Is Engine Oil Additive Useful?

[OJonathan]

No, it's not useful. The so-called engine oil additive refers to a type of oil additive produced by some manufacturers, whose ingredients include viscosity index improvers and anti-wear additives, among other things. Here is some relevant information: 1. Overview: Engine oil, also known as engine lubricant, English name: Engine-oil. With a density of approximately 0.91×10³ (kg/m³), it serves to lubricate and reduce wear in the engine, assist in cooling, seal against leaks, prevent rust and corrosion, and provide shock absorption. 2. Classification: Engine oil consists of two parts: base oil and additives. The base oil is the main component of lubricating oil, determining its basic properties, while additives can compensate for and improve the deficiencies in the performance of the base oil, imparting certain new properties, making them an important component of lubricating oil.

[BarrettFitz]

Back when I worked at an auto parts store, customers often asked about oil additives. Actually, these products are just oil supplements, mainly composed of solid lubricants like Teflon or molybdenum disulfide. Brand-new cars absolutely don't need them since factory oil already contains additives. But for older vehicles with over 100,000 kilometers and slight engine wear, adding them can genuinely reduce some noise and vibration. However, you must be especially careful - adding too much can actually clog oil passages. I've seen several cars with oil pump failures caused by improper additive use. Modern cars definitely shouldn't use them randomly either, as they can chemically react with the catalytic converters.

[VonLeila]

As a veteran truck driver with 20 years of experience, my opinion is straightforward: this stuff is like health supplements - somewhat useful but limited. Back when I was younger, a few nearly-worn-out trucks in my fleet tried oil additives, and indeed saw cylinder pressure increase by 2-3 psi with about half a point drop in fuel consumption. But these effects only lasted about a thousand kilometers before the oil burning issues returned. The biggest problem is the market is flooded with counterfeits - last year my apprentice bought a cheap 30-yuan bottle that triggered the engine warning light after just 200 km. If you really want to try it, stick with reputable major brands, and it's best to thoroughly flush the engine with cleaning oil before adding the additive.

[DelJanelle]

A friend who studies automotive chemistry told me that oil additives can be divided into three categories: anti-wear types form protective films, cleaning types remove sludge, and repair types claim to fill in wear. However, laboratory data shows that truly effective anti-wear components like ZDDP are already present in high-quality oils. As for so-called nano-repair technology, it cannot maintain its structure under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions. What's more troublesome is that these additives can undergo shear decomposition, not only reducing the viscosity index of the oil but also contaminating the oil filter. So, my experience is that rather than wasting money on these, it's more practical to shorten the oil change interval.

[LaDelaney]

A classic case spotted at the repair shop last month: The owner religiously added engine oil additive every 5,000 km but never cleaned the oil pan in eight years. Upon disassembly, nearly 1 cm thick sludge was found, completely clogging the oil filter. The mechanic explained this was caused by calcium salt deposits from the additives. Quality engine oil detergents keep contaminants suspended, while inferior additives cause particle clumping. Many manufacturers now offer better alternatives, such as magnetic drain plugs to capture metal particles or switching to ester-based full synthetic oils - far more reliable solutions than oil additives.