Engine de-cokers and oil additives?
Discussion
Has anyone tried any of these aftermarket products?
I was looking at an advert for '10K boost' at
www.speeding.co.uk/acatalog/Engine.html
Does it really work that well?
What difference is there between using that and filling with a good premium fuel such as shell optimax, which also claims to de-coke the engine?
I'm asuming that you need to be driving a coked up 15 year old nova, 10,000 miles overdue for a service to reap the benefits?
Are oil aditives worth the money?
I have 'Slick 50' (teflon based) in my astra (but I put it in before I ever started driving it, so I never saw the difference). I don't know why I bought it, it just seemed like a good idea at the time. It's time for a service now, and I am wondering whether to buy some more when the oil is changed??
cheers!
>>> Edited by nmlowe on Wednesday 5th June 23:28
I was looking at an advert for '10K boost' at
www.speeding.co.uk/acatalog/Engine.html
Does it really work that well?
What difference is there between using that and filling with a good premium fuel such as shell optimax, which also claims to de-coke the engine?
I'm asuming that you need to be driving a coked up 15 year old nova, 10,000 miles overdue for a service to reap the benefits?
Are oil aditives worth the money?
I have 'Slick 50' (teflon based) in my astra (but I put it in before I ever started driving it, so I never saw the difference). I don't know why I bought it, it just seemed like a good idea at the time. It's time for a service now, and I am wondering whether to buy some more when the oil is changed??
cheers!
>>> Edited by nmlowe on Wednesday 5th June 23:28
Excellent this should get a debate rolling from the technical group of PH'ers. Do a search on Google for Slick50 and see the responses - almost all are negative!!!
Still, saying that I have used Slick50 several times in previous cars. Used the gearbox oil additive in an old Golf Mk2 and it made it much smoother and nicer to use. Also a friend used it on a Mini Clubman (the one with the 1100cc engine) and that made it acceptable to drive at 80 - for the noise that is. Also, used in my current battle bus - ZX 1.9TD - and seems to make it quieter too. Then again I am also using the diesel fuel addative which makes is smoother too....
What I would say is that anything where tollerances are critical such as a TVR engine you shouldnt use it. Stick to the manufacturers guidelines and should anything go wrong you have some sort of response - stick in something that it not warranteed then you are unlikely to get anything from them. That said, the higher the mileage and the more worn the engine / gearbox the better it seems to be...... Then again, if my 1.9TD engine does break I am looking at £400 for a new long motor - which is cheap.... and it does have 153k miles on it!
Lets see what the technical people have to say - would be interested to know. Most evidence is subjective.
Cheers,
Paul
Still, saying that I have used Slick50 several times in previous cars. Used the gearbox oil additive in an old Golf Mk2 and it made it much smoother and nicer to use. Also a friend used it on a Mini Clubman (the one with the 1100cc engine) and that made it acceptable to drive at 80 - for the noise that is. Also, used in my current battle bus - ZX 1.9TD - and seems to make it quieter too. Then again I am also using the diesel fuel addative which makes is smoother too....
What I would say is that anything where tollerances are critical such as a TVR engine you shouldnt use it. Stick to the manufacturers guidelines and should anything go wrong you have some sort of response - stick in something that it not warranteed then you are unlikely to get anything from them. That said, the higher the mileage and the more worn the engine / gearbox the better it seems to be...... Then again, if my 1.9TD engine does break I am looking at £400 for a new long motor - which is cheap.... and it does have 153k miles on it!
Lets see what the technical people have to say - would be interested to know. Most evidence is subjective.
Cheers,
Paul
Neil,
10K Boost certainly got the thumbs up from the MX-5 brigade a while back. That was back iin the days when it was a 2 can set though (think it's just the 1 can nowadays ?). I think it does a similar cleaning job to Optimax, but obviously over a shorter period of time.
And you are right - the cars I know that had the treatment were either approaching or just over the 100K - differences were siginificant enough to be noticable.
It's not that dear to just give it a go, is it ?
10K Boost certainly got the thumbs up from the MX-5 brigade a while back. That was back iin the days when it was a 2 can set though (think it's just the 1 can nowadays ?). I think it does a similar cleaning job to Optimax, but obviously over a shorter period of time.
And you are right - the cars I know that had the treatment were either approaching or just over the 100K - differences were siginificant enough to be noticable.
It's not that dear to just give it a go, is it ?
quote:
I thought Slick 50 was a one treatment affair so no need to buy it again when you swap oil.
