Use oil additives or not?

[redbelly52]

Just finished reading the newest thread on warming the engine or not before driving and it suggested a question for the experts here.
Would you use an oil additive, such as Slick-50 or not?
I've used it in 50's-70's engines with good results. Any thoughts?

[jdsanders]

With modern engines I do not think you need the additives. Some additives did reduce friction but in recent years I would just use thicker oil if one was using oil. The thicker oil does make an engine a little harder to crank in cold weather.

[todd3131]

I have and do run them in my model a and I feel that It makes a big difference

[Gary WA]

oils are much better than in the 20-30's, so my take on it is no. And I do allow my engine to warm up prior to driving.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Most additives are just a GREAT profit maker for someone. I believe that most GREAT RESULTS from additives are PSYCHO-SYMATIC! I feel that the majority of penetrants fall into the same category.
Chief called most additives, "SNAKE OIL" & most penetrants, "PANTHER PI**" Bill W. (The Dog & I buy BEER & POPCORN with the savings$$$$$$$$$$$$)

[jr-41ford]

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I just put a good brand of conventional 30 wt oil with a few ounces of Marvel Mystery Oil (MMO), in my 1928 Tudor. I'll be switching to a multi-wt oil when I finish the big jug of 30 wt.

Also put a few ounces of MMO in my gas tank when I fill up and a little Sta-bil during the winter months. That's about it for additives, can't think of any other reason to use them.

[J Franklin]

Risolene! Marval Mystry oil, those I use.

[Russ Koch]

Slick-50 is BAD stuff only because of the amount of teflon in it. It actually impregnets(spelling?)the metal & prevents break-in on new rebuilds & cannot be removed. I had my boys racing gokarts with Briggs tiller motors & I tried the stuff. The inside of the crankcase had what looked like snot EVERYWARE. Engine builder said to NOT do that again!





9

[ford3]

modern oils have every thing blended in them that your engine will ever need, anti wear, foaming, rust and crude formation, so what does an additive add to that? the only thing i use is mmo in my fuel, 4 oz to 10 gallons of gas for lubrication for the intake valve and guide

[Brother Hesekiel]

Very, very bad idea!

[Patrick L.]

Oil additives ? Big fat ole NO.
As a kid we had to push STP [ Studebaker] , great assembly lube, but, thats it.
I've seen additives such as Slick 50 ruin more engines than to just be a coincident.

[Bob-A]

I use STP in all three of my old cars: '29 "A" {restored} 15w40 Rotilla, '31 "A" {unrestored} 30w Wal-Mart detergent, '29 Chevy {unrestored} 30w Wal-Mart non-detergent. I was also adding ZDDP additive to all three. But saw on the STP bottle that it was in it already. Snake oils - maybe, waste of money - maybe. But the cars seem to be happy with the stuff so I'm happy too!

Bob-A

[Terry,NJ]

As I said in another thread, STP makes the oils "stickier" so there is some lube on the bearing surfaces at startup. This is good on a car that sits for extended periods. I would NOT put MMO into an engine, except maybe a week before an oil change. MMO is terrific stuff, but it's a solvent and I don't want anything that may break down the oil's lubricating abilities. The fact that you notice that with oil, it's everyone has his own formula for success. Some of them are very wrong (Which ones? I dunno!) But the venerable Mod. As seem none the worse for it. Some guys run Walmart's bargain oil and some guys just can't pay enough for their oil. Remember, These cars were built at the start of the depression and called for an oil change every 500 Miles. Some of them may have actually gotten it! Then the war and the rationing. Again, how many were on the factory schedules, Not a whole heckuva lot. It probably was not until the late forties, early fifties that most of them saw anything like decent maintanence. The mod A is a tough little car! a real survivor!
Terry

[ronn]

the whole point of using synthetic.................

[JBill]

I use half STP in the transmission, but nowhere else.

[bart78]

The only adative I think is any good. Is Lucas. I use it in all my heavy equipment. And that's it. I use Mobil 1 synthetic in all our cars. And all my firearms.

[Patrick L.]

Originally Posted by bart78

The only adative I think is any good. Is Lucas. I use it in all my heavy equipment. And that's it. I use Mobil 1 synthetic in all our cars. And all my firearms.

When you change the oil in your firearms, you use Mobil 1 !

[jkeesey]

Just use a better oil. More peace of mind.

[bart78]

I used Mobil one on all my m4's and my other machine guns. It helps reducing the build up of carbon. Works great in all kinds of conditions.

[Allanw]

Originally Posted by jkeesey

Just use a better oil. More peace of mind.

Exactly my thoughts.