gas additives

[old_guy]

I know there is a lot of talk about sta-bil and sea foam, but has anyone used Lucas gas treatment in their vehicles or gen sets. talked to my DW's cousin and he said he got quite an increase in gas mileage by using it in his SUV driving to AZ this year.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

A common-sense observation would be to free-air burn (low temp combustion) a liter of each of the following:

GASOLINE

ADDITIVE OF CHOICE

ETHANOL

Then observe what remains as residue. Higher combustion temperatures and pressures of course modify the process somewhat but not in a fundamental manner. Degradation of a sensor would be caused by laminar sealing, thermal, erosive (ablative), or corrosive action. Erosive includes electrolytic. Try as I might I cannot imagine alcohol entering into any of the foregoing.

[Denny___Jami]

I have put 100s of thousands miles on work trucks cars and trucks I pull my trailers with and I have run E10 in all of them and have never used a additive and have never replaced any sensors.

Denny

[jfkmk]

JaxDad wrote:

jfkmk wrote:

JaxDad wrote:

jfkmk wrote:
Unless your fuel system is gunked up you won't see an increase in mpg from any of these additives.

If you purchase top tier fuels, you'll never have to use an additive. Does anyone really believe that adding a few ounces of snake oil to 20 or so gallons of fuel will miraculously give them a significant increase in gas mileage?

I don't believe your first statement is quite correct there friend. It's actually pretty common to have dirty O2 sensors these days.

If the O2 sensors are dirty they're giving inaccurate readings to the ECM which will then erroneously adjust the mixture into a too rich condition.

It not be out of the ordinary to pick up 10% in fuel mileage once the ECM is getting accurate readings.

Additives like SeaFoam will clean those sensors where the stock additives won't.

The OBD II will typically throw a code and illuminate the CEL if the O2 sensor is reading outside of a normal range, such as if the sensor is dirty.

I'm not sure how Seafoam and others are going to clean a sensor located downstream of combustion.

'Typically' you'd be right, but in the real world you probably wouldn't.

The O2 sensor, as the name suggests, senses O2 and when the sensor reading goes lean (low voltage)mand the computer makes the fuel mixture go rich, so when the sensor is fooled by to much 'oxygenates' (corn squeezin's in this case) it enrichenes the fuel mixture.

SeaFoam (and other quality fuel system cleaners) counteract this, if you follow the instructions by flooding the engine with it, by dissolving these deposits and chemically cleaning the sensors.

Sorry, you would have to explain to me just how Seafoam can "de-oxygenate" the fuel in you vehicle. It doesn't compute. Also, what "deposits" are you referring to? Certainly not "oxygenate" deposits. The oxygenates provide a more complete combustion, so any deposits should be reduced by their use, not increased. Yeah, the ethanol and other oxygenates certainly have their problems. But "over oxygenating the O2 sensor" is not one of them.

Even Seafoam's own website states you should remove the O2 sensor and soak it in Seafoam to clean it. IMO, if I'm going to remove the sensor, I'm replacing it. In many hundreds of thousands of miles I've only replaced one O2 sensor, and I've NEVER used Seafoam or anything like it. I also get EPA MPG or close on all my vehicles, even the daily driver, which I drive HARD.

That being said, if it works for you, go for it!!!

[JaxDad]

jfkmk wrote:

JaxDad wrote:

jfkmk wrote:
Unless your fuel system is gunked up you won't see an increase in mpg from any of these additives.

If you purchase top tier fuels, you'll never have to use an additive. Does anyone really believe that adding a few ounces of snake oil to 20 or so gallons of fuel will miraculously give them a significant increase in gas mileage?

I don't believe your first statement is quite correct there friend. It's actually pretty common to have dirty O2 sensors these days.

If the O2 sensors are dirty they're giving inaccurate readings to the ECM which will then erroneously adjust the mixture into a too rich condition.

It not be out of the ordinary to pick up 10% in fuel mileage once the ECM is getting accurate readings.

Additives like SeaFoam will clean those sensors where the stock additives won't.

The OBD II will typically throw a code and illuminate the CEL if the O2 sensor is reading outside of a normal range, such as if the sensor is dirty.

I'm not sure how Seafoam and others are going to clean a sensor located downstream of combustion.

'Typically' you'd be right, but in the real world you probably wouldn't.

