Marvel's Mystery Oil

[Werner]

Good evening, I use with visible success (combustion residues dissolve softly) Marvel's Mysterys Oil. Now I've heard that this fuel additive in California is not allowed due to health concerns (bad cancer ingredients?).

I think that's a rumor?

[JBill]

Probably true, likely because it defeats the purpose of emissions controls, and California is pretty sensitive about such things! Here in my part of Indiana we have emissions testing, and I would not put MMO in any vehicle that had to pass our tests. I do use stuff like Seafoam, but I don't think it adds any particulates to the exhaust. Notice I say "probably true," because this is all speculation on my part.

[barkleydave]

Well just another reason to stay the heck out of CA!!

[prpmmp]

Originally Posted by barkleydave

Well just another reason to stay the heck out of CA!!

Yea!! Who in their right mind wants clean air Pete

[Railcarmover]

I live in the peoples republic,and I can buy mmo by the gallon if if I desire..or just mix mineral spirits and ATF,like they do.

[J Franklin]

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Originally Posted by Werner

Good evening, I use with visible success (combustion residues dissolve softly) Marvel's Mysterys Oil. Now I've heard that this fuel additive in California is not allowed due to health concerns (bad cancer ingredients?).

I think that's a rumor?

Or fear mongering! MMO has probably contributed greatly to clean air by keeping engines running stronger and longer. I use it and it works for me. I worry more about the Pacific ocean and japan's never ending radiation spill!

[Anteek29]

I can still buy MMO here in CA.

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by barkleydave

Well just another reason to stay the heck out of CA!!

Believe me. We wish people would not come to California and the ones that did move here would leave...

[Patrick L.]

Its always been a mystery to me that folks marvel at this product.

But if its banned in California then its probably something that works and now worth looking into more seriously.

[arnhemmer]

It is a rumor. Use it all the time here in San Jose Ca.

[History]

I absolutely love California, it is a beautiful place where you could snow ski in the morning and surf in the afternoon. The place is on my mind all the time, seriously. I love the NC mountains but I hate and I do mean HATE the humidity here. I want to live in California so bad but the people who have control of the state make sure I will not anytime soon.

Mmo is good stuff.

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by Patrick L.

But if its banned in California then its probably something that works and now worth looking into more seriously.

Marvel Mystery Oil is NOT banned in California. If it was, Amazon and other retailers would not be able to ship it here. Amazon will not let you complete an order for something that is banned here.

[rotorwrench]

It's been used for years on the A & C series Continental engines for the old light single engine airplanes. It would keep the valves from sticking and reduce problems with the higher lead content of 100LL Avgas. Valve problems went away using it back in the 40s. It works well enough in all the various flathead engines as well. It has to be used properly in aircraft engines though. A few folks that have put too much in have payed a high price. Some folks think that more is always better but the stuff isn't fuel.

[Patrick L.]

Originally Posted by History

I absolutely love California, it is a beautiful place where you could snow ski in the morning and surf in the afternoon. The place is on my mind all the time, seriously. I love the NC mountains but I hate and I do mean HATE the humidity here. I want to live in California so bad but the people who have control of the state make sure I will not anytime soon.

Mmo is good stuff.

I feel the same about the state. Its kinda like NYS, both states are beautiful and have some great people. But governed, well, I not going to get political.

[ETAModel]

My father always said Marvel Mystery Oil would mend anything from a Ferris wheel to a Broken Heart!!

[California Travieso]

Originally Posted by Patrick L.

I feel the same about the state. Its kinda like NYS, both states are beautiful and have some great people. But governed, well, I not going to get political.

All I'm going to say is it's governed the way WE like it.

David Serrano

[Pmsqrd]

I had a dear friend who swore by MMO. He used it in his 41 Fordor fro 40 years and never had a valve problem. In fact his car is still running the stuff under his son's care. I use it in all three of my A's with the same results. Just bought some last week here in CA without a problem.

[TerryH]

A good part of the population of California came from somewhere else....would be nice if more swore not to come here.....
And I have never heard of MMO being banned here....not sure where that got started!

