With these older trucks I am always very curious as to what others do to keep them in tip top shape. Specifically as it relates to additives, lubricants, and fluids (AL&Fs). I've always been good about maintaining my truck by changing fluids and lubricating everything. I'm a bit more skeptical of additives. I guess I always thought most additives were snake oil and if you take care of your truck in the first place the additives would largely be unnecessary. That doesn't mean additives don't have their place but they need to be used wisely. I suspect all of us (including me) believe things about AL&Fs that are just flat wrong. I'm not sure who is ever right about them but it remains I am curious how us older truck owners use these products.

I would hope this thread would get some traffic because it's such an interesting topic but there is also very little traffic here so it could very well die on the vine. Oh well, we'll see.

I'll start it off with an additive I use and a fluid I use. I change my engine oil and filter every 3,000 miles whether it needs it or not. I've always used the specified 10W-30 oil. I buy the non-synthetic, however that is getting harder to find so recently I've been using a synthetic blend. I suspect it wont be long and I'll be going full synthetic. All these motor oils have good quality detergents in them these days so I don't really worry about sludge build up. But I still will add 1/2 - 1 quart of Marvel's Mystery Oil a few hundred miles before I do an oil change. Not every time, but maybe a third of the time. Marvel's is an excellent penetrate and I just feel it helps to keep small passageways in the engine clear of crap. I may be full of crap but it's just what I think. I used to use Marvels in my fuel now and again but stopped that. Don't see how that helps the filter or the catalytic converter.

Interested in what others use.

 

In 1980 something I had a 73 Caprice. It has barely any oil on the dipstick the entire time I owned it. I never did anything but put gas in it when I could. It seemed OK to me. But I knew nothing and no one was volunteering to teach me anything.
An Aussie told me that when he changes oil He drains it and the filter. Puts the old filter back on with two liters of new oil and half a liter of diesel. Then drives it normal for a day or two and then drains it changes the filter and adds new oil. I've done it on a couple vehicles. It always seems like more than 2.5 quarts comes out when I drain it the second time. Both of them are old trucks and the diesel I have in a can is many years old.

 

I don't use any of the alfs. I don't see the point. Fluids get changed on a regular basis, so, there is no need for additional 'band aid' chemicals.

I have tried the diesel in oil treatment a couple times, on engines that were sludged up beyond hope..... I would only run the engine at idle though, never drive them. My experience was within a couple weeks of doing this, the engine would develop serious bottom end issues... Rod/Main knocks, etc. Of course, the engine was already on its last leg when I tried.... so, may have happened that way regardless of the diesel in oil.

 

I've heard people do this. I never have. Never needed to. Sounds too much like living on the edge.

 

I'm kinda with you HY. If you're changing your fluids with regularity there should be no need for additives. Especially vehicles 50 years old and less. Oils, coolants, fuel, various fluids all have adequate detergents and protectants in them these days so that it renders additives useless at best. Though I suspect there are still a few that are worthwhile. I hear good things about AT-205 for main seals. If the leak is not too bad the AT-205 will often rejuvenate the seals and stop the leaking. Depends how bad the leak is. Also know many people who use Lucas tranny additive for slipping trannies and have some success with that. Beyond that, I'm not seeing where additives help much yet you go to any automotive store and the shelves are loaded with them. I just see snake oil. You still live up north...do you guys use Heet or any kind of fuel additive to prevent freezing?

 

I haven't had a problem with gas line freeze in decades. (I am in southern michigan, we get below zero temps every year. Sometimes, a lot further below zero than I really care for......) I think fuels are cleaner these days, and with the pressures fuel injected engines operate it, seems they can generally just push any ice through the system.

 

Interesting. Didn't think of fuel injection being an ally.