engine oil additive

[pcoleman]

anyone used an engine oil additive and if so any recommendations? I realise it's not strictly necessary and I'm running with new valvoline VR1, new spin on filter and oil cooler but oil pump packed up and engine ran with no pressure for a few minutes a while back all seems ok though but just wondered what else might help the old girl along, or am I drifting into stag neurosis

peter.c

[milothedog]

anyone used an engine oil additive and if so any recommendations? I realise it's not strictly necessary and I'm running with new valvoline VR1, new spin on filter and oil cooler but oil pump packed up and engine ran with no pressure for a few minutes a while back all seems ok though but just wondered what else might help the old girl along, or am I drifting into stag neurosis

peter.c

Hi Peter,

I put this in last year after mulling it over and a chat with Peter at LD's Just piece of mind for me, I can't say I have noticed any difference, like I said "piece of mind" knowing it has some additional protection.

http://activ8lubricants.com/

Ian.

[Another Peter]

If you use the recommended oils and perform oil changes at the required time intervals, why would you need an additive anyway?

Regards

Peter

[Goldstar]

I think you need to do what suits your use of the car and your driving style to give you peace of mind. For me I will change the oil every 3k miles or annually if that is sooner using VR1 which, apparently, already has a good deal of the protection factors (ZDDP) needed. I'm not convinced it needs anything else (research based assumption rather than engineering expertise) but if you do then, even if it is unnecessary, what harm can it do? Not sure we will ever be able to scientifically prove either course of action to be correct in the end.

Cheers

Paul

[GDPR]

Spot on Paul. There have been many heated debates about deposits from the PTFE in Slick 50, and the effect of chlorinated paraffins on bearings (activ8) but for our kind of use, you pays your money and adds yer choice - or not.

I have always been a fan of Slick 50, which worked miracles on my old P6 v8 that had done 136000, albeit with meticulous 3000 mile oil changes, it had various ticks and clicks which were gone within 15 miles of adding. Also I collected a stone through the oil cooler of my Sprint, and lost the lot, and had to drive well over a mile to the Bolney service area on the A23 with the gauge on zero. Bypassed the cooler, filled the oil up and pressure was normal - I do credit that to Slick 50....

[milothedog]

I think you need to do what suits your use of the car and your driving style to give you peace of mind. For me I will change the oil every 3k miles or annually if that is sooner using VR1 which, apparently, already has a good deal of the protection factors (ZDDP) needed. I'm not convinced it needs anything else (research based assumption rather than engineering expertise) but if you do then, even if it is unnecessary, what harm can it do? Not sure we will ever be able to scientifically prove either course of action to be correct in the end.

Cheers

Paul

Paul & Peter,

I agree that it shouldn't need anything extra, my train of thought was what Russ said (the unexpected) Oil pump drive failure for instance, if it saved me having to do Big ends and Mains then I think it's £30 well spent.

Like you say, it's a personal choice thing.

Ian.

[Paul Roberts]

The chemical composition of oils is extremely complex (long chain carbon molecules, etc.) The oil manufacturer will incorporate all of the additives, to the base oil, they consider necessary to do do the job. Throwing in additional "additives" will chemically change the original characteristics of the oil. Things such as; flash-point, alkalinity, foaming, waxing, sludge and of course viscosity may all be affected to the detriment of your engine.

[wilf]

+1 on not using additives - good clean oil is all your engine needs.

[milothedog]

The chemical composition of oils is extremely complex (long chain carbon molecules, etc.) The oil manufacturer will incorporate all of the additives, to the base oil, they consider necessary to do do the job. Throwing in additional "additives" will chemically change the original characteristics of the oil. Things such as; flash-point, alkalinity, foaming, waxing, sludge and of course viscosity may all be affected to the detriment of your engine.

I'll take your word for it Paul, but I wouldn't have thought that the additive manufactures would leave themselves wide open to compensations claims. also some have been around for years, the likes of STP. Wynns etc.

As has been said it a personal choice thing. and with anything I have used over many years have had no problems, in fact in some instances the results have been excellent in different applications.

Ian.

