Fuel Additives
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 904
Likes: 0
From: Boynton Beach FL
Fuel Additives
Do any of you regularly use a fuel additive of any sort?
I've got a 94, and I'm used to putting bottles of snake oil into my gasoline every oil change, from dry gas when I lived up north, to fuel system cleaners when my car was running rough, and now I'm thinking about octane boosters to tweak another hp or 2 out of my (new to me!) vette.
Do any of you recommend any particular additive, or strongly advise against using them at all?
I've got a 94, and I'm used to putting bottles of snake oil into my gasoline every oil change, from dry gas when I lived up north, to fuel system cleaners when my car was running rough, and now I'm thinking about octane boosters to tweak another hp or 2 out of my (new to me!) vette.
Do any of you recommend any particular additive, or strongly advise against using them at all?
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 487
Likes: 0
From: Huntsville AL
I've experienced loss of power with various types of octane boost, I won't be using it anymore. I've used redline fuel system cleaner once and would use cleaning products again, just not very often.
I'm against octane boosters for this car.
I'm against octane boosters for this car.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 904
Likes: 0
From: Boynton Beach FL
no problems...
I'm just so used to blowing money on stupid magic-in-a-bottle... I've always had older cars, so I regularly buy marvel, lucas, STP, Techron, all these things...
Now I've got a Vette, and just wondering if I could possibly damage anything by buying these wonder bottles, or if it's safe. (Or is an engine an engine, and I can continue doing what I used to)
My 94 has 82,000 miles on it, so I figure some cleaning additives should help it a little... seems there is a wide array of loyalties out there so far, so I guess all the 'snake oils' are the same?
Now I've got a Vette, and just wondering if I could possibly damage anything by buying these wonder bottles, or if it's safe. (Or is an engine an engine, and I can continue doing what I used to)
My 94 has 82,000 miles on it, so I figure some cleaning additives should help it a little... seems there is a wide array of loyalties out there so far, so I guess all the 'snake oils' are the same?
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
Likes: 356
From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
If your running Super Unleaded you should not need any fuel additives,Octane Boost... if you do use it with Super Unleaded you will slow down the burn rate in the chamber(i.e-For illustrations sake:What it will do is make the fuel to thick and harder to burn thus loose power) Now! if you are using Regular Unleaded(87) then you can safely use Octane Boost(STP,Lucas..) it actually goes a little beyond the Super in performance(not much though) it will then bring the Regular(87) up to the correct burn rate(i.e-Too thin to just the right thickness or burn rate-OCTANE-thus make power-again illustration purpose only)
I hope this helps.
Thanks Matt
I hope this helps.
Thanks Matt
Last edited by madmatt9471; Jun 5, 2006 at 10:39 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 6,130
Likes: 2
From: seattle WA
I Seafoam my 87, as well as other cars and boat every year or 2. On occassion I might run some Heat or Techron through it if I suspect I may have gotten some poor fuel. I've been running 87 Octane in it for the 7 years I've owned it.. no problems, no pinging and runs strong. 
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,653
Likes: 428
From: Melbourne Florida
Cruise-In IV Veteran
GM is very specific NOT to use injector cleaners on certain years...it has been posted before so maybe someone will chime in...octane boosters will not gain you any HP and, as stated above, will actually slow you down...if you have some detonation they will help in that area but that's about it...
I believe GM, or some guru, did say to use only Chevron Techron if you do use an injector cleaner...I do know a few folks who swear by the Lucas Oil Additive when they change their oil...
I believe GM, or some guru, did say to use only Chevron Techron if you do use an injector cleaner...I do know a few folks who swear by the Lucas Oil Additive when they change their oil...
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,905
Likes: 1
From: 2003 Points Champ Great Lakes Corvette Challenge; 2006/2007 Winner MSD True Street
My two cents:
I use Chevron Techron, red Line, and 3M.
All good fuel cleaners.
I live in one of those 10 metro areas that the feds require one of those Blends. You rural guys are lucky. Anyway those additives leave deposits and you need a good injector cleaner every 3000 miles.
I do for all my vehicles.
Octane boost. Waste of money. why use it if your car does not need it?
More octane in a car not able to make use of it will actually run worse.
Specially if it's cold. Harder to burn and vaporize.
Octane ADDITIVE is another story. My hot rod needs 100+ octane,period.
I use TORCO octane additive. Follow directions. You can make 107 octaane out of 93 if you want. Not as good as getting the real stuff from the pump, but it works in a pinch. Torco is a NHRA sponsor and official fuel of IHRA. You can order Nitro methane in drums from them if you want.
One last thing. I wouldn't buy anything that Lucas oil makes.
Read some bad stuff about their products. All marketing.
Like the girl in the TV ad though.
