In the graph below, notice the orange bar, which shows the untreated oil’s performance in the Cold-Crank Simulator (CCS) Test (ASTM D5293). We also found that the additives impaired the oil’s cold-flow ability and increased its viscosity so much that it no longer met the viscosity requirements of a 5W or a 30-weight oil. What did we find?įor starters, our findings show that conventional oil treated with the two additives we tested did provide better wear protection in bench testing compared to untreated oil. Having established the oil’s baseline performance, we then treated samples of the same conventional oil with two popular additives according to the treat rates on their labels. We subjected the conventional motor oil to a few different industry-standard bench tests to gauge wear protection, cold-flow ability and viscosity stability. It’s unlikely that motorists who use a top-shelf synthetic oil are going to augment it with an aftermarket additive, so we opted to use a name brand conventional 5W-30 motor oil that’s readily available at any auto parts store. Your intentions may be good, but is the additive’s performance? You’re doing a little something extra for your engine, which is a noble endeavor. An engine oil additive that promises improved wear protection sounds like a great way to ensure your engine lasts for years and continues to make the power you want. Or, maybe you have a newer vehicle and you want to maintain it for the long haul. Wouldn’t you rather buy a relatively cheap additive and cross your fingers that it works than visit a mechanic to have the problem fixed? Overhauling the engine is expensive and may not be worthwhile in a high-mileage vehicle that’s seen its best days. It’s likely the piston rings or valve guides have worn out, which allows excessive oil to enter the combustion chamber and burn. Some motorists have noble reasons for using oil additives. Some have used chlorine, which can be highly corrosive when mixed with water, a common oil contaminant due to condensation or the effects of ethanol in fuel. While additive manufacturers maintain their formulations as proprietary, making it difficult to know exactly what you’re buying, some additives have advertised materials like Teflon, molybdenum or graphite. They’re often designed and marketed to help solve a problem you might be having with your engine, such as excessive oil consumption. They’re supposed to improve the formulation in a particular area and provide additional benefits to you, such as better wear protection, reduced oil consumption and so on. What is a top-treat engine oil additive? And why do some motorists use them?Įngine oil additives are often high-viscosity base oils or additives designed to augment the motor oil formula. What are aftermarket top-treat engine oil additives?įirst, however, let’s define our terms. Using industry-standard testing, we wanted to see if the additives, indeed, provided the promised benefits. To find out, we bought a couple of the most popular engine oil additives on the market and used them to treat a brand-name conventional 5W-30 motor oil. Do these engine oil additives work? Are aftermarket top-treat engine oil additives good or bad? #LUCAS LOW VISCOSITY OIL STABILIZER FULL#The shelves at your local parts store are full of aftermarket engine oil additives, such as stop-leak products and oil treatments, that promise several benefits, including better wear protection, longer oil life, reduced oil consumption, increased oil pressure and increased fuel economy.
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