Are Oil Additives Useful?
2 Answers
Oil additives are not very useful because the oil itself contains additives. As long as regular maintenance is performed, adding extra oil additives is unnecessary. The composition of automotive oil and its replacement cycle are as follows: Composition of Automotive Oil: Oil consists of two parts: base oil and additives. Base oil is the main component of lubricating oil, determining its basic properties. Additives can compensate for and improve the shortcomings of base oil performance, imparting certain new characteristics, making them an important part of lubricating oil. Replacement Cycle of Automotive Oil: Typically, mineral oil should be replaced every 5,000 kilometers, semi-synthetic oil every 7,500 kilometers, and fully synthetic oil every 10,000 kilometers.
As a veteran driver with over twenty years of experience, I've seen all kinds of additives. Some are genuinely useful, like anti-wear additives that noticeably quiet down a noisy engine. Cleaning additives can effectively remove carbon deposits in the fuel system, especially for vehicles that frequently drive on highways. But don't blindly believe the marketing hype—using them on new cars is just a waste of money, and even for older cars, it depends on the situation. I typically use them every few tens of thousands of kilometers, sticking to reputable brands. That said, regular oil changes are far more practical than any additive. If the engine is already severely worn, no miracle additive can save it. The key to maintenance is following the manual—don't mess around unnecessarily.
