Engine Additives

[robs02elantra]

Ok, so just a quick question. Does anyone here use fuel additives (or any other additives for that matter). You can stroll down the aisle at any canadian tire, or pep boys and similar stores and find a thousand products that you put in with a fillup from empty and they are supposed to do wonderful things like clean the fuel injectors, increase gas mileage, increase power. I used to use these on my 91 Taurus, because at $6 a bottle for most of them, it couldn't hurt that much if it was bad for it. I am more skeptical about putting things like that into my elantra though.

Any thoughts?

[FordFasteRR]

There are only 2 products that I know about from personal experience.

#1. Restore engine treatment. Helps increase compression by sealing up the cylinder wall wear.

#2. Chevron Techron fuel system cleaner.
(it is the only independently tested fuel treatment that has shown any actual cleaning of desposits).

[paki]

i use the STP fuel injector cleaner every 30-40k in the cars in my family

[Tibrai]

I use any standard fuel injector cleaner every time I change the oil. As far as oil or engine additives, Depending on who you talk to, you'll get different answers, I personally don't put any additives in....HOWEVER, I also change my oil religously every 3K. I you don't change yours as much, I might suggest STP oil treatment (it will extend your oil life about 1K) or the like, but thats about it.

Other than that just, change your fluids as specified in the manual or more frequently (no engine ever in my life has ever died from changing fluids TOO much).

[robs02elantra]

Yeah, I'm religious with my oil changes (and other fluids), so there is no worries about that. I was just wondering if the injector cleaners are actually worth it. Thanks again.

Rob.

[Tibrai]

As stated I do use them periodically, however don't use too much, too often. Cleaners will foul your plugs.

[Soron]

Injector cleaners are worth it for slightly dirty injector cleaning but if the injectors are really dirty you have to get a injector cleaning done at a garage, they bypass the gas line and use concentrated stuff in a can that the engine runs off of until it dies (about 5-10 mins), at which point cleaning is done. I think injector cleaners are good preventative maintenance to do once every oil change as it helps keep them clean for much longer thus saving you gas, I use stp's super concentrated stuff myself at every oci as I normally run chevron gas which has techron in it already.

As for oil additives, don't get me started.... short answer is to just not use them.

[importspeed]

As for engine additives check out this site and read all the testimonials as well as the independent testing results.www.x1-r.com. and about Fuel additives check out this site www.toptiergas.com

[tharptroy]

lucas synthetic oil stabilizer doesnt seem to be bad for engine oil.

PolyDyn also has an oil treatment, I might give it a shot eventually...who knows, there isnt much info on their site.

they're pretty big in the coating scene, and reher-morrison uses them for the coatings on the engines they assemble...so they are a reputable company.

[Estopatitiana]

fuel injector cleaners according to my bro are mostly gimmicks that are all pretty much just octane booster..i wont use any of it unless i see proven and documented results..then again im too lazy to look for those thats my two abes

[Soron]

I would not use lucas oil stabilizer in anything, there have been tests showing that it basically increases the foaming action of oil so that it gets oxidized much faster than normal, leading to oil breakdown and worse premature engine wear Lucas Oil Test (http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/images/lucas/lucas.htm), it basically nullifies the anti-foaming additives already in most engine oils . As for teflon additives don't add them for the fact that they are larger than 20 microns and would get filtered out of the oil in the oil filter not to mention they dont belong in an engine in the first place.

[Dust]

Good link Soron. Read up on BITOG if you want to know what to put into your oil. My beater and my bike get Lube Control and Fuel Power, and the bike just got an AutoRX cleaning a few months ago.

[edog05]

I use berryman's (the stuff in the steel can) works great every 15k-20k. just don't spill it on the paint!! it's in a steel can for a reason

[2001GLS]

Chevron Techron fuel cleaner is the only one worth using. I run a bottle through about once every 3 months.

[BlackElantraGT]

I don't use any oil additives, especially since I'm already paying extra for synthetic Mobil 1 oil.

As far as fuel additives, I can't tell the difference if it works or not, but as a preventative maintenance I use the Chevron Techron fuel injector cleaner about once ever few months . You can get a pack of 4 from Costco for $9.99. If Costco no longer carried the product, I probably would not spend the $4.99 or so they charge at the auto parts store.

[Maeglin Oronar]

All oil additives are useless. None of them actualy do any good. They actualy do more harm than good to the engine.
Cheveron Techron on the other hand does actualy clean the injetors, and is recomended my vehicle manufacturers. The only other good additive to use is Iso-heat (in the red bottle). It has isopropyl alcohol that absorbs any water in the fuel tank and alows it to be burned in the cumbustion chamber. The other stuff methyl alcohol (in the yellow bottle) just seperates the water in the tank, leaveing a layer of water and a layer of gas. I use a bottle of Iso-Heat in the fall to eliminate any water in the tank before winter.