pus_y"
Hey, we were rowdy teens, and car guys.

 

[dtech]

I remember back in the 60's we used to joke about what STP really stood for, like "stop teenage pregnancy" and "share the pus_y"
Hey, we were rowdy teens, and car guys.

I recall some saying it stood for "s*ck the" you know what, but supposed it meant "specifically treated petroleum"

 

[Floyd]

Spin Tires On Pavement
Spin Tires On Pedestrian....
No wait, that's for a

 

[VAMike]

Wasn't whale "oil".....it was probably this.....

You have an...interesting picture collection

 

[Richard Conley]

Good call. That is the heart of the matter, especially with this type of product. Without flipping way off, there is a guy that offers a mod to the type smoker I have, he offered it extensively to the manufacturer who did not adopt it....he sells it but some people don't understand that if it made the grill work better the would have incorporated it.

X2 !!!
If any of that stuff worked, and really did increase the performance and longevity of an engine, don't you think Ford and the other manufacturers would have something similar as an additive to their engines ? Manufacturers, with few exceptions like the real exotic stuff, design their components to use readily available fluids, and design their engines to run and perform just fine on dino and synthetic oils...no teflon or secret snakey super duper slippery stuff cause it don't work....if it did, the companies would have added it years ago.

Oh, I like the last sentence...
If your not happy with it, just send it back "
Duh...what are you supposed to do, drain a pint off your engine oil, put it in a sealed "pee" cup and ship it back to them ?

 

[FourMoreG]

I remember back in the 60's we used to joke about what STP really stood for, like "stop teenage pregnancy" and "share the pus_y"
Hey, we were rowdy teens, and car guys.

Did the “reality-adjusted meaning“ work in Any circumstance ?
Or was it even slightly effective ?

This May be what the world needs, big time ?
…or not.

 

[lohchief]

I bought my '19 ranger back in Nov of '19. I still don't have 10k miles on it yet, but will soon. Changed the oil three times. I use either Amsoil, or Royal Purple with their respective filters. I will never open up a can/bottle of any additive with the exception of diesel fuel stabilizer so it won't get in the winter.

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