Lucas fuel additive - Every fill up - problems?

Booney1golf · 06-12-2008, 06:46 AM

Good morning everyone. My car seems to run much better and is quieter (top end) / smoother when I use Lucas gas additive / 4 - 6 ounces with every fill up.

Can some of you experts let me know if I am doing any damage to my engine in the short term or in the long run.

I love the added performance and better running engine but not if I am ruining my engine.

My car has 89k miles and had a top end rebuild about 8k miles ago.

Thanks,

Booney1 golf

87 911 Turbo-look Cabriolet
85 911 Targa (Sold but still remembered)
73 911 Targa (Sold but still remembered)
83 944 - This is what started the madness.

Sunroof · 06-12-2008, 08:26 AM

Your talking the injector cleaner - gas additive (small bottle)?

I have been a die-hard Chevron Techron fan for decades (since Porsche recommended it) and I still believe to this day that it was partly responsible for getting 345,000 miles out of my 1985.5 944 with no engine work before I sold it. I think Techron may be harsher on the cleaning end whereas, the Lucas adds liubricating properties to the top end.

Over the last year I have been using Lucas additive(s) both in my son's Jeep transmission and in my 1973.5T 911 (fuel additive). I do not use it every fill up, but maybe once a month or so. I have not noticed any instantaneous change, but anything that will keep injectors clean, lubricate the top end and help wash out the cylinders is okay with me. The engines runs smooth through the rpm range.

You can get thrifty here and save a few $$$$ if you intend on using it all the time.
Rather then buying that small 6-8 ounce bottle every time, get the larger bottle, save a small bottle and refill to the the line everytime you use it. You'll get more for your $$$$$.

The use of additives is no less controversial then which cigar smokes better! I am sure their are as many opposed to the use of additives and see the stuff as some kind of voodoo juice successfully marketed as are those who embrace it like a bowl of Wheaties every morning!

Let the games begin.

Bob
1973.5T Sepia of course

cashflyer · 06-12-2008, 08:44 AM

How much fuel does an SC hold? 18 gallons?
With 4 ounces of additive, that would be 2300 ounces fuel to 4 ounces additive, or 17.39 ppm.

Out of that 17.39ppm, how much is carrier and how much is active ingredient?

Personally, I think it's a placebo.

willf · 06-12-2008, 09:24 AM

21 gallons IIRC

PatrickB · PatrickB's Garage

Try Marvel Mystery Oil instead. Cheaper, and works much better!

Sunroof · 06-12-2008, 10:46 AM

I was