Oil additives? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

***projektvertx*** · 09-08-2009, 06:03 PM

Hey everyone!

Well, I just finished changine my oil for the x'th time on my car. As I was pouring the gtx high mileage in, my thoughts turned to oil additives. Now, being a chemist by trade, and also having worked in the industry for nearly 2 years now, I know that there are only 2 clases of this stuff you should ever consider pouring into your engine: zinc based additives and detergent based additives. An example of zinc based additive is STP oil treatment and an example of a detergent based treatment is CD-2 oil additive. Now my question is the following: Are these of any use? Do they do more harm then good? What's the explanation behind it? My father poured stp oil additives in the 2 last cars he's owned, one being a '91 camry V6 LE, which he got hit in at nearly 180,000 miles, and his current car, a ' 97 Acura RL with only, wait for it, 72,000 miles. Both work fine, but still... Sorry for the bla bla, but I'm curious!!

ckyle29 · 09-09-2009, 04:07 PM

In today's oil formulations, additives are not really necessary. There was a time a few decades ago when they were, which is probably why your dad still uses STP, but with the new formulations you aren't really going to get any added value. Just change your oil regularly and you will be fine.

My mother has a 99 TL with 36,000 miles on it. It is the proverbial "driven by a little old lady" car.

lenjack · 09-09-2009, 08:39 PM

Not needed.

***projektvertx*** · 09-14-2009, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckyle29

In today's oil formulations, additives are not really necessary. There was a time a few decades ago when they were, which is probably why your dad still uses STP, but with the new formulations you aren't really going to get any added value. Just change your oil regularly and you will be fine.

My mother has a 99 TL with 36,000 miles on it. It is the proverbial "driven by a little old lady" car.

Well in 2006 he only had 20,000 miles on it.... But hey, I suppose I should the real question is, by adding them, is he harming the engine? Do they increase the amount of sludge building?

chronoti · 09-14-2009, 10:27 PM

had a nissan that i added cleaner too. well found out it was held together by sludge. it was at 120k?

***projektvertx*** · 09-14-2009, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chronoti

had a nissan that i added cleaner too. well found out it was held together by sludge. it was at 120k?

Cleaner is different from oil additives. I know cleaners are a horrible idea based on a friends experience, I'll assume regular oil changes and skip right to the chase: what brand cleaner was it?

DxElite · 09-14-2009, 11:01 PM

I use BG MOA when I know I'll be going on long driving trips or if I think I'll be in a lot of stop & go traffic, basically everyday for the commute back and forth to school.

***PhatRoyale*** · 09-14-2009, 11:48 PM

All engine oils already have built in additive packages that do the jobs of cleaning engine internals of power-robbing deposits when regular maintenance schedules are followed. Additional additives are simply not required.

Toy_Dreamer · 09-15-2009, 12:31 AM

Check this site out. Using this oil you don't need to do anything, it does everything for you. If you want check out the ratings as well. It's what I use and I love the performance and, well, how amazing the oil works! http://www.amsoil.com/a/synthetic-motor-oil-engine-oil

96ToyoCam164K · 09-15-2009, 03:17 AM

I had a mechanic recommend my 87 buick the Lucas oil additive to quite the 'ticking' sound. However he didnt for my camry....Maybe when it gets older and more wear...cause it did help the oil last longer

***projektvertx*** · 09-15-2009, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DxElite

I use BG MOA when I know I'll be going on long driving trips or if I think I'll be in a lot of stop & go traffic, basically everyday for the commute back and forth to school.

I'm not really into the "no name" additives, I tend to shy away from those, but I'll take a closer look at that. Thanks for the tip!

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhatRoyale

All engine oils already have built in additive packages that do the jobs of cleaning engine internals of power-robbing deposits when regular maintenance schedules are followed. Additional additives are simply not required.

I suppose the real question is, does it hurt to add more?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toy_Dreamer

Check this site out. Using this oil you don't need to do anything, it does everything for you. If you want check out the ratings as well. It's what I use and I love the performance and, well, how amazing the oil works! http://www.amsoil.com/a/synthetic-motor-oil-engine-oil

Honestly, I've run Castrol in my car for nearly it's entire life. I switched from conventional GTX to GTX high miles back in the stone age. I switched oil to valvoline high mileage for one oil change and told myself to never do it again. I suppose it was a different blend of seal conditioners so the seals weren't conditionned in the same way?

Quote:

Originally Posted by 96ToyoCam164K

I had a mechanic recommend my 87 buick the Lucas oil additive to quite the 'ticking' sound. However he didnt for my camry....Maybe when it gets older and more wear...cause it did help the oil last longer

See, that's the point of contention here. When my father drains the oil from his engine, he claims it lasts longer as you stated. He says it still is slightly golden versus a deeper colow without the STP oil treatment. I suppose my real question still hangs out there: Does this oil treatment stuff cause or increase engine sludge? I know engine treatment/cleaners will but does an oil treatment do that as well?

MichWolverine · 09-16-2009, 08:04 AM

My last two cars 96 Park ave , is at 250K and a 2000 Dodge caravan 235K. Got them used with 100K on them , and have changed the oil every 5K. I like doing 5K its easyer to remember. Nothing fancy just oil and filter like clock work, and both still run fine with no smoking or oil use. When you take the oil cap off and look in at the top of the motor it looks clean, because i change it like it should be done. Any thing extra is just $ flushed down the drain.

Dick Tuck · 09-24-2009, 09:01 PM

If you change it yourself you can use synthetic oil and a top quality filter for about the cost of whatever they pass out at "Drippy Lube". Up here in the frozen north the synthetic oil is an advantage. I like the extra insurance. As I recall, none of the famous "sludged" toyota motors had synthetic oil in them.

***projektvertx*** · 09-24-2009, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dick Tuck

If you change it yourself you can use synthetic oil and a top quality filter for about the cost of whatever they pass out at "Drippy Lube". Up here in the frozen north the synthetic oil is an advantage. I like the extra insurance. As I recall, none of the famous "sludged" toyota motors had synthetic oil in them.

Well, see here is the thing, I have yet to see a synthetic oil in a high mileage version. I, of course, change my own oil, I have never trusted anyone else with my oil changes... But my burning questions still stands, is there any data about oil treatment and their effects on sludge in engines?

carsrus · 09-24-2009, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by projektvertx

Well, see here is the thing, I have yet to see a synthetic oil in a high mileage version. I, of course, change my own oil, I have never trusted anyone else with my oil changes... But my burning questions still stands, is there any data about oil treatment and their effects on sludge in engines?

Mobil 1 makes a high mileage 10w30.

If you change your oil regular dont worry about sludge. The thick lucas oil and other stuff is primarily for dieing engines so the only way to keep them running is by "sludging" up the seals aka making them swell up a bit and seal better.