[The Master Cylinder]

MMO makes the garage smell good when you use it in your air tools.

[Railcarmover]

And if it smells good it has to be good..hell that stuff looks good too,don't know if you want to dump a few glugs in every tank fulla gas however.

How about Nancy's nephew Gavin running in 2024 for Trumps job? Californicate the whole nation..

[springerpete]

4 ounces of MMO to 10 gallons of gas is what I have heard recommended. That is a 4 : 1280 ratio . Not much pollution there.

[40 Deluxe]

Originally Posted by Railcarmover

I live in the peoples republic,and I can buy mmo by the gallon if if I desire..or just mix mineral spirits and ATF,like they do.

Hmm, Marvel Mystery Oil has been around since at least the early '20's but ATF only since about 1950. How was MMO made before ATF came out?

[Railcarmover]

Gee you got me there..hey,how who cares,use it by the gallon..that better? A 4.2 to one gasoline L head engine with a manual advanced distributor provides enough of it's own 'upper cylinder lubrication' without the need for additives.you would be as well served by mixing ATF and solvent..

[Werner]

Thank you for the many additions! I understand that MMO is not dangerous. Right?
I also understand that California is loved, but not by anyone. In Germany, the state of California is regarded as a paradise for the sunshine and white strands. -


At my engine the first and second cylinders pull some oil because the cylinder liner has rust voids. With MMO, the combustion residues have become very soft and are gradually removed during an exploratory drive. The engine innards become visibly cleaner.

[FrankWest]

Originally Posted by Werner

Good evening, I use with visible success (combustion residues dissolve softly) Marvel's Mysterys Oil. Now I've heard that this fuel additive in California is not allowed due to health concerns (bad cancer ingredients?).

I think that's a rumor?

MMO is great stuff.
Southern California is too crowded... They have to do everything they can to reduce harmful emissions. Too bad they scraped their once great electric trolley system.
Did you know THAT at one time California had the largest electric trolley system in the usa.

[HD Rider]

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Gasoline has been linked to cancer as well.

[ETAModel]

Now that I can type with both hands I have a MMO story for you guys.

In the early 80's Dad's friend moved to a farm and a 1941 John Deere Model A (no relation) tractor was sitting in a field across the fence. It had been sitting uncovered long enough the exhaust pipe had rusted at the manifold, and the air breather had also rusted at the bottom. The hand crank motor was locked up tight.

Dad pulled the plugs and poured them full of MMO, then replaced the plugs. For the next year or so every time we went to visit his friend we would pull the plugs and fill the cylinders with MMO and rock the bull wheel back and forth.

One January, Dad, my older brother, and I were riding in Dads '58 Ford and we went past the tractor. He stopped and they both got out to check the motor. Dad went on the right side and pulled the plug, peering into the cylinder to see how much oil was left. At the same time my brother was rocking the flywheel/handcrank back and forth trying to break it free. Just as Dad looked into the hole the pistons broke free and rust,gunk, and MMO soaked my Dad right in the face and beard!!

Dad was a combination of mad and pleased the motor had broke free. He found a rag in the '58 and wiped off best he could, but he smelled like a machine shop all the way back home.

The next day he tracked down the owner of the A and bought it. We all figured it would need a ring job, and it took some work to get it running, but it didn't burn much oil and the plugs NEVER fouled out, in spite of using it hard. We never had to open up the old Popping Johnny, and the rings held up fine.

In the early 2000's Dad sold it to his neighbor, who later passed and left it to his son. The son restored it, but told me he never took the head off the motor, and still cultivates his fields every spring with it. I want to go visit when he's using it just to sit behind the wheel once more.

[California Travieso]

Originally Posted by FrankWest

Califormia is the worst.
Did you know THAT at one time California has the largest electric trolley system in the usa. Then political corruption closed it down and the freeways were born.
Now people can't breath. I lived there for 5 years and during the summer months the smoke was so bad it looked like there was a forest fire.
I would rather live in Zimbabwe than California.

