Poll: Do you use Additives?

[Depthcharge]

I've read a few varying thoughts from some trusted users on this board. I thought I'd do a poll and start a conversation on this topic.
Do you use any additives for your system? Oil? Valve/Engine Cleaner? Fuel system? I've seen glowing reviews and horror stories on people using additives for different things. So let's have it - what do you use / don't use and why?

[Peter.dupuis]

I’ve been using liqui moly products for a while now with no complaints. Every oil change I use the engine flush and then ceratec with new oil but switched to molygen and I believe it already has the friction additive in it.

Vw/Audi sells an injector cleaner additive that a buddy used and he started having all kinds of problems starting with that sluggish feel.


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[Audibot]

x2 for Liqui-Moly products (stemming back from when they were Lubro-Moly). I've used the engine oil additive, ceratec, the valve cleaning one, and radiator flush in my allroad at one time or another. The radiator flush was a must b/c previous people added generic green coolant to the G12.

I've also used Lucas Oil fuel system cleaner on occasion.

Hadn't heard of Molygen; may need to check that out.

[BeerBrent]

I use these regularly.

Liqui Moly 2009 Anti Friction Oil Treatment
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Liqui Moly 2007 Jectron Gas Fuel Injection Cleaner
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[BrewDude]

Haven't used a single additive in over 100k miles.

[JeriQo]

mos2 every 5k change.
fuel additives if it ever goes on sale buy 1 take 1 at oreillys

[rcprato]

Just added a can of BG MOA to VR6 in 11 Touareg at 2,500 miles after changing oil and filter, change about 6-7K usually.
She does about 5 minute drive to and from work 4 days a week and seeing if this additive makes any difference with some minor burn off happening from theses short drives

[Spawne32]

I usually use Red Line (60103) Complete SI-1 Fuel System Cleaner once or twice a year, and ive been using engine restore (4 cylinder application) every other oil change and it has done wonders for my oil consumption issues. Trust me, id be the first one to call additives bullshit, these are the only two I have had proven success with.

[old guy]

I add a 5oz bottle of Lucas fuel injector cleaner with every tank of gas. I have no idea if it really helps but I figure it couldn't hurt. I buy it by the gallon at $25 so it only costs around $1 per fill up. To start I purchased a gallon and a 5 oz treatment bottle and just keep refilling the 5 oz bottle from the gallon jug.

[Novarider]

I wouldn't put addatives in the oil on a turbo car. Fuel treatments are a waste IMO.

[Depthcharge]

Engine Restore has glowing reviews as an additive. After going Stage 1 IE, my oil consumption which was negligible before has hit peak eat, I think I'll give this a go and try out the Lucas Injector Cleaner for poops and laughs.

[Theiceman]

They all have glowing reviews or they would sell zero
Its a billion dollar industry for a problem that was resolved decades ago with modern fuel and oil additive packages.
Let us know how it goes though


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[treginginco]

BGMOA at every oil change.
BG44K every 10k miles.

142,000 happy miles.


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[Audi 4 Life]

I use the OEM Audi Fuel Additive as often as possible. at least a few times every oil change to help keep the injectors functioning good on a car with DI. I have my injectors out and I am sending them out to be tested and cleaned using ultrasonic so I should be able to find out how off the flow is from spec.


Is anyone else using the Audi fuel additive?

[Theiceman]

i think people use additives for piece of mind rather than because of tangible proof it actually does anything. my A6 2.8 30V I cruised to 400K . absolutely no additives ever ,,, transmission eventually died and some guy took the motor to put in his car .. lol

But i must add one thing .. this comes up a lot on the Porsche engine building forums too . One very well respected engine builder said to remember not all gas is created equal. he said Canadian gas is of VERY high quality with excellent additives that are updated many times a year for our ever changing climate conditions.
he said there are pockets in the US where it is just brutal and he has rebuilt engines that are a mess from bad gas..

so may vary by geography a little too. I think Urban centre probably good but rural areas may be a different story .. so additives may be required.

