Kizashi Club

I know Chevron Techron and other cleaners containing PEA are very popular. I've tried Gumout Regane and have noticed performance improvements on cars that run 87 octane.

I've found that PEA cleaners don't really help with my GTI since it's already using Chevron 94 and methanol injection. However, I have noticed that acceleration is smoother and more responsive when I use Lucas Fuel Treatment. I'm not entirely sure how it works as it's marketed as an upper cylinder lubricant, injector cleaner and fuel conditioner, but others on BITOG also have positive results.

What are some additives that you like to use?

Lucas Oil only... I live in Indiana!

Marvel Mystery Oil

I burn mostly Mobil premium; they use Chevron's Techroline as their additive.

I pour in a can of Seafoam at every oil change.

I don't add squat. Gas and go. I've used many different kinds over the years...seems a waste of cash. Switching gas brands yields the best bang when mpg's start falling off. Recently switched from Sunoco to Hess.

Agree with Ronzuki. I believe fuel additives are a ripoff. Almost every major automotive source you can research says that they don't do anything for mpg, horsepower, torque, etc. etc. Guess it's like 'cod liver oil' that humans take. If you believe it does something for you..... (or your car), even though it doesn't, go for it and good luck with that. However, it's like the old adage "eat your carrots and your eyesight will improve". I hope everyone knows our friends in England came up with that clever phrase so the Germans didn't know they had Radar to track their planes. Wanted them to believe it was their keen eyesight!

Here's another way of thinking about it. If the additives were so effective... don't you think one of the major gasoline (or oil producing) companies would advertise that they include it in their product? Thought so... Don't waste your money folks!!

bmw&kizzyownr wrote:Agree with Ronzuki. I believe fuel additives are a ripoff. Almost every major automotive source you can research says that they don't do anything for mpg, horsepower, torque, etc. etc. Guess it's like 'cod liver oil' that humans take. If you believe it does something for you..... (or your car), even though it doesn't, go for it and good luck with that. However, it's like the old adage "eat your carrots and your eyesight will improve". I hope everyone knows our friends in England came up with that clever phrase so the Germans didn't know they had Radar to track their planes. Wanted them to believe it was their keen eyesight!

Here's another way of thinking about it. If the additives were so effective... don't you think one of the major gasoline (or oil producing) companies would advertise that they include it in their product? Thought so... Don't waste your money folks!!

Most of these products aren't marketed as performance enhancers or the like. They are more fuel system cleaners that work to remove build-up, contaminants, and even water in the fuel and fuel lines. They also stabilize fuel for storage.

While performance gains may or may not be measurable, it's not at all why I use products like these. I use it as a concentrated detergent to clean my fuel system given I don't always use the highest quality gas nor use octane ratings above 87. Correct me if I'm wrong, but some gasoline brands don't contain proprietary detergents unless you use their Premium grade fuel. I believe this is the case with Shell V-Power which is their Premium gas. Chevron may be a different story, but I've not seen many since leaving California for the Washington, DC area. On the other hand, you don't see above 91 octane much at all in CA. Out here in the East Coast, some Premium fuel is 93 octane.

I simply use Seafoam as a preventative measure in keeping fuel system components in optimal condition and have never considered it as much of a performance-enhancing additive.

Also keep in mind that many modern cars no longer have easily serviceable fuel filters. Most designs these days have the fuel filter inside of the gas tank. Servicing that would require a lot more time and money than some in-line filter found in older cars. For this and other reasons, I'd rather use something like Seafoam at every OCI to keep things clean.

bmw&kizzyownr wrote:Here's another way of thinking about it. If the additives were so effective... don't you think one of the major gasoline (or oil producing) companies would advertise that they include it in their product? Thought so... Don't waste your money folks!!

They do. Higher octane fuel contain additive packs, such as Chevron's Techron. Techron contains PEA and it's proven to be an effective cleaner.

It's true that most additives are more marketing than science, but there are some that truly work. They typically function as performance restorers rather than enhancers

Buy a bottle of Gumout Regane next time it's on sale (<$5) and try it out!

krell wrote:Marvel Mystery Oil

I did some research and MMO seems to have a similar function as Lucas Fuel Treatment where it lubricates the upper cylinder. Have you noticed a difference with it?