Matt383
I use Chevron Techron, red Line, and 3M.
All good fuel cleaners.
I live in one of those 10 metro areas that the feds require one of those Blends. You rural guys are lucky. Anyway those additives leave deposits and you need a good injector cleaner every 3000 miles.
I do for all my vehicles.
Octane boost. Waste of money. why use it if your car does not need it?
More octane in a car not able to make use of it will actually run worse.
Specially if it's cold. Harder to burn and vaporize.
Octane ADDITIVE is another story. My hot rod needs 100+ octane,period.
I use TORCO octane additive. Follow directions. You can make 107 octaane out of 93 if you want. Not as good as getting the real stuff from the pump, but it works in a pinch. Torco is a NHRA sponsor and official fuel of IHRA. You can order Nitro methane in drums from them if you want.
One last thing. I wouldn't buy anything that Lucas oil makes.
Read some bad stuff about their products. All marketing.
Like the girl in the TV ad though.
Matt383
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
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St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Originally Posted by RAGOVET
Lucas fuel additive is one of the best. I use it every other fill up.
This stuff works great with both of my cars. The vette responds much better and my 4-Banger takes hills in 5th gear that without it I have to downshift to 4th. I do not use it all the time.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 599
Likes: 0
From: Tampa,FL
Oh ya! Some 104+ booster gained my 84RWHP on the dyno!
Seriously tho, octane boosters are pretty much useless. I contacted the manuf once on the 104+ booster and they told me it raises the octane level in your tank 1.04 points. At least it does something but i'll just stick to the proper fuel instead. An OCCASIONAL injector cleaner is fine. In my LT4 all I use is redline S1. I does not contain any chemicals that will damage the selas on the injectors. From what I've seen, the others have this effect with continued use.
Seriously tho, octane boosters are pretty much useless. I contacted the manuf once on the 104+ booster and they told me it raises the octane level in your tank 1.04 points. At least it does something but i'll just stick to the proper fuel instead. An OCCASIONAL injector cleaner is fine. In my LT4 all I use is redline S1. I does not contain any chemicals that will damage the selas on the injectors. From what I've seen, the others have this effect with continued use.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 758
Likes: 6
From: Gainesville, FL
From my experience - Seafoam has been the best fuel additive, and Amsoil Power Foam is the best intake/engine cleaner (clean the TB with it and a tooth brush at the same time...) - - As for octane boost... the only time you should spend the money is if you buy the car from a dealer and they put regular gas in it... that was my situation last year... the car knocked horribly, but a couple bottles of octane boost helped (and confirmed the problem) until I could fill it up with premium... Otherwise you will be wasting your money - - each bottle will not even add 1 octane to a full tank of gas...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
Originally Posted by pr1mu5
I'm just so used to blowing money on stupid magic-in-a-bottle... I've always had older cars, so I regularly buy marvel, lucas, STP, Techron, all these things...
Now I've got a Vette, and just wondering if I could possibly damage anything by buying these wonder bottles, or if it's safe. (Or is an engine an engine, and I can continue doing what I used to)
My 94 has 82,000 miles on it, so I figure some cleaning additives should help it a little... seems there is a wide array of loyalties out there so far, so I guess all the 'snake oils' are the same?
Now I've got a Vette, and just wondering if I could possibly damage anything by buying these wonder bottles, or if it's safe. (Or is an engine an engine, and I can continue doing what I used to)
My 94 has 82,000 miles on it, so I figure some cleaning additives should help it a little... seems there is a wide array of loyalties out there so far, so I guess all the 'snake oils' are the same?
Drifting
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 1,261
Likes: 6
From: Middletown New Jersey
I use a product called FP60. I learned about it at http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/...?ubb=forum;f=5
This is the Bob is the Oil Guy website in the additives forum.
This is the Bob is the Oil Guy website in the additives forum.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,905
Likes: 1
From: 2003 Points Champ Great Lakes Corvette Challenge; 2006/2007 Winner MSD True Street
Originally Posted by GlennS87
I use a product called FP60. I learned about it at http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/...?ubb=forum;f=5
This is the Bob is the Oil Guy website in the additives forum.
This is the Bob is the Oil Guy website in the additives forum.
For all you Lucas Oil fans read this study:
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/images/lucas/lucas.htm
You may think twice about Lucas Oil.
Matt383
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 847
Likes: 0
From: Colorado Springs CO
Originally Posted by Matt383
Another Bob is the Oil guy fan!
For all you Lucas Oil fans read this study:
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/images/lucas/lucas.htm
You may think twice about Lucas Oil.
Matt383
For all you Lucas Oil fans read this study:
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/images/lucas/lucas.htm
You may think twice about Lucas Oil.
Matt383