The O2 sensor, as the name suggests, senses O2 and when the sensor reading goes lean (low voltage)mand the computer makes the fuel mixture go rich, so when the sensor is fooled by to much 'oxygenates' (corn squeezin's in this case) it enrichenes the fuel mixture.

SeaFoam (and other quality fuel system cleaners) counteract this, if you follow the instructions by flooding the engine with it, by dissolving these deposits and chemically cleaning the sensors.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

I'd LOVE to let doubters drive my little Spirit after sub-quality gas has been used for a thousand miles or so. A few whip-snapped vertebrae and a crack or two of the front teeth on the steering wheel would get their attention. Let them pour in a container of TECHRON keep driving for a hundred miles and the @#$/\*! engine becomes a little angel again.

Engines are different and a person would be foolish to judge everone else's by their own personalcar and experiences with it. I HATE having to use more expensive PREMIUM gas down here to avoid engine PMS but better that than a neck brace and split lip. The entire ignition system was renewed with OEM quality components and it was a waste of money.

[jfkmk]

JaxDad wrote:

jfkmk wrote:
Unless your fuel system is gunked up you won't see an increase in mpg from any of these additives.

If you purchase top tier fuels, you'll never have to use an additive. Does anyone really believe that adding a few ounces of snake oil to 20 or so gallons of fuel will miraculously give them a significant increase in gas mileage?

I don't believe your first statement is quite correct there friend. It's actually pretty common to have dirty O2 sensors these days.

If the O2 sensors are dirty they're giving inaccurate readings to the ECM which will then erroneously adjust the mixture into a too rich condition.

It not be out of the ordinary to pick up 10% in fuel mileage once the ECM is getting accurate readings.

Additives like SeaFoam will clean those sensors where the stock additives won't.

The OBD II will typically throw a code and illuminate the CEL if the O2 sensor is reading outside of a normal range, such as if the sensor is dirty.

I'm not sure how Seafoam and others are going to clean a sensor located downstream of combustion.

[JaxDad]

jfkmk wrote:
Unless your fuel system is gunked up you won't see an increase in mpg from any of these additives.

If you purchase top tier fuels, you'll never have to use an additive. Does anyone really believe that adding a few ounces of snake oil to 20 or so gallons of fuel will miraculously give them a significant increase in gas mileage?

I don't believe your first statement is quite correct there friend. It's actually pretty common to have dirty O2 sensors these days.

If the O2 sensors are dirty they're giving inaccurate readings to the ECM which will then erroneously adjust the mixture into a too rich condition.

It not be out of the ordinary to pick up 10% in fuel mileage once the ECM is getting accurate readings.

Additives like SeaFoam will clean those sensors where the stock additives won't.

[Denny___Jami]

My solution to removing carbon buildup is to hookup to the trailer and go have fun with it instead of spending money on additives that may or may not work. A good hard long pull will do wonders to a sound motor that just needs a little carbon removed.

Denny

[2oldman]

old guy wrote:
I talked to my DW's cousin and he said he got quite an increase in gas mileage by using it in his SUV driving to AZ this year.

yeah, sure. I believe that.

[wa8yxm]

As others have said, if the engine is gunked, injectors dirty, then there are assorted additives that MIGHT help.. on the other hand some of them may make it worse as well.

Sta-Bil and Seafoam are good for when the rig is not going anyplace soon (like winter storage) and I do use it if I do not plan to buy gas for oh say six months.

Used it last winter for one tank full (Filled up around October, added Sea Foam (2 cans) did not buy gas again till something like March or April (forget which) Did drive the motor home a number of 20 mile trips in that time, Up and down hills (SC Foothill conntry) So the engine got a good workout.

And again when I blew the engine (One can, half a tank) here in GA.. Since I'm now using only about a gallon a month (Generator exercise) till I got the 10 grand saved up (I am at 4 Grand as of this afternoon).

[MEXICOWANDERER]

For disassembled carburetion parts and dissolving of gum which looks like shellac, it is tough to beat LACQUER THINNER.

[KJINTF]

We have two or three of their alcohol fuel testers around here
Nice tools.......

[jplante4]

Oldme wrote:
Interesting reading here:
http://www.fuel-testers.com/review_gas_treatment_products.html

Clickable

[Oldme]

Interesting reading here:
http://www.fuel-testers.com/review_gas_treatment_products.html