[Paul Roberts]

I'll take your word for it Paul, but I wouldn't have thought that the additive manufactures wouldn't leave themselves wide open to compensations claims. also some have been around for years, the likes of STP. Wynns etc.

As has been said it a personal choice thing. and with anything I have used over many years have had no problems, in fact in some instances the results have been excellent in different applications.

Ian.

I quite agree it is a matter for the individual. My observation is one relating purely to chemical engineering. In practice most of us (sensible ones?) never push our oils to the point where serious failure might occur; do we? The great Fangio once completed a rally stage, having lost a considerable quantity of engine oil, by topping up the sump with ditch-water; never did him any harm..... .

[jleyton]

Hi Peter,

I put this in last year after mulling it over and a chat with Peter at LD's Just piece of mind for me, I can't say I have noticed any difference, like I said "piece of mind" knowing it has some additional protection.

http://activ8lubricants.com/

Ian.

Ditto It was Peter's confidence that made me try it 'just in case'. Like Ian, I haven't noticed any difference but it gave me peace of mind.

At my last oil change I used Millers Classic Sport 20w50 Semi synthetic instead of VR1. I sense that it is just a fraction better although I can't point to anything specific.

Millers specialise in classics and so I'd think that they knows what's good and the ZDDP figure is high (can't recollect exactly what but IIRC similar to VR1) plus the additional benefits of semi synthetic. Besides, one of the bosses at Millers runs a Stag

Cheers

Julian

[wilf]

Some additional thoughts:

Modern production car engines are far (far) more highly stressed than those in classics like the Stag. Specific outputs are doubled at least, cylinder pressures and temperatures far higher, bearings carrying larger forces at higher rpms on smaller areas to reduce friction. And that is before you introduce the oil torture chambers that are turbochargers on pretty much all diesels and an increasing number of petrol engines.

And then figure in the huge intervals now recommended between oil changes.

And does anyone recommend anything other than the relevant spec oil? Hardly ever.

Now I know that modern synthetic oils are a fair step away from the dinosaur juice we pour into our TV8s, but they are, nevertheless, standing up to conditions we would never expect to see inside our dinosaur engines.

If car manufacturers thought any benefits would arise from the kind of aftermarket additives being discussed, you bet they would recommend them, or put them in from new, and they do neither.

[milothedog]

Some additional thoughts:

Modern production car engines are far (far) more highly stressed than those in classics like the Stag. Specific outputs are doubled at least, cylinder pressures and temperatures far higher, bearings carrying larger forces at higher rpms on smaller areas to reduce friction. And that is before you introduce the oil torture chambers that are turbochargers on pretty much all diesels and an increasing number of petrol engines.

And then figure in the huge intervals now recommended between oil changes.

And does anyone recommend anything other than the relevant spec oil? Hardly ever.

Now I know that modern synthetic oils are a fair step away from the dinosaur juice we pour into our TV8s, but they are, nevertheless, standing up to conditions we would never expect to see inside our dinosaur engines.

If car manufacturers thought any benefits would arise from the kind of aftermarket additives being discussed, you bet they would recommend them, or put them in from new, and they do neither.

"the oil cooler of my Sprint, and lost the lot, and had to drive well over a mile to the Bolney service area on the A23 with the gauge on zero. Bypassed the cooler, filled the oil up and pressure was normal - I do credit that to Slick 50."

I choose to add Active8 because I was taking the car on a 840 mile round trip and for reasons like above, It is a person choice. I have no doubt that many an engine has gone on a lot longer than it would have without adding something like these products. I have with some old motors many years ago. It is correct that an engine in good condition is fine with fresh oil but how many of us are using VR1, Miilers, etc. Why not just put some Comma 20/50 in. I think the reason is we see that improvement in Pressure and that gives you confidence.

Like said earlier its not doing any harm either, and should you find yourself in the position Russ did then it's money well spent in my book.

Ian

[wilf]

Who is going to be brave enough to repeat Russ' experiment but this time without the Slick 50?

[milothedog]

Who is going to be brave enough to repeat Russ' experiment but this time without the Slick 50?

I'm more than happy to come up there and invigilate if you are volunteering Wilf.

Ian.