 Fuel additives |
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| Fuel additives |
 Dec 3 2007, 01:57 PM
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#1
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Group: Admin Posts: 6,906 Joined: 22-February 06 From: Austin Member No.: 9  |
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. -------------------- |
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Dec 3 2007, 02:03 PM
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#2
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 Group: Members Posts: 10,620 Joined: 23-February 06 From: Houston, TX Member No.: 48 |
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.
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Dec 3 2007, 02:10 PM
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#3
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 Let's Bother Snape!!! Group: Members Posts: 1,598 Joined: 22-February 06 From: Albuquerque, NM Member No.: 10 |
QUOTE (impala454 @ Dec 3 2007, 02:03 PM)  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 --------------------  |
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Dec 3 2007, 03:08 PM
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#4
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Group: Members Posts: 10,620 Joined: 23-February 06 From: Houston, TX Member No.: 48 |
QUOTE (Jim @ Dec 3 2007, 02:10 PM) Wrong Go ahead and pay for the additive then. |
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Dec 3 2007, 03:17 PM
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#5
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Let's Bother Snape!!! Group: Members Posts: 1,598 Joined: 22-February 06 From: Albuquerque, NM Member No.: 10 |
QUOTE (impala454 @ Dec 3 2007, 03:08 PM) 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 
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Dec 3 2007, 03:19 PM
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#6
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Group: Members Posts: 33 Joined: 20-March 06 Member No.: 119 |
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.
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Dec 3 2007, 03:48 PM
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#7
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Group: Admin Posts: 6,906 Joined: 22-February 06 From: Austin Member No.: 9 |
QUOTE (Jim @ Dec 3 2007, 03:17 PM) 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. -------------------- |
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Dec 3 2007, 03:54 PM
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#8
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 New son Donovan Charles Mummert born July 17, 2008 Group: Members Posts: 8,635 Joined: 22-February 06 From: Port Wentworth, GA Member No.: 15 |
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
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Dec 3 2007, 04:09 PM
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#9
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Group: Members Posts: 10,620 Joined: 23-February 06 From: Houston, TX Member No.: 48 |
It's pretty funny when two girls (no offense) are schooling a dude on pretty basic car knowledge.
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Dec 3 2007, 04:10 PM
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#10
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New son Donovan Charles Mummert born July 17, 2008 Group: Members Posts: 8,635 Joined: 22-February 06 From: Port Wentworth, GA Member No.: 15 |
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Dec 3 2007, 04:12 PM
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#11
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Group: Members Posts: 33 Joined: 20-March 06 Member No.: 119 |
 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. |
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Dec 3 2007, 04:14 PM
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#12
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Group: Members Posts: 33 Joined: 20-March 06 Member No.: 119 |
QUOTE (Jessica @ Dec 3 2007, 03:54 PM) 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. |
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Dec 3 2007, 04:16 PM
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#13
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New son Donovan Charles Mummert born July 17, 2008 Group: Members Posts: 8,635 Joined: 22-February 06 From: Port Wentworth, GA Member No.: 15 |
over time it does cause build-up from everything I have read.
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Dec 3 2007, 04:18 PM
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#14
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Group: Members Posts: 33 Joined: 20-March 06 Member No.: 119 |
QUOTE (Jessica @ Dec 3 2007, 04:16 PM) 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. |
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Dec 3 2007, 04:21 PM
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#15
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New son Donovan Charles Mummert born July 17, 2008 Group: Members Posts: 8,635 Joined: 22-February 06 From: Port Wentworth, GA Member No.: 15 |
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
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