[Audibot]

i think people use additives for piece of mind rather than because of tangible proof it actually does anything. my A6 2.8 30V I cruised to 400K . absolutely no additives ever ,,, transmission eventually died and some guy took the motor to put in his car .. lol

But i must add one thing .. this comes up a lot on the Porsche engine building forums too . One very well respected engine builder said to remember not all gas is created equal. he said Canadian gas is of VERY high quality with excellent additives that are updated many times a year for our ever changing climate conditions.
he said there are pockets in the US where it is just brutal and he has rebuilt engines that are a mess from bad gas..

so may vary by geography a little too. I think Urban centre probably good but rural areas may be a different story .. so additives may be required.

I was going to add that I used a fuel additive in my A6 TDI precisely because diesel fuel quality around me a sketchy at best. They all say "minimum 40 cetane" but then when you inquire, nobody has any idea what you are talking about. I think I'm using Power Service's Diesel Kleen (been a while since I've been home).

Seems typical in US that fuel quality is all over the place, hence why "Top Tier" came about. They're just starting a Top Tier Diesel, and supposedly the Exxon by me is one. If I lived a bit further south, I'd have beautiful 55 cetane.


So I don't think they are all snake oil, but gas additives are definitely less effective on a direct injection engine than on a port injection engine. I have noticed some engine quieting in my B7 and C5 when I used liqui-moly in the oil (also as oil compared to others). No idea in the A6 yet.

[rcprato]

BGMOA at every oil change.
BG44K every 10k miles.

142,000 happy miles.
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Is this the 13 Allroad ?
Others have had oil burn issues with the later year 2.0T so that is good to know

[Depthcharge]

cleaned using ultrasonic

You can easily get a sonicator / ultrasonicator from China for cheap. Do it yourself and use some mineral spirits or acetone for media. No need to pay someone big bucks for high frequency de-sheathing.

Also, I'm well aware about the fuels being varying degrees of quality. As a rule of thumb, I generally try to only fill up at Shell, Texaco/Exxon, or Mobil stations.

[ducati]

For those who have patience or want to read a report from a highly respected University in Waterloo Ontario Canada about oil additives for engines follow this link..

https://www.math.uwaterloo.ca/~rblander/snake_oil.txt

[max8126]

For those who have patience or want to read a report from a highly respected University in Waterloo Ontario Canada about oil additives for engines follow this link..

https://www.math.uwaterloo.ca/~rblander/snake_oil.txt

So they are basically saying the additives do nothing more than what's already in the fuel, if not making things worse. And no tangible evidence exists that proves the contrary.

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[Theiceman]

You can easily get a sonicator / ultrasonicator from China for cheap. Do it yourself and use some mineral spirits or acetone for media. No need to pay someone big bucks for high frequency de-sheathing.

Also, I'm well aware about the fuels being varying degrees of quality. As a rule of thumb, I generally try to only fill up at Shell, Texaco/Exxon, or Mobil stations.

NEVER USE FLAMMABLE FLUIDS IN AN ULTRASONIC

Water based only and it will work very well


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[Depthcharge]

Allow me to clarify, use a solvent to loosen and then sonicate. Yes, you shouldn't fill the bath with a flammable solvent, unless you have a fume hood and are using a flask or beaker that is fully emersed under your water (best to use de-ionized water, also). I'd soak the injectors in acetone or 99% IPA and then place in DI H20 and sonicate and you'll break off most of the corrosion. After that, get a blue shop towel and wipe it clean. Thanks Ice for the point of clarification.

[ducati]

So they are basically saying the additives do nothing more than what's already in the fuel, if not making things worse. And no tangible evidence exists that proves the contrary.

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Yes...almost all claims by manufacturers has a worded legal exclaimer that protects them from lawsuits..I'm sure some additives might "clean" certain parts of a engine that regular oil does not but to fix a engine issue outright or protect it is a outright lie.Love how these manufacturers won't allow a unbiased testing of their products by a credited lab.