Fuel additives Options

[Spectatrix]

Ok, so I'm a little leary about fuel additives. As in, do they do any good or are they just a scam, sucking money from gullible folks wanting to eke another 1 mpg out of their engine?

HEBs around Austin (and elsewhere, I presume) have started tacking on "Additech" machines alongside the pumps, where you can choose to pay some extra moolah and get an additive pumped in along with your gasoline. I do know that their little spiel is bloody obnoxious. What I don't know is if they do any good and whether I should bother trying an additive out one of these days.

[impala454]

Nah its just a money grab. Gasoline already has stuff that helps keep your engine clean. If you get some knocking, just use a higher octane fuel every now and then.

[Jim]

Nah its just a money grab. Gasoline already has stuff that helps keep your engine clean. If you get some knocking, just use a higher octane fuel every now and then.

Wrong

[impala454]

Wrong

Go ahead and pay for the additive then.

[Jim]

Go ahead and pay for the additive then.

Oh, sorry, you're just wrong about going up to a higher octane level. That's a dumb idea

[Rastaman]

I think the fuel additives work if you have certain carbon build up problems. I use the prestone brand (i think) and it works pretty well. I notice more acceleration and better gas mileage. As far as octane, that is more of a function of your compression ratio, generally a "ping" is caused by gas combusting before the piston is at TDC. So that is why high performance sports cars, with large compression ratios, require higher octane fuel.

[Spectatrix]

Oh, sorry, you're just wrong about going up to a higher octane level. That's a dumb idea

No, he and Rastaman are right. If your engine is knocking, you need to use a higher octane fuel. If you're using what your service manual calls for and it's still knocking, then there's probably a more serious problem.

I don't have problems with knocking, just curious if the additives actually do help with carbon build-up or anything else they advertise.

[Mommy]

I'm no physics or mechanical engineering major, but even I know that a higher octane fuel reduces engine knocking because it reduces build-up

[impala454]

It's pretty funny when two girls (no offense) are schooling a dude on pretty basic car knowledge.

[Mommy]

[Rastaman]

That stuff seemed to work for me. About 3 more mpg (highway v highway). My vehicle had 60k on it when I ran it with no previous fuel treatments. It is about 7 bucks I think.

[Rastaman]

I'm no physics or mechanical engineering major, but even I know that a higher octane fuel reduces engine knocking because it reduces build-up

I disagree, not that you aren't a mech e or physics major, but that higher octane reduces engine knocking by getting rid of build up. I disagree because you are wrong. See my previous post to explain why higher octane reduces knocking in some cases.

[Mommy]

over time it does cause build-up from everything I have read.

[Rastaman]

over time it does cause build-up from everything I have read.

What causes buildup? Sweetheart are you sure you wanna believe automotive advice from cosmo, I think they were talking about buildup on hair caused by certain product.

[Mommy]

Should I really trust someone who comes on HERE to ask for engineering help. You don't have to make fun of me for reading cosmo. its funny

[Oasis]

They aren't worth it for the increase in fuel economy. Most give you around 5%-10% if that. At least the $2.99 shit you find at gas stations.

They help on reducing emissions, injection cleaning, carbon buildup, slight increase in power, etc. If those are what you're trying to accomplish, then use them I guess. I don't see a point unless you have 90k+ miles on your motor.

They're pretty useful in racing though. I've used Dyno-Tab and PowerPlusMPG and liked both

I'd recommend Centron products if you decide you use fuel additives.

Oh, and make sure your manufacturer's warranty supports using them. There are several products that will void a warranty if used.

[Spectatrix]

The octane level has very little to do with carbon (or other) buildup. Octane is a measure of the fuel's resistance to pre-ignition, which is what we hear as engine knocking. Higher octane fuels can be run at a higher compression ratio, which in turn burns hotter and more completely. So in that respect, yeah, maybe it results in higher buildup. But that has to do with the engine design, not the fuel itself.

And though I'm a girl, I am an ME/physics grad. But fuel additives aren't something you usually discuss in thermodynamics 101.

This post has been edited by Spectatrix: Dec 3 2007, 04:39 PM

[Rastaman]

Should I really trust someone who comes on HERE to ask for engineering help. You don't have to make fun of me for reading cosmo. its funny

I think it's adorable.

[Mommy]

The octane level has very little to do with carbon (or other) buildup. Octane is a measure of the fuel's resistance to pre-ignition, which is what we hear as engine knocking. Higher octane fuels can be run at a higher compression ratio, which in turn burns hotter and more completely. So in that respect, yeah, maybe it results in higher buildup. But that has to do with the engine design, not the fuel itself.

And though I'm a girl, I am an ME/physics grad. But fuel additives aren't something you usually discuss in thermodynamics 101.

so essentially there is build-up...more build-up if you are running a certain type of high performance vehicle? I mean, I always thought that high performance vehicles needed higher octane because it would increase their efficiency at burning fuel and it would reduce the buildup. That's my understanding of what you are saying and what I have read. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[Spectatrix]

I think your understanding of it is a bit skewed...

High performance vehicle -> engine w/ high compression ratio

• Gets more power out of fuel because of the high compresison
• May burn cleaner with ANY fuel due to higher temp/pressure (less buildup), BUT...
• Really needs high octane fuel -> prevents engine knocking (resistant to pre-ignition)

Burning cleaner really has to do with the engine, not the fuel, BUT such engines generally need a higher octane fuel so that pre-ignition (knocking) doesn't occur.

This post has been edited by Spectatrix: Dec 3 2007, 05:38 PM

[Mommy]

but what causes the knocking? not buildup?

