What is the current feeling about use of fuel additives for valve lubrication & fuel system cleaning? For example, has anyone used Lucas Upper Cylinder Lubricant and Fuel System cleaner? Do these things work? Are they beneficial? Or are they just one more way to get money out of us by picking on the fears of engine problems and the desire for top performance?

Your comments areappreciated...

 

I had a cold-start issue with my last car. It just didn't want to run on the first start. Fired right up on the second. Added a can of Seafoam and never had another issue. I added a can after the first 3000 miles to my SRT. I don't have any issues with the car but thought it wouldn't hurt.


http://www.seafoamsales.com/motorTuneUpTechGas.htm

 

Thanks for your thoughts. In various cars, I've used gas additives but dont think I could ever say I noticed any difference. I'm not including in that statement the time I owned an Opel GT (1970) that had a tendancy, during winter, for the carburetor to freeze up. So, with that car, I always put a can of gas drier in the tank during winter months.

 

Fuel additives do more harm than good and are not recommended by any manufacturer.

Premium fuel from name brand suppliers, Sunoco has best, Shell second have enough tech built in and offer best burn ratios. You will be no condensation issues in winter as long as you don't let tank get below 1/2, keeping it full eliminates problem.

 

Your comment appears to address gasoline driers. Does your opening comment apply to all additives? Lubricants? Cleaners?

 

Premium blended gasolines have all the necessary additives in them. Nothing else is needed, buy good fuel that's it. The ECM is programmed for fuels where car is sold.

Sunoco had the highest flash point, followed closely by Shell.

As you may not know, Sunoco is fuel of NASCAR and NHRA as it has the highest octane level short of aircraft fuel which many 70's Muscle Cars run on (unless you can get Octane Booster cheap) while Shell supplies F1 Ferrari. Unfortunately we cannot get Elf or Petronas in North America.

Happy motoring

 

If you can find a Chevron station that would be my recommendation. Premium Chevron gas with Techron has really good additives in it.

 

Do you have a link where you can share this info? curious to know...

I'm not sure of a list of studied detergent levels in gasolines, but I agree that better gas is a good way to avoid the need for additives. Different retailers have different additives in them- below is the approved list of retailers from Top Tier, see http://www.toptiergas.com/
These are the retailers that have adequate levels of additives in all grades of gas per this consortium of auto manufacturers - a little gimmicky perhaps, but not many guides out there that I'm aware of

QuikTrip
Chevron
Texaco
MFA Oil Co.
Conoco
Phillips 66
76
Entec Stations
Shell
The Somerset Refinery, Inc.
Kwik Trip / Kwik Star
Aloha Petroleum
Tri-Par Oil Co.
Turkey Hill Minit Markets
Mileage Stations
Chevron Canada
Shell Canada
Petro-Canada
Sunoco Canada


I tend to stick to Shell and Chevron in my area...

 

hmm i use BP and i dont see that on the list. is that bad?

 

Not at all, just means that BP doesn't meet the criteria for Top Tier in all grades of their gas - 93 octane may be OK but 87 may not have enough additives in the test results

 

Every manufacturer states "additives" are not required or recommended, except the ones they sell under private label, the Chryslrer shop we deal with, Dakota R/T and 05 Coupe, recommend Lukas products and use them for service items

 

Yes some recommend, why not.. they make lots of profit$$$$$ on peripheral sales, not to knock Lucas products, maybe in a 800HP blueprinted engine, not in a production line car. Here in Quebec consumer protection stopped the practise a few years ago as dealers were popping in similar product at each oil change, the manufacturer does not recommend any additives, just tank up with highest octane brand name fuel is all the Dr ordered..

 

What about oil additives ? I have never used them but I know people who swear by them, and since these engines are know for the vavetrain noise would they help? and are they compatable with Mobile 1?