Engine/Fuel Additives Anyone? [Archive]

Hives

02-13-2009, 01:05 AM

I am interested in know what engine/fuel additives TM3 members use and why. I am considering using it to help clean up everything in my engine and fuel system, but there are so many to choose from (Wynns, STP, Lucas, Dura Lube, Slick 50, NOS, etc...)

laksman91

02-13-2009, 01:09 AM

Shell 91 claims to clean in 2 tanks

Soyabean

02-13-2009, 02:38 AM

A lot of people use RedLine Fuel System cleaner. I use that too. Not in a while tho, i have to buy another bottle.

But if u use that, watch out, you dont pour the whole bottle.

Xerox

02-13-2009, 08:56 AM

A lot of people use RedLine Fuel System cleaner. I use that too. Not in a while tho, i have to buy another bottle.

But if u use that, watch out, you dont pour the whole bottle.

Redline is designed so that you can either use the entire bottle or in smaller doses. But yeah, I think for the size of our tanks you're not suppose to use the entire bottle.

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=23086

Nova 3 GT

02-13-2009, 09:50 AM

I don't use fuel additives. Just good quality gasoline and a few trips around the hwy keeps my injectors clean. Having a CAI forces me rev up so I clean every time when I want to hear my engine sing!:chuckle

Hives

02-13-2009, 11:09 AM

aris

02-13-2009, 11:09 AM

kevcol74

02-13-2009, 11:11 AM

I hear seafoam is very good...If you go on you tube you will see some people showing you how to use it and you will see how much carbon it cleans..i have not used it yet..but i am going to try it some time in the future.

That stuff works great, but its not a simple "pour it in your tank and go" cleaning.
I'd use Redline for the injector cleaner, but Lucas for additives (oil, tranny).

Xerox

02-13-2009, 11:57 AM

I will prolly fill up with high octane Sunoco one day and see how that goes. What if I use a high octane gas (91 or 93), and add an octane booster. My frd does it on his Prelude b/c he said its a high rev motor, but how bout on the Mazda 3 2.3L?

I think 2000 Prelude redlines at 7000 rpm? Our Mazda 3 relines at 6500 rpm?
(for sake of argument never mind the actual fuel cut off)

High octane is required on high compression motors. Not cuz it revs high.

aris

02-13-2009, 12:18 PM

That stuff works great, but its not a simple "pour it in your tank and go" cleaning.
I'd use Redline for the injector cleaner, but Lucas for additives (oil, tranny).

Ya its not easy to add from what i hear but i also hear it works good:)

kevcol74

02-13-2009, 12:21 PM

Ya its not easy to add from what i hear but i also hear it works good:)

From what I've been told by mechanics (that are also good friends), there is nothing that works better. But its a good few hours to do it, and it is a cumbersome process, with some engine disassembly if I remember correctly. I'd consider it on a car with higher mileage that you plan to keep for alot more miles, but not for something that you plan to replace, or has reasonable miles (I'm at 144K, might think about it around 200K if I'm going to keep the 3 by then)

Mazda3X2

02-13-2009, 01:06 PM

Flagrum_3

02-13-2009, 08:49 PM

The method I use and suggest, is to stick to your required octane, ...a few tanks-fulls before your next scheduled oil change, add some Red-Line fuel system cleaner; you can use the whole bottle if your car as never had this done before or follow the bottle measurements for continous cleaning....I've found Red-line to be an excellent cleaner by the way.Now, the reason I mention doing it before an oil change is because some of the carbon in the system 'loosened- up' by the cleaner will undoubtably end up in your oil and you'd want to clean that out.