I don't care if you bash California from Zimbabwe, as long as you don't move here. So go ahead, maybe you'll convince a few people not to move here or some more people to move away. Don't know when you lived here but I'm looking at clear blue skies right now.

David Serrano

[woofa.express]

Marvel Mystery Oil.

It was in 1982 I purchased an Airtractor powered by a Pratt and Whitney R1340 engine. My previous aeroplane was a Piper with a 6 cylinder Lycoming engine which burnt 65 litres of fuel per hour, or approximate. Now this big new aeroplane with a big fuel gulping engine burned double and I found this a little frightening so I ferried and worked at low power settings. Well oil consumption didn’t settle and I worried about that too.
Well the Australian Airtractor dealer sent a principle from the engine overhauler speak to me. The overhaullers were Aeroengines of L.A. and Vern Truman was the rep and he was also a part owner of the business. Mr Truman was also a gentleman of the highest class. He quickly determined the cylinders had glazed and recommended Marvel Mystery Oil. I just couldn’t understand what Mr Truman was saying because of his broad speech accent. Marrrvimisttrryall. At my request he wrote the name of the product and I understood. Now his instructions on how to use MMO was simple and made sense to me.

At the end of the day remove the aluminium tube to the manifold pressure gauge, idle the engine at 700 rpm and through the disconnected line suck up a quart (I think) of MMO. Turn engine off with the key and not the fuel shut off which is normal practice. 700 rpm so as the supercharger would blow it to all cylinders and the slowly running engine would not burn all the oil. The next morning do a normal takeoff and the carbon and other unwanted deposits would blow out the exhaust. Yes it did work. Another old time operator said he was recommissioning an old engine and he filled each cylinder with MMO , one at atime, replace the spark plug and pulled the engine through by hand thus ensuring the MMO was pushed through the piston rings. Leave for a few days, crank and run then do an oil change.
I had not considered using MMO in my A Models but will start now. I have a sticky valve which MMO has a good chance of freeing up.

[Jeff/Illinois]

Originally Posted by California Travieso

I don't care if you bash California from Zimbabwe, as long as you don't move here. So go ahead, maybe you'll convince a few people not to move here or some more people to move away. Don't know when you lived here but I'm looking at clear blue skies right now.

David Serrano

California definitely has blue skies and cleaner air again. All you have to do is watch an episode of Adam-12 filmed in 1970 and look at the difference today. Back then the sky was all kinda brown and hazy You didn't see any blue.

When I crank up my '69 Mustang the stink about drives you out of the garage. And it is perfectly tuned and all rebuilt. I haven't had a newer car in over 20 years do that. I hate to admit but unleaded fuel and a number of things the Fed made the car makers do, did work.

Calif. is a bit too crowded for me and they have problems like a lot of states do today. The last time I was there I had to laugh at a guy's bumper sticker that read 'Thank you for leaving Orange County. Please take someone with you'

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by HD Rider

Gasoline has been linked to cancer as well.

Life has been linked to cancer!

[woofa.express]

Originally Posted by Mike V. Florida

Life has been linked to cancer!

Coca-Cola could well be an even bigger threat to society. Much bigger than MMO.

[lildave]

I like “sea foam” better, you can get it spray or bottle. From sunny Orange County!


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[rogerkb1936]

have used mmo in my roadster for 33000 plus miles, eng is still quiet and peppy. someone asked me how did I know it did any good. I replied, "if nothing else it makes me feel better"

[burner31]

I like to enjoy my MMO by the quart

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by lildave

I like “sea foam” better, you can get it spray or bottle. From sunny Orange County!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have been using Sea Foam in my Town Sedan for quite some time, mainly because it sometimes sits for a couple of weeks. Sea Foam claims to stabilize and control moisture in the fuel, among other things. I mix 1oz / gallon.

A couple of months ago the gas gauge in my 2006 F-150 started sticking at ¼ full. I added a can (16oz) of Sea Foam to the next tank and after some miles it swung up to full. So I would surmise that the Sea Foam did do something!!

