fuel, trans, and oil additives?

[themadness]

are they worth bothering with? things like friction modifiers, gum out, techron, etc?

[Asylum]

NO!!!!

[KFLO 93 GT]

No is correct, to elaborate further:

Use a good quality oil, and a good filter (not Fram) and change them both @ 3k.

For the trans - change the fluid and filter, but do not flush it. Refill with Dex/Merc 3 spec fluid, and keep an eye on the fluid level, color and smell.

For fuel - There are a lot of myths on gasoline about higher octane equaling more power, or better mileage - and unless the engine in the car requires it - they are just myths. Buy from reputable stations, and try to avoid gas stations with busted up parking lots. Parking lots usually cover fuel storage tanks, and if the lot is busted up the chances increase that run-off water can leak into these fuel storage tanks. With that run-off water comes all of the crap it's carrying with it.

An injector cleaner every now and then won't hurt anything, but really isn't needed either as long as one uses good quality fuel and replaces the fuel filter regularly.

[indyyellow]

good info, thanks.

[Chad91GTZ]

Unless youre talking something like seafoam, then no i agree with Eric and Kurt completly.

[2.2H8TA]

Whats the problem with Fram filters?

[indyyellow]

I ask the same on the Frame filter thing. I have used them more or less on all my oil changes on all my cars (MANY) over the last 20 years. Many of said cars I put many miles on them with no issues that I would tie to any oil/filter problem in the car. Many of my cars I have ran Mobil One in them, maybe that offset a bad filter?????

[Chad91GTZ]

Some regular Fram filters have a cardboard drainback valve and fewer pleats than other brand filters.

Its doubtful youll ever notice the difference with normal driving. I run the K&N HP 2001 filter on my Quads. Its twice the size, kicks the capacity to 5 quarts.

[DTMAce]

I use whatever brand of full synthetic and filter combo is on sale at Advance Auto these days.

One time that was Royal Purple and an K&N filter. Right now it has... er... Crap, I dont remember what I put in it last. LOL

But I always use 10w30 for summer, 5w30 for winter. Simple.

Always full synthetic, and I never use high mileage oil, thats just a gimmick. 232k on the Z, 100K on the old ass caravan (yes, I even used syn on that old POS), and 35k and going on the current van. The whole family swears by the stuff. We haven't had engine failures due to oil or oil filters. But they don't like hitting the oil pan on rocks. lol My brother has done this twice. I did it once, but didn't hurt my engine.

[indyyellow]

Well my Indy has 117k, most say across all car forums as this one that you should NOT put fully synthetic in a car with high miles that has only had dino in it.

[DTMAce]

They say that. I have not had any issues with it. I know the old caravan had dino before I forced it over to Syn. No issues.

Same with the new caravan. It does not even use very much oil, maybe a 1/2 quart between changes, and that's normal. The old one went through a quart every 2k, but that was both burned and seeped, but it rarely ever left spots.

My Z's oil stays golden colored, even after 3k miles. I usually change it every 4, just because at every 3 its still fairly clean. But its had Syn all its life, with the exception of the first 36k. (Due to that time GM did not warrant the use of Syn yet)

[Barry]

I use supertech walmart baby. Nothing like spending money on good oil and then cheaping out on the filter!

[Chad91GTZ]

Well i change my oil at the same time i service my air filter. 10k. I use full synthetic, and the only reason i dont reuse it for another 10k is that most of the oil comes out when youbchange the filter.

Science says full syn oil in an efficient running engine shoukd be good for 25000 miles before the detergents break down or are used up. So i spend 50 dollars every 10k.

[KFLO 93 GT]

Fram used to be a good brand, like 15-20 years ago. Then they got cheap.

Cut open an AcDelco PF-47 and cut open a Fram PH-3387A. They are supposed to be the "same" filter, as per vehicle fitment, etc.

You'll see why you should spend the extra 50 cents.

My favorite filter brands - Wix, AcDelco, Mobil 1, K&N. Every car I've used a Mobil 1 oil filter on has experienced higher oil pressure than with any other brand of filter, so that may be worth something, food for thought at least.