_3

aris

02-13-2009, 09:04 PM

From what I've been told by mechanics (that are also good friends), there is nothing that works better. But its a good few hours to do it, and it is a cumbersome process, with some engine disassembly if I remember correctly. I'd consider it on a car with higher mileage that you plan to keep for alot more miles, but not for something that you plan to replace, or has reasonable miles (I'm at 144K, might think about it around 200K if I'm going to keep the 3 by then)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef3HNvxblxQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X832d4MtYUc

These are just some videos on how to use seafoam...alot of the guys on dakota-durango use this stuff and says it pretty simple to use

Donutz

02-13-2009, 09:09 PM

You would be wasting money is about all.

My understanding is you would also lose fuel economy because the high octane burns slower.

Hives

03-02-2009, 12:53 PM

Has anyone ever tried ZMAX? I used to see it advertised on TV, and they are still on store shelves, which means people are buying it. Has anyone ever used it, or know of anyone who has? What were the results?

Mazda3X2

03-02-2009, 07:50 PM

I don't put much faith in engine additives.

A fuel system/injector cleaner is about all I would put in my car aside from good quality lubricants & fuel.

stevenma188

11-09-2009, 10:22 AM

I'm currently running a bottle of STP Fuel System Cleaner through this current tank of gas. I drove from London to Guelph and back this weekend, and noticed that the inside of my car kind of smells like the cleaner when I poured it into the tank. I'll update with changes in fuel economy as well as feel of the car after I'm done this tank of gas. So far it does seem to help with economy, as I just went over 300KM on less than 1/2 tank of gas.

TheMAN

11-10-2009, 01:34 AM

BG 44K or Redline are the ONLY fuel additives I'll ever use... the others are a waste of money

aris

11-10-2009, 11:46 AM

BG 44K or Redline are the ONLY fuel additives I'll ever use... the others are a waste of money

What about seafoum???

stevenma188

11-10-2009, 12:08 PM

Seafoam scares me in the warning about hydrolocking your engine.

aris

11-10-2009, 12:12 PM

Seafoam scares me in the warning about hydrolocking your engine.

realy cause i heard alot of people use this and love it..but i don't know if i want to try it..lol

stevenma188

11-10-2009, 12:13 PM

Ya I was looking online, and everyone seems to love it. However most of the instructions involving putting Seafoam into the vacuum line comes with a warning that if you do it too fast you will hydrolock your engine.

philipfreire

11-10-2009, 12:19 PM

I'm skeptical about Lucas products. The thickness of that stuff could end up clogging and assist in build up down the road. Some people say that its good because it basically coats everything and keeps the pistons and other mechanical parts lubed at all times.

I dunno.. I think key is to keep your regular oil changes, use the best oil you can get your hands on. use the recommended fuel and if you want throw in a few fuel injector cleanings every now and then.

mazda lover

11-10-2009, 12:28 PM

BG 44K or Redline are the ONLY fuel additives I'll ever use... the others are a waste of money

where can these 2 products be bought?
Thanks

Flagrum_3

11-10-2009, 06:06 PM

where can these 2 products be bought?
Thanks

I know the Redline is sold at Crappy Tire.

_3

pacmann33

11-11-2009, 01:31 PM

I will prolly fill up with high octane Sunoco one day and see how that goes. What if I use a high octane gas (91 or 93), and add an octane booster. My frd does it on his Prelude b/c he said its a high rev motor, but how bout on the Mazda 3 2.3L?

Don't ever listen to those honda fanboys. Using anything other than plain old 87 is useless in most vehicles, ours included. High revs have nothing to do with octane requirements. My bikes redline at 16,000rpm+ and I make most power with 87 octane. Compression is what matters.

Race fuel is a whole different story...it is the composition of the fuel itself that makes power, and then, you need to start tuning for it.

anyway back on topic!

Zoom Zoom Boy

11-11-2009, 01:47 PM

Don't ever listen to those honda fanboys. Using anything other than plain old 87 is useless in most vehicles, ours included. High revs have nothing to do with octane requirements. My bikes redline at 16,000rpm+ and I make most power with 87 octane. Compression is what matters.

Race fuel is a whole different story...it is the composition of the fuel itself that makes power, and then, you need to start tuning for it.

anyway back on topic!

