Engine additives, fuel treatment and oil

[drakon543]

i use fuel additives maybe twice a year but only for the claim they somehow help keep water out of the fuel. i don't believe they do anything else. i have used oil additives before but not for the claim they have of cleaning the engine. i usually keep vehicles around until they start becoming more money than they are worth. if i have an engine thats ready to be retired i start using an additive to get a little more time out of it. most oil additives tend to thicken the oil or give it a tacky texture(marvel mystery oil aside). so once an engine develops a slight knock or tap additive goes in possibly with a step up in oil. i do not sell vehicles like that btw if anyone had that come to mind. stripped for parts or just directly scrapped.
only use gas stations who have quality gas.
only use quality oils recommended by the manufacturer and additives should be avoided in most cases.

 

[iamdub]

I'll pour a can of Berryman B-12 Chemtool in the tank ever so often when I think about it when the fuel level is around 1/4 or less. I can't say it does anything positive, but I've noticed nothing negative and its cheap. I just started using 2-stroke oil in the gas as well, but I haven't driven it enough to get any results yet and it'll be a long time before I do. I poured some in my girl's car a week ago and I swear it's running noticeably smoother. Other than that, just top-tier fuel (mostly Chevron) and Pennzoil Platinum oil. In my experience, quality synthetic oils have all the additives I need. My engine is CLEAN inside. At 199,9xx miles, you still can clearly see the factory paint dots under the rocker covers:

 

[Rocket Man]

I love this part from the FTC lawsuit:


7. Since at least May 1999, and continuing thereafter,
15 Defendants have maintained a substantial course of trade in the
16 offer and sale of the zMax Power System (“zMax”) -- a package of
17 three clear, beaker-shaped bottles of zMax brand aftermarket motor
18 vehicle lubricant labeled “Oil Formula,” “Fuel Formula,” and
19 “Transmission Formula.” The liquid in each bottle is itself clear
20 but tinged a different color for each “formula.” Each of the
21 three “formulas” consists of 100% mineral oil with no active
22 chemical additives.

 

[RET423]

I use the cheapest gas I can find and synthetic 15/50 (Napa brand because it is always on sale) and Lucas semi synthetic racing oil in the transmission; I change the oil at 10,000 miles and the transmission every 75,000 or so.

2004 Tahoe 5.3/4L60 has 317,000 miles
2004 GMC Sierra 5.3/4L60 has 185,000 miles
2001 Yukon XL 5.3/4L60 has 250,000 miles
2006 Impala SS 5.3/4T60 has 43,000 miles

My wife is pretty kind to the Yukon, I drive the rest like I stole them; all have original engines, transmissions and rearends although I have replaced the front wheel bearings on all of the GMT800's.

I also have a 5.3 I pulled out of my old 2000 Z71 before I junked it and a 4.8 out of my son in laws 2002 Silverado that was wrecked, both have over 200,000 miles on them but that ain't old for an LS so I kept them to LS swap a 65 El Camino and a 65 C20 pickup.

No additives, no gimmicks, no dealer advice; these are great drive trains that just keep on delivering if you do the basics and lean on them like they are designed to be worked

 

[iamdub]

I use the cheapest gas I can find and synthetic 15/50 (Napa brand because it is always on sale) and Lucas semi synthetic racing oil in the transmission; I change the oil at 10,000 miles and the transmission every 75,000 or so.

2004 Tahoe 5.3/4L60 has 317,000 miles
2004 GMC Sierra 5.3/4L60 has 185,000 miles
2001 Yukon XL 5.3/4L60 has 250,000 miles
2006 Impala SS 5.3/4T60 has 43,000 miles

My wife is pretty kind to the Yukon, I drive the rest like I stole them; all have original engines, transmissions and rearends although I have replaced the front wheel bearings on all of the GMT800's.

I also have a 5.3 I pulled out of my old 2000 Z71 before I junked it and a 4.8 out of my son in laws 2002 Silverado that was wrecked, both have over 200,000 miles on them but that ain't old for an LS so I kept them to LS swap a 65 El Camino and a 65 C20 pickup.

No additives, no gimmicks, no dealer advice; these are great drive trains that just keep on delivering if you do the basics and lean on them like they are designed to be worked

I'm a fan of running oil a little heavier than spec'ed. 10W-30 for mine. I may be giving up some immeasurable amount of power and/or MPG. But it's not cold here and I run mine hard and I want more than just a sheen of bull snot between my metal parts.

 

[Bigshawn]

I use to just get whatever gas was the cheapest but as my 01 yukon started to get higher mileage on it some of the gases would give me a misfire and a rough idle. So now I stick to Shell gas and my vehicle doesn't have any problems.
I 2nd using the techron fuel additive, it's kept my yukon running smooth.

 

[Black Limited]

If the additives people depended on me they would be out of business...I just use Mobil 1 or AC Delco oil and use Mobil fuel 99% of the time.

Check out the new Shell Oil vs Mobil 1

 

[Black Limited]

I use to just get whatever gas was the cheapest but as my 01 yukon started to get higher mileage on it some of the gases would give me a misfire and a rough idle. So now I stick to Shell gas and my vehicle doesn't have any problems.
I 2nd using the techron fuel additive, it's kept my yukon running smooth.

I've used Shell regular in my Tahoe Limited, since new reaching 180K...….with no running problems. Regular oil/ filter changes, 4k mileage schedule, Pennzoil 20-50 Wt, AC Delco PF 2232 filter, Changed air filter 2x.

replace plugs with AC Delco brand, and wires around 80 K...……...clean TPS with Gumout carb cleaner now and then, when sticking high idle. Never cleaned MAF screen with cleaners...…......trans filter / rear end change at 30K

 

[pt1965]

What do you guys and ladies use? I use ZMAX fuel and oil I tried some of the other brands like Lucas and etc I like ZMAX works really well and never failed me.

thats a rare bird z71! no regular additives except occasional chevron techron, but like to hear what others use.

 

[HiHoeSilver]

thats a rare bird z71! no regular additives except occasional chevron techron, but like to hear what others use.

Not sure what you meant "rare bird z71", but it got me looking closer... it's this what you were referring to?

I use the cheapest gas I can find and synthetic 15/50 (Napa brand because it is always on sale) and Lucas semi synthetic racing oil in the transmission; I change the oil at 10,000 miles and the transmission every 75,000 or so.

2004 Tahoe 5.3/4L60 has 317,000 miles
2004 GMC Sierra 5.3/4L60 has 185,000 miles
2001 Yukon XL 5.3/4L60 has 250,000 miles
2006 Impala SS 5.3/4T60 has 43,000 miles

My wife is pretty kind to the Yukon, I drive the rest like I stole them; all have original engines, transmissions and rearends although I have replaced the front wheel bearings on all of the GMT800's.

I also have a 5.3 I pulled out of my old 2000 Z71 before I junked it and a 4.8 out of my son in laws 2002 Silverado that was wrecked, both have over 200,000 miles on them but that ain't old for an LS so I kept them to LS swap a 65 El Camino and a 65 C20 pickup.

No additives, no gimmicks, no dealer advice; these are great drive trains that just keep on delivering if you do the basics and lean on them like they are designed to be worked

2000 Z71 what? Tahoe? Those only had 5.7s.