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AR15.COM
10/17/2013 9:40:53 AM EDT
How effective are motor oil additives?

I'm trying to clean a sticky valve, and I have gotten a lot of suggestions (some on here, some elsewhere) on different additives to try, but I want to pick the right one, so what works the best?

Seafoam?
Marvel's Mystery Oil?
A quart of ATF in the crankcase?
Something else?

Will mixing more than one additive together hurt anything?

Is it possible that any of the additives could hurt the engine?

Can the oil be thinned TO MUCH?

What wait oil should I use.  According to my manual I should use 5w30 most of the time, and 10w30 if I'm expecting the temperature to be over 100 degrees, but how will the additives effect things, should I switch to a different weight motor oil?

Will the additives effect any detergents that might already be in the oil (high millage oil)?

The manual says my oil capacity is 4.5 quarts, is that counting the oil in the filter?  Is my real capacity actually about 5 quarts?

My oil is already max filled, should some be drained prior to adding the additive?

Should the additive be added before, or after my next oil change (do very soon)?

When I first got the car less than 300 miles ago it had near clear oil, now it's already near black, could an additive already have been added?, could adding more, or adding to dirty oil cause a problem?

How long after using the additive should I wait before an oil change?
10/17/2013 9:41:58 AM EDT
[#1]
seafoam.

Read the instructions
10/17/2013 9:49:25 AM EDT
[#2]
Seafoam... don't worry bout oil capacity, pour in, drive the distance it says on the can (50 miles or so), change oil, and enjoy the blackest substance  you've ever seen

ETA, it isn't an additive.  It is a cleaner.  Carbon go bye bye.
10/17/2013 11:31:53 AM EDT
[#3]
once you blow your head.... you will wish you rebuilt it when it was only sticking ....
10/17/2013 11:34:31 AM EDT
[#4]

Quote History
Quoted:


once you blow your head.... you will wish you rebuilt it when it was only sticking ....
View Quote
Are you referencing a dropped valve?



 
10/17/2013 11:36:14 AM EDT
[#5]
Snake oil.
10/17/2013 11:39:32 AM EDT
[#6]
I had a sticking valve in one of my airplane engines.
I used Marvel Mystery Oil for several oil change cycles and that fixed the problem.
I've never tried MMO in an auto engine.
10/17/2013 11:58:50 AM EDT
[#7]
Ive seen Restore gain back some cylinder compression but its a bandaid.
10/17/2013 12:14:23 PM EDT
[#8]
Seafoam made a noticeable difference in my Mustang within 15 minutes of adding it.

Thanks for this thread, you just reminded me I have some Seafoam in my trunk that's been there for 7 months.
10/17/2013 12:16:14 PM EDT
[#9]
Where's the B&G products??

10/17/2013 12:20:09 PM EDT
[#10]
I just buy a oil change from whoever has it the cheapest, go drive it for 50-75 miles and get as hot as i can get it. Then change it.
10/17/2013 12:20:36 PM EDT
[#11]
Seafoam/Thread.