Big +1.

Nova 3 GT

11-14-2009, 09:20 AM

Flagrum_3

11-14-2009, 01:26 PM

On the bottle of the Redline cleaner, 15oz can clean 350litres of fuel. Since our tanks holds 55L and if my math are correct:

15oz 350L
----- = ------
X 55L

X = 2.35714oz

So for the maintenance dose with our cars, we're suppose to put 2.35oz of Redline S1 cleaner everytime we fill up. Is this correct?

Yes that's right, but if it is the first time using a cleaner or it's been a while since using a cleaner, pour the whole bottle in for the first tank.Then next bottle mark the bottle to give you 6 even applications. :)

_3

Nova 3 GT

11-14-2009, 01:40 PM

Yes that's right, but if it is the first time using a cleaner or it's been a while since using a cleaner, pour the whole bottle in for the first tank.Then next bottle mark the bottle to give you 6 even applications. :)

_3

Yea to be honest, I've never used any injector cleaner since I bought the car back in 2006.:) And I only have 24000km on the odometer ever since:blush

eguiyab

11-14-2009, 03:08 PM

Seafoam scares me in the warning about hydrolocking your engine.

its not that bad. I've used Seafoam a number of times on a few vehicles - granted not the Mazda 3 yet.
I recently did it for my bro's SC400. The trick with the vacuum line is not to actually pour it in there. It is a vacuum line after all. Just use a funnel with a very thin tip or a 60cc catheter tip syringe (Im a Nurse so i can get these easily) and just trickle the Seafoam in there. The engine will suck it up.. and just keep a very slow steady trickle going in. In no time you'll notice ALOT of carbon/smoke coming out the exhaust. If the engine sounds like its about to sputter and die.. slow down the trickle or stop for a moment.

Flagrum_3

11-14-2009, 07:18 PM

Yea to be honest, I've never used any injector cleaner since I bought the car back in 2006.:) And I only have 24000km on the odometer ever since:blush

Did you do your 24k service yet? Reason I'm asking is that it's a good time to use a fuel system cleaner, like a tank or 2 previous to doing an oil change.Reasoning is that carbon will break up and some will undoubtably end up in your oil, so if your oil is being changed out, your not driving around with dirty oil-(Dirty to a small extent).

_3

Noisy Crow

11-14-2009, 07:39 PM

This thread:
http://www.ls1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91206
Is quite interesting.... they claim that adding 2-stroke marine oil to the gas tank does all sorts of wonderful things....

Nova 3 GT

11-15-2009, 09:43 AM

Did you do your 24k service yet? Reason I'm asking is that it's a good time to use a fuel system cleaner, like a tank or 2 previous to doing an oil change.Reasoning is that carbon will break up and some will undoubtably end up in your oil, so if your oil is being changed out, your not driving around with dirty oil-(Dirty to a small extent).

_3

Yes I did all my services. I just did my 3rd service at 23204km last October. I know it's not much mileage but I go with TIME. Every 4 months for my oil change and every 12 months, (brake) maintenance. All this at my local dealer :)

Nova 3 GT

11-15-2009, 09:50 AM

This thread:
http://www.ls1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91206
Is quite interesting.... they claim that adding 2-stroke marine oil to the gas tank does all sorts of wonderful things....

:whoa For me, 2-stroke oil = weedeaters, lawnboys and dirt bikes. It would scare the sh!t outta me putting it into my engine.

TheMAN

11-16-2009, 11:07 PM

it'll at least act as a lubricant to the fuel pump since low sulfur fuels combined with ethanol these days have less lubricity than the old "real" gas

Harbour Rat

11-17-2009, 10:53 AM

Two-stroke oil will enhance gasoline's lubrication ability but it will hurt the octane rating. I know some people add it to diesel fuel but reduced octane doesn't hurt there.

I also would be concerned about what it might do to the O2 sensors and catalytic converters. Probably nothing but the experiment could get kind of expensive.