Having read the 'snake oil' expose, as far as I'm concerned it's a zero treatment affair. Interesting to read that Du Pont (I think it was) didn't want to let them use the active ingredient on the basis it did no good and some harm and would bring them into disrepute, but were eventually forced to under a 'protective trade' ruling.
Never mind, I'm sure those experts at the Slick 50 factory know far more than the oil companies' research chemists. Do they do those really neat fuel magnet things too?
Talking of oil and magnets, teneous link I know, what is this B*ll*cks about magnetic oil. It sticks to your car like a magnet, its as if the advert is saying when you start an engine there is no oil left in/around the cylinders which is utter rubbish. Is there any basis for it being better than normal oil or is it as I highly suspect total b*ll*cks?
Greg 240E said a while ago that some engine addative (Can't remember which)did the same cleaning job as Optimax.
Question, Does Optimax claim to clean your engine?
I have been using it, with no noticable changes in performance, but a very noticable change in the amount of smoking the engine is doing!
Now, my little 907 has done over 130,000 and probably is in desperate need of a rebuild, so I have purposely been avoiding anything which may remove any gunge build up in the engine.
Do you think that the Optimax is cleaning the motor? or is the engine just deteriating more quickly on it's own?
Question, Does Optimax claim to clean your engine? I have been using it, with no noticable changes in performance, but a very noticable change in the amount of smoking the engine is doing!
Now, my little 907 has done over 130,000 and probably is in desperate need of a rebuild, so I have purposely been avoiding anything which may remove any gunge build up in the engine. Do you think that the Optimax is cleaning the motor? or is the engine just deteriating more quickly on it's own?
quote:
Greg 240E said a while ago that some engine addative (Can't remember which)did the same cleaning job as Optimax.
Simon, yes I did, but I'm only regurgitating what Evo found out this month (Ferrari issue, with Benno's motor heavily featured, good read). Shell claim it cleans the engine among other things - check out the issue.
Greg
If anyone one here has actually carried out a de-coke on a cylinder head and seen what's involved in cleaning and re-grinding in the valves - I think you'll agree it's doubtful that some magic fluid is going to do the same job.
As for the oil additives, I personally think that when an engine is worn no magic additive is going to save it from what it really needs - a rebuild.
The only tried and tested way to prolong engine life is observe the "warm up" rule and to use quality oil which you change frequetly.
Sorry if I sound cinical
As for the oil additives, I personally think that when an engine is worn no magic additive is going to save it from what it really needs - a rebuild.
The only tried and tested way to prolong engine life is observe the "warm up" rule and to use quality oil which you change frequetly.
Sorry if I sound cinical
quote:
If anyone one here has actually carried out a de-coke on a cylinder head and seen what's involved in cleaning and re-grinding in the valves - I think you'll agree it's doubtful that some magic fluid is going to do the same job.
I agree (having done the job), but I don't believe thats what Optimax is claiming, I thought it just meant that it deposits less in the engine so therefore cleans as it burns. Rather like whitening toothpaste in that it removes stains but doesn't actually make your teeth whiter.
I'm just as cynical as you about a magic potion.
Shells site itself it claims to contain detergent qualities removing deposits especially around the valves.
It also has a spiffy picture of how much further ahead in a given moment during an overtaking manueovre you are than a 95octane pleb. It is possible this info has been removed due to false advertising!
Incidently, been using Optimax for the last 7 months solidly and will be getting my head swapped in the next month. Will look at condition of valves etc.. and report back if anyone cares.
>> Edited by funkihamsta on Thursday 6th June 21:19
It also has a spiffy picture of how much further ahead in a given moment during an overtaking manueovre you are than a 95octane pleb. It is possible this info has been removed due to false advertising!
Incidently, been using Optimax for the last 7 months solidly and will be getting my head swapped in the next month. Will look at condition of valves etc.. and report back if anyone cares.
>> Edited by funkihamsta on Thursday 6th June 21:19
To clean, or so I am told, injectors you need an ultrsonic thingy to shift the muck. So how do the additives that claim to do it work? Are they correct or is it something that need to be used regular on good newish ones?
I used Slick 50 on the Carlton once and didn't notice a change that I could notice. Local dealer said its not in the book so don't use it, as we don't support it etc. But they then went on to take the p!ss on a break master cylinder problem of their own making.
I used Slick 50 on the Carlton once and didn't notice a change that I could notice. Local dealer said its not in the book so don't use it, as we don't support it etc. But they then went on to take the p!ss on a break master cylinder problem of their own making.
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