Slick50 / Engine treatment : when do you start using it?

[Imaginer]

My truck sits at 83500 miles and just did a change of oil. However, it got me thinking of when to start using any kind of engine treatment at this point onward. If so, how good would it last for or will I have to use it for every change. I am currently using 5W30.

Off thread, which brand of oil you guys prefer?

 

[Pacfanweb]

Treatments are bogus. Use synthetic oil if you want some extra insurance.

To your other question, whatever's on sale that's in my viscosity range. Brand doesn't matter anymore, they all meet the same specs.

Nobody, and I mean NOBODY can come on here and show us an oil-related engine failure that isn't the owner's fault...for using the
wrong weight, not changing it, etc.
It just doesn't happen. Oil does not cause failure, unless you are doing something very wrong.

 

[Colt45]

You don't use it.

 

[Apex]

You should start using it when you start hating your car.

 

[Eli]

You don't.

Ever. EVER!

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
Treatments are bogus. Use synthetic oil if you want some extra insurance.

To your other question, whatever's on sale that's in my viscosity range. Brand doesn't matter anymore, they all meet the same specs.

Nobody, and I mean NOBODY can come on here and show us an oil-related engine failure that isn't the owner's fault...for using the
wrong weight, not changing it, etc.
It just doesn't happen. Oil does not cause failure, unless you are doing something very wrong.

I agree with your sentiment, but the bolded is far, far from the truth.

Well, I guess it is true in a sense.. They do all meet the same minimum specifications.

The minimum shouldn't be what you shoot for though, IMO. At least a middle road.. Shrug.

 

[j00fek]

synthetic oil is not worth it unless you use it when you buy the car brand new. particles ibn the oil have to bond to the engine, and if there is already gunk buildup its worthless.

just get some lucas fuel system treatment.

 

[flyfish]

There is only one engine treatment that is worth anything IMO.

http://www.auto-rx.com/

It is kind of expensive but, you generally get what you pay for.
Do a little research an Auto-rx and you will find nothing but positive reviews.

My personal experiences with auto rx are mixed.
I had an S-10 pick up with 160k miles. The carbon and sludge buildup in that thing was terrible. 2 treatments of Auto-rx and the engine cleaned up from what I could see under the valve covers and I gained significant compression. It also stopped the rear main seal and distributor shaft oil leaks. My brother is now driving it with 200k and it runs well.
I did a treatment on my 2001 Toyota Tundra with 70k miles. It did not do much that I could tell. Of course the engine was clean as a whistle and ran like a top on synthetic oil to begin with. So, I guess if there is nothing to "treat" then Auto-rx won't do much.

In my opinion, don't wast your money on engine treatments especially if you are not having a problem that they might fix.

 

[BD2003]

I'ev never used an oil treatment that was worth anything. My car burns a qt every 2000 miles or so, so I figured I'd try one that claims to stop or slow the burning of oil...and it didnt do squat.

Seafoam, on the other hand, noticibly made a difference after I ran it through the engine.

 

[DougK62]

Don't use any engine treatments, and don't switch to 10w40.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: j00fek
synthetic oil is not worth it unless you use it when you buy the car brand new. particles ibn the oil have to bond to the engine, and if there is already gunk buildup its worthless.

just get some lucas fuel system treatment.

No, particles in synthetic do NOT "bond to the engine", that's ridiculous.

Synthetic will provide greater protection no matter when you start using it. However, for almost all street-driven, non-turbocharged, stock automobiles there is no real-world benefit from using synthetic oil. The car will die from other causes long before any problems due to conventional oil come up.

As for Lucas Fuel System treatment, you couldn't pay me to use a Lucas Oil product in one of my cars. If you want to run a fuel system cleaner, use Techron.

ZV

 

[Pepsi90919]

do not use additives that are not already in your oil.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: flyfish
It is kind of expensive but, you generally get what you pay for.
Do a little research an Auto-rx and you will find nothing but positive reviews.

Snake oil's like that...it doesn't do any good, but a good snake oil doesn't do any harm, so the placebo effect makes it seem like a miracle.

If the manual calls for 5w30, just keep using 5w30 dino fat. I've heard some positive things about the "high mileage" oils, but I have no idea if there's any truth to them.

I usually use Valvoline in my car, and Shell Rotella in my bike. The latter is a fairly high-quality oil that's available everywhere for a good price (check Wal-Mart). I'm debating whether to switch to synthetic on the bike, but honestly I can't really think of a reason to.

