Can I use oil additives in my car?

   and other 'trick' products

This class of products generally includes those products which promise significant improvements in engine power, longevity, durability, economy, and emissions in one convenient package.  They either utilize proprietary formulae added to gasoline or oil, or provide some type of 'improvement' in the engine intake systems.

The pervading opinion on the Talon Digest, as well as on most other automotive mailing lists, is that these products provide few or none of the improvements they claim.  Few people have been able to verify these claims through real-world dyno or track testing.  Many of them cost as much or more than parts which have been shown to work, over and over, by the Club DSM membership and specialtyvendors, so you may wish to spend your money elsewhere.

As oil additives are generally the most pervasive "magic" product, they deserve special attention. Commercial engine oils are already formulated with several additives in them. The formulae are usually referred to as "synergistic" - that is, the combination of additives work together to produce greater effects than any single additive alone.

Engine oils are already manufacturered with great attention to detail. It is not likely that any separately formulated additive will greatly improve the oil characteristics. At best, the additive will have no effect; at worst, the additive might upset the chemical balance of the oil and actually degrate its performance.

Those who remain convinced these products do, in fact, provide significant benefit are generally unaware that the U.S. Federal Trade Comission has brought suit against dozens of companies selling these types of products, with a uniform result - the companies settle without contesting the charges. This means they do not have to admit any wrongdoing, but are prohibited from making further unsubstantiated claims about their product(s).

This type of federal action is a sure sign of a 'magic' product that even the manufacturer cannot prove to be genuine. Up until recently, this information was hard to come by, but the FTC website now provides a lot of useful information direct to the public - some of it is listed below. Among others, the FTC has taken action against the following brand names: Prolong , Valvoline, Slick 50 and STP.

While the manufacturer's information extolling the unparalleled virtue of these products is easily come by, there is also a lot of information available on the web that casts doubt on the claims of many of these products.  A quick search for trade names will often come up with as much bad information as good.

A few rebuttal links are

• a skeptical look at Slick 50
• the Slick 50 question from Miata Net
• a Federal Trade Commision summary of FTC vs. Quaker State / Slick 50, or the complete record.
• FTC vs. Blue Coral / Slick 50.
• a Federal Trade Commision cease and desist order against Blue Coral / Slick 50 (also PDF version.
• An FTC document describing actions against Ashland / Valvoline for their TM8 Teflon additive.
• Another FTC news release, this time against STP / First Brands for the XEP2 additive.
• Yet another FTC news release detailing how the makers of Dura Lube and Motor Up products were forced to discontinue their advertising. Dura Lube had to pay $2 million dollars in this case.
• The FTC search engine (try searching for "Slick 50" and/or "engine treatment" for more details on the above cases).

• Read the FTC's own words on gasoline additives and gasoline saver products.

• Try Fred Rau's article on Slick 50, originally from Road Rider.

• a search of the Club DSM archives for information on fraudulent ECU upgrades ('chips'), described below.
• if you can, check out the October 1998 Consumer Reports test on Prolong (subscription required).
• The Engine Oil Bible by Chris Longhurst.
• Finally, the Club DSM Fluids FAQ has some information on how to obtain some of the 'proof' claimed by certain additive manufacturers.

However, as with all things, you will have to make up your mind for yourself.  It's your car, and your money.

Those looking to restore their outlook on life after reading this information should visit the Kaleco Auto home page - I'm sure you'll find their products quite interesting. (Read carefully.)