Just wondering on folks opinions on oil additives ?
Seems very divided with some folks saying they are a good thing and some folks strictly against it ?
You know the sort of thing, Slick 50, STP, Forte etc.
And to make things even more complicated, how do you stand on using an engine oil flush ?

Loads of different views and opinions on this, so as I am about to dump the auto trans oil in the box and the engine oil, should I flush, refill and then add additive, or just stay with good quality oils and avoid the additive ?

Oh, its a 2003 4.7 Magnum with 52,000 miles on the clock.

All opinions welcome as this seems to be a grey area ?

Cheers,

Alan.........................

 

Oil additives (the kind that consumers buy separately from their oil, like Slick 50, Sea Foam, STP, etc) are definitely a waste of money and may possibly do harm. When oil companies produce motor oil, they begin with certain base stocks and add specially formulated additives to meet SAE standards. Any additives that you may add can counteract the existing additives, which reduces their effectiveness. If you're concerned about the quality of oil you put in your crankcase or differentials then just buy the best you can find, like Amsoil or Red Line.

There is nothing wrong with doing an occasional flush. Instead of buying a quart of engine flush for $5, you can just use a quart of kerosene. The best way to do it is to drain your oil and remove the oil filter. Screw on a cheap oil filter and fill the crankcase with cheap motor oil, leaving it a quart low. Then add a quart of kerosene (or motor flush) and idle the engine for twenty minutes. Then drain it out, replace the filter, and fill with your favorite oil.

 

I don't believe in " snake oil" like these quick fixes or pour in Horse Power as it is but unless you are noticing any problems you shouldn't need anything.Things like the sea-foam for cleaning the engine are good if you need them. What type of oil have you been running? Dino or synthetic? If you have been running a good syn. oil then more than likely your engine doesn't need flushing. Most oils, including some Dino oils, if changed at the proper intervals, will keep your engine clean. I run RP in my truck from the rooty to the tooty and the only thing I add is fuel injector cleaner occasionally to the fuel tank.

 

I used to think that additives were a complete waste of money but i started using z-max and i have noticed a big difference in power and and even gained 2 miles to the gallon in my '04 4.7l.. granted i haven't torn my engine down and cked to see if it is causing any probs but so far so good. I also haven't noticed any problems with my oil when changing it. and yes I use a decent full synthetic oil. mobile1

 

Personally, I don't believe in additives. I have never seen any need for them as long as you use a high quality synthetic oil. In my truck I use quality synthetics for the diffs, trans and engine and have never had any issues (knock on wood).

 

You actually get 2 MPG more on every tank of fuel since you starting using an oil additive? No offense intended, but I am doubtful of your claim. If there is some magic substance in z-max that increases fuel economy to that extent, then why don't the oil companies put it in their motor oil and outsell their competition?

 

subscribed.

 

I agree with Off_Road_Teacher. Just use quality synths. And I recommend having a shop with a tranny machine do your flush. They hook into your rad trans lines and cycle all the fluid through the machine. Not just dump the pan and "dilute" your new fluid with old left in TC and various lines in the tranny.

 

If I could show you the proof I would. however as far as the oil companies, cost effectiveness isn't worth it to them I'm sure besides the patent. either way. you'll never know unless you try it. I even talked my brother into using it on his '86 ford ranger and it has completely stopped smoking and drastically increased power and fuel mileage..I'm just speaking for experience and I do apologize for the four letter words of evil i have spoken on a dodge forum...

 

No additives here and no flushing niether.I first hand seen my friend do a oil flush to his car and threw number 3 rod out the side of his 318 one day.It wasnt a pretty sight.Only thing we can figure is all the sludge it removed went to the pan and plugged the oil pump.He dumped it in,went maybe 300 feet up the road to the next driveway,turned around to come back to dump the oil and change it and made it to his driveway and it happened.It did its job i guess,flushed the rod out the block.Maybe just a fluke but it sent a message to my brain to never use it.

If ya change your oil like its suppose to be i dont see a reason to ever need to use any of that stuff.My father told me at a young age that oil was the cheapest long range maint. you can do and i never forgot it and never had a engine problem.