[Terry, NJ]

WOW! What's this thread about? MMO or Californicate? Personally, I love both of them. I like the story of the tractor because I had a similar story, only about a Allis-Chalmers 1938 mod B. Great little machine! It was stuck and MMO freed it up. Cali? Now that another story. My daughter used to live in Laguna Hills, houses on Postage stamp sized lots that cost too much. Too much Spanish spoken! Traffic on the 5, the 110, the 101, etc. Too many people everywhere! YIIIIKEES But the worst is too many liberal politicians. Too many taxes! Too many "Do gooders" Too many anti pollution laws Am I an old angry white guy? You bet! Because as goes California, so goes the nation and that means the insanity is coming here next!
Terry

[ryanheacox]

Does anyone else just like how MMO smells? I like seafoam too but it doesn't have that nice wintergreen aroma

[Anteek29]

Originally Posted by ryanheacox

Does anyone else just like how MMO smells? I like seafoam too but it doesn't have that nice wintergreen aroma

Makes a refreshing body cologne

[Tacoma Bob]

Originally Posted by ryanheacox

Does anyone else just like how MMO smells? I like seafoam too but it doesn't have that nice wintergreen aroma

It reminds me of the little red plastic capsules of electric train smoke I used in my American Flyer.

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by ryanheacox

Does anyone else just like how MMO smells? I like seafoam too but it doesn't have that nice wintergreen aroma

See post #19

[Y-Blockhead]

Some interesting facts I saw on the net about MMO.

After World War I, the Marvel Carburetor Company (Marvel-Schebler Carburetors since 1928) produced carburetors for automobiles and aircraft. Some of these encountered problems with clogged jets, prompting Burt Pierce to formulate a blend of chemicals and petroleum to clean and maintain them. Marvel claims the oil creates a top ring seal producing higher compression, preventing blow-by on power strokes, resulting in more power. Supporting evidence is not provided.

The Marvel Oil Company was initially based in Chicago, moved to New York in 1941 and was purchased by Turtle Wax Inc. in 1999, returning to Chicago.

According to the company, the name Mystery Oil comes from Pierce's answer to the question, "what kind of oil is this?" to which Pierce would respond, "It's a mystery!"

[Jeff/Illinois]

I use MMO and it does work. Un-stuck a valve in our '36 Ford Flathead from today's dry gasolines. Dump a pint in the Model A doesn't hurt a thing.

Another better cleaner/stabilizer, better than SeaFoam (which I too used for years) is Gumout's Fuel Stabilizer with PEA. Lucas puts one out too.

The nitrogen cleaner in those products really clean carbon deposits in your engine. You get the same type of cleaner in Shell V-Power Nitro gasolines and also in Chevron's Techron. Run a few tank fulls of that thru your car and see the difference.

The Ford dealerships will do a nitro cleaning on the new cars when they reach 100K miles to keep things clean on the top end, mostly as a result of owners using stuff like the cheapo Pilot-Love's-Speedway crapo gasoline trying to save a buck They have the fewest detergents in their gasoline to save a penny or two at the pump and lure you in.

[30 Closed Cab PU]

My perception of the 2 products.


Seafoam - Mostly a cleaner/thinner, analogy would be paint thinner with oil based paints.


MMO - has both cleaners and light weight lubricants.


Correct?

[GPierce]

Here is what is in Marvel Mystery Oil

https://images.homedepot-static.com/...6f582de009.pdf

Distillates, petroleum, hydrotreated heavy naphthenic

Stoddard solvent

Tricresyl phosphate

o-Dichlorobenzene

p-Dichlorobenzene

[ryanheacox]

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Originally Posted by Y-Blockhead

See post #19

I am definitely going to start using it in my air tools

[Jim Brierley]

Originally Posted by History
I absolutely love California, it is a beautiful place where you could snow ski in the morning and surf in the afternoon. The place is on my mind all the time, seriously. I love the NC mountains but I hate and I do mean HATE the humidity here. I want to live in California so bad but the people who have control of the state make sure I will not anytime soon.

I agree, born and raised here. Smog is much better now than in the 50's, in spite of many, many more people here. However, I'm not happy with CA politicians! But then Moreno Valley is many miles from here, about 50!