[Spectatrix]

The knocking is caused by the fuel igniting during the compression stroke of the engine, before the spark plug fires. High performance engines run at higher pressure, so fuel is more prone to ignite early. The octane rating is basically a measure of how resistant the fuel is to that. Higher octane can be run properly at higher pressures.

[Mommy]

oooo


you get 5 nerd points

[zetec]

I've always liked RXP -- I usually add one teensy lil bottle every 5,000-8,000 miles. It's not very expensive and helps keep everything running nice and smoove.

[chook]

The octane level has very little to do with carbon (or other) buildup. Octane is a measure of the fuel's resistance to pre-ignition, which is what we hear as engine knocking. Higher octane fuels can be run at a higher compression ratio, which in turn burns hotter and more completely. So in that respect, yeah, maybe it results in higher buildup. But that has to do with the engine design, not the fuel itself.

And though I'm a girl, I am an ME/physics grad. But fuel additives aren't something you usually discuss in thermodynamics 101.

She is right, it is based on the scale of octane. Straight octane is considered 100 and it varies from there. Jet fuel is really low because it is not compressed by a piston and you don't care if it explodes quickly. Prop planes have octane ratings over 100 by using more stable and branched compounds in them. This is something I learned while working for Valero.

[Mommy]

do you still work for them? can you get me a discount on gas

Dame mas gasolina

[False Dude]

I got hookups with the CEO of Valero. Holla

[Mommy]

HOOK A SISTAH UP

[Dogmeat]

Ok, so I'm a little leary about fuel additives. As in, do they do any good or are they just a scam, sucking money from gullible folks wanting to eke another 1 mpg out of their engine?

HEBs around Austin (and elsewhere, I presume) have started tacking on "Additech" machines alongside the pumps, where you can choose to pay some extra moolah and get an additive pumped in along with your gasoline. I do know that their little spiel is bloody obnoxious. What I don't know is if they do any good and whether I should bother trying an additive out one of these days.

If you could eke out 1mpg just by the use of an additive that would be an engineering milestone the likes of which have rarley been seen in the automotive industry.

The only thing one of those additives would do I'm assuming is act as an agent to help remove insoluble gums and whatnot that might potentially exist in people's fuel systems.

Unless your fuel system is completley fucked up, you won't see any gain in miledge by pumping this, and the use of additives over time can actually negativley effect engine performance if used continually.

About every 10,000 miles I'll run a can of fuel injector through my vehicle just for a "feel good" measure, but has it ever actually done anything for me? No.

[Spectatrix]

oooo
you get 5 nerd points

I get many more than that, chica.

[Mommy]

I get many more than that, chica.

I AWARDED THE NERD POINTS AND I SAID YOU ONLY GET 5, BITCH

[Psykopath]

I AWARDED THE NERD POINTS AND I SAID YOU ONLY GET 5, BITCH

THAT'S IT!

BOTH OF YOU.... Up against the wall, nice and slow.
Hands behind your heads! Interlace your fingers!







SPREAD 'EM !!!

[Mommy]

THAT'S IT!

BOTH OF YOU.... Up against the wall, nice and slow.
Hands behind your heads! Interlace your fingers!







SPREAD 'EM !!!

wow...strangely, this just aroused me... Hey Zach

[Psykopath]

wow...strangely, this just aroused me... Hey Zach

[Dogmeat]

wow...strangely, this just aroused me... Hey Zach

Think about me slowly frisking your inner thighs after you've slightly spread your legs and are wearing a miniskirt ... slowly creeping upwards from your knees, eluding to going all the way up however stopping and coming back down so as to tease you, eventually moving my hands up and caressing your vagina from behind whilst taking in a very deep slow voice about how that feeling your body and appreciating how that you're a woman in this way makes me feel.

[Mommy]

fuck me retarded

[Mommy]

Think about me slowly frisking your inner thighs after you've slightly spread your legs and are wearing a miniskirt ... slowly creeping upwards from your knees, eluding to going all the way up however stopping and coming back down so as to tease you, eventually moving my hands up and caressing your vagina from behind whilst taking in a very deep slow voice about how that feeling your body and appreciating how that you're a woman in this way makes me feel.

BEWARE....I BITE

[Dogmeat]

BEWARE....I BITE

I'm counting on that

[Mommy]

I'm counting on that

[Spectatrix]

You people have dirty minds.

Why did my fuel additive thread turn into pseudo-porn? And why am I reading this smut at work?

[Psykopath]

You people have dirty minds.

Why did my fuel additive thread turn into pseudo-porn? And why am I reading this smut at work?

Because you want to join in?

[Dogmeat]

HAW HAW I DIDNT EVEN START IT THIS TIME!!!!

[Spectatrix]

Zach is a naughty man.

[Divergent Realit...]

dirty girl.

[Spectatrix]

Me or her?

[Divergent Realit...]

yes

[Psykopath]

Zach is a naughty man.

meh, what can i say?

[woody]

when my car makes a knocking sound, i just turn up the radio louder

that seems to fix the problem

[Mommy]

when my car makes a knocking sound, i just turn up the radio louder

that seems to fix the problem

mexican

[Hartmann]

I'll give a quick word of warning (don't feel like reading the entire thread, so if this has been said, ignore my post).

If you decide to use a fuel line cleaner or carbon build-up remover, be aware that depending on the age of the fuel line and the amount of build-up, you can damage the line or your engine due to dislocating a large piece of carbon that blocks the line or worse, a piece of the line is eroded by the fuel cleaner and ends up killing the engine.

Most gasolines have a "detergent" in them to help keep your lines clean (different stations give it different names, but since most gas comes from the same distribution point it's the same detergent).