 

[Killrose]

Becareful of using any engine treatment that claims to clean out the engine internals, especially on high mileage motors. What happens is you loosen and set free alot of hard particles and gunk that has been baked on inside your motor and has now been set free to circulate by the treatment.

Only use them immediatley before an oil and filter change and don't run with them after an oil and filter change. I have an old ScoutII I use for hauling my boat and I have been guilty of using Gunk engine cleaner on several occasions which I think is little more than deisel fuel with anti-wear additives. It is ment to only be used immediatley before an oil change and not driven only idled for about 5min before dumping oil and filter.

A few years ago I had to replace the valve cover gaskts and it was pretty clean under there for an old cornbinder. I think I had treated it 3 or so times over the course of 30k mi or so, did the first treatment when it had 80k or so on it.

 

[nakedfrog]

What do you guys think of Seafoam?

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
Treatments are bogus. Use synthetic oil if you want some extra insurance.

To your other question, whatever's on sale that's in my viscosity range. Brand doesn't matter anymore, they all meet the same specs.

Nobody, and I mean NOBODY can come on here and show us an oil-related engine failure that isn't the owner's fault...for using the
wrong weight, not changing it, etc.
It just doesn't happen. Oil does not cause failure, unless you are doing something very wrong.

I agree with your sentiment, but the bolded is far, far from the truth.

Well, I guess it is true in a sense.. They do all meet the same minimum specifications.

The minimum shouldn't be what you shoot for though, IMO. At least a middle road.. Shrug.

I should clarify...all the name brand oils, there's no difference. They all meet or exceed the specs.
So it doesn't matter if you use Pennzoil, Quaker State, Havoline, etc. Long as you use the correct weight, just buy whatever's on sale.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
As for Lucas Fuel System treatment, you couldn't pay me to use a Lucas Oil product in one of my cars. If you want to run a fuel system cleaner, use Techron.

ZV

In addition to that, I'd recommend BG products. They work great. Not familiar with Techron stuff, but if ZV likes it, I'm sure it's fine, too.
I'd say the majority of the dealerships around here use BG, though. Fuel system cleaners, trans flush, coolant flush, p/s flush, etc. Good stuff.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
As for Lucas Fuel System treatment, you couldn't pay me to use a Lucas Oil product in one of my cars. If you want to run a fuel system cleaner, use Techron.

ZV

In addition to that, I'd recommend BG products. They work great. Not familiar with Techron stuff, but if ZV likes it, I'm sure it's fine, too.
I'd say the majority of the dealerships around here use BG, though. Fuel system cleaners, trans flush, coolant flush, p/s flush, etc. Good stuff.

I can't believe I forgot BG. Good stuff.

Techron is manufactured by Chevron, it's factory recommended by Porsche and has been for a long time now. It does a good job as a once a year kind of clean out, but is still definitely consumer stuff. Very good consumer stuff though and very widely available.

ZV

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
As for Lucas Fuel System treatment, you couldn't pay me to use a Lucas Oil product in one of my cars. If you want to run a fuel system cleaner, use Techron.

ZV

In addition to that, I'd recommend BG products. They work great. Not familiar with Techron stuff, but if ZV likes it, I'm sure it's fine, too.
I'd say the majority of the dealerships around here use BG, though. Fuel system cleaners, trans flush, coolant flush, p/s flush, etc. Good stuff.

I can't believe I forgot BG. Good stuff.

Techron is manufactured by Chevron, it's factory recommended by Porsche and has been for a long time now. It does a good job as a once a year kind of clean out, but is still definitely consumer stuff. Very good consumer stuff though and very widely available.

ZV

Redline's is a fine choice as well, along with those two.

Seafoam is a great product as long as you use it right.

 

[Imaginer]

Ok, so I should stay on course with the manufacture's recommendations of the oil for the time I have the vehicle?

And Techron, is that why Cheveron prices on gas is always the most expensive of all the gas stations in its area?

 

[Summitdrinker]

you didn't say what the motor was or the driving conditions

don't use 10w40, just use 5w30 or use 15w40 if the outside temps are above 60 and you drive long trips

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Imaginer
And Techron, is that why Cheveron prices on gas is always the most expensive of all the gas stations in its area?

Maybe, but the amount of Techron in Chevron's gasoline is negligible at best. The Techron you can buy in an auto parts store is much more concentrated and will clean more.

ZV

 

[Killrose]

I beleive I bought a 4-pack of Techron at Costco not too long ago.

 

[randomlinh]

advanced auto parts does a buy one get one free every so often (of techron). I bought my last 4 there.

I use synthetic but mostly because I'm paranoid from autocrossing. A stock fill of motorcraft would be oh so much cheaper...