[Werner]

Back to the topic:

Inhalte

o-Dichlorobenzene

p-Dichlorobenzene

... may not be sold freely in Germany, because they are classified as carcinogenic.

[bgarrett]

Originally Posted by TerryH

A good part of the population of California came from somewhere else....would be nice if more swore not to come here.....
And I have never heard of MMO being banned here....not sure where that got started!

It would be even nicer if California people would stay there and not move to our states

[Railcarmover]

Crude oil is refined by using a cracking tower,a crude way to refine crude is to heat it,the lighter distillates rise to the top,the heavier to the bottom.



Naptha and its derivatives are at the top of the crack,the lightest compounds in crude..it has a high solvent capacity,basically it cleans really good,but is very aromatic,means it needs to be stabilized with additives to keep it from evaporating and to reduce its flammability. there are no 'wizards' in it just sound chemistry.

[apbright]

You may be reacting to a warning, as a result of California Proposition 65, which will inform you that Marvel Mystery Oil contains chemicals which may be, in some way harmful. The correct interpretation of this warning is that you should not pour Marvel Mystery Oil on your morning scrambled eggs, or use it to clean your child's baby crib. If you only apply it to your Model A, I expect your health will be perfectly fine.

P.S.:
- Please do not drink battery acid
- Please do not use gasoline as a coffee creamer
- Please do not use lead as a toothpaste supplement

Love, Your Nanny State

[Corley]

Originally Posted by GPierce

Here is what is in Marvel Mystery Oil

https://images.homedepot-static.com/...6f582de009.pdf

Distillates, petroleum, hydrotreated heavy naphthenic

Stoddard solvent

Tricresyl phosphate

o-Dichlorobenzene

p-Dichlorobenzene

Unfair to list this way! This implies equal parts of each, not the overwhelming amounts of distillates and solvents, and minute amounts of the others. You need to specify percentages, and the last three are down in the .1% range, while distillates and solvents are in the 99.9% range.

Ford, GM, Chrysler, et al don't recommend this stuff with modern oils and fuels.

Personally, I've got better stuff to spend my few $$ on, but I doubt using it in moderate amounts hurts anything.

[Railcarmover]

Originally Posted by apbright

You may be reacting to a warning, as a result of California Proposition 65, which will inform you that Marvel Mystery Oil contains chemicals which may be, in some way harmful. The correct interpretation of this warning is that you should not pour Marvel Mystery Oil on your morning scrambled eggs, or use it to clean your child's baby crib. If you only apply it to your Model A, I expect your health will be perfectly fine.

P.S.:
- Please do not drink battery acid
- Please do not use gasoline as a coffee creamer
- Please do not use lead as a toothpaste supplement

Love, Your Nanny State

You cant imagine my shear joy at finding a few quarts of acrylic enamel paint in the parts warehouse at work..when I asked about it they said "we cant sell it over the counter,but we will sell it to you at cost"..I'm going to paint my car right here in the peoples republic,squirting compounds known to the state of california to potentially harm .000001% of those who come in contact with it..gonna dance like a savage while I do it..

[rickblack]

How much do you use in the gas tank? The container recommends 4 ounces/10 gallons of fuel.

[Werner]

I use permanentely 0,5 % in the tank. But I use the vacuum-doser too.
The results are pretty, low hard ash in the combustion camber.

[Synchro909]

What does MMO smell like? We used to be able to get an Upper Cylinder Lubricant that smelled like almonds. Is it anything like that? I've never seen it here but I have asked for it. Only blank looks are the response but if it is so good, I'd like to give it a try. Transporting it might be a problem however. Is it labelled as flammable? I might check with my surface freight shipper whether he can transport it here.

BTW, for those who are thinking by adding a little oily fuel like Diesel fuel, DON"T. Distillate will ruin your engine in very short time, like maybe 100 miles, depending on concentration.

[rfitzpatrick]

[QUOTE=Synchro909;1855360]What does MMO smell like?



Winter Green

[Synchro909]

[QUOTE=rfitzpatrick;1855413]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

What does MMO smell like?



Winter Green

We don't have that either. Does it smell like almond?

[Ray in La Mesa]

California- the state of many warnings: Saw a clothing iron with the following warning; "Do not iron clothes while wearing." You know somebody had to have done it!!

[shew01]

[QUOTE=Synchro909;1855420]

Originally Posted by rfitzpatrick

We don't have that either. Does it smell like almond?

No, it doesn’t smell like almonds. It smells like wintergreen to me. If you don’t have wintergreen in your area, would you have spearmint? I’m not sure what else to relate it to.


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[Chris in WNC]

I like MMO and have used it for 30+ years.

My bride grew up in Haight-Ashbury and we both love Northern California,
just don't have deep enough pockets to live there.
besides, 75% of the grandchildren are in the east.

sure, California is overdeveloped and poorly governed but so is my favorite city, Asheville NC.
unless you move out in the woods that's just how it is in 21st century USA

[Synchro909]

[QUOTE=shew01;1855424]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

No, it doesn’t smell like almonds. It smells like wintergreen to me. If you don’t have wintergreen in your area, would you have spearmint? I’m not sure what else to relate it to.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

OK, Thanks. It sounds like it is not the same as we used to have.

[MikeK]

MMO consists of a naphthalenic rather than a paraffinic base. There is also a halogenated component. The combination of those two permits it to penetrate gummed up and oxygen linked polymerized parafinic oil deposits that stick valves, lifters, and rings.

The second part of it all is an ester oil content. (the 'wintergreen mint oil' you smell) Esters are superior lubes that are categorized as synthetics in the oil industry. That's why it works- solvent power plus synthetic lube.

Specifically, the ester methyl salicylate (wintergreen oil) is also an excellent polar penetrant for metallic oxides residing on the surface of metal parts.

I guess those three added together have resulted in it's reputation as one of the better 'snake oils'.

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by MikeK

MMO consists of a naphthalenic rather than a paraffinic base. There is also a halogenated component. The combination of those two permits it to penetrate gummed up and oxygen linked polymerized parafinic oil deposits that stick valves, lifters, and rings.

The second part of it all is an ester oil content. (the 'wintergreen mint oil' you smell) Esters are superior lubes that are categorized as synthetics in the oil industry. That's why it works- solvent power plus synthetic lube.

Specifically, the ester methyl salicylate (wintergreen oil) is also an excellent polar penetrant for metallic oxides residing on the surface of metal parts.

I guess those three added together have resulted in it's reputation as one of the better 'snake oils'.

Sounds like it is worth my while checking out transporting some, then try to buy some and get it to the shipper's depot (Ranch Domingeuz, CA). Is it labelled as flammable?

[Ernie Vitucci]

Good Morning...almost every hardware store has MMM on the shelf...Take a look at your local ACE. Ernie in Arizona

[30 Closed Cab PU]

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Originally Posted by Ernie Vitucci

Good Morning...almost every hardware store has MMM on the shelf...Take a look at your local ACE. Ernie in Arizona

He is from Australia, it may not be available there.

[30 Closed Cab PU]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

Sounds like it is worth my while checking out transporting some, then try to buy some and get it to the shipper's depot (Ranch Domingeuz, CA). Is it labelled as flammable?

Here is a link to the SDS sheet, is flammable.


https://www.marvelmysteryoil.com/med...ystery-oil.pdf

[Werner]

Originally Posted by 30 Closed Cab PU

He is from Australia, it may not be available there.

Yes, MMO is not shopping everywhere because of "questionable" ingredients. It is no longer imported in Germany. I picked up the last 3 gallons in Belgium.

[30 Closed Cab PU]

Think I have also read that SeaFoam in the gas and oil can help sticky valves.

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by 30 Closed Cab PU

Here is a link to the SDS sheet, is flammable.


https://www.marvelmysteryoil.com/med...ystery-oil.pdf

Thanks for the "30". If it is labelled as flammable, they won't transport it without onerous (and expensive) safety provisions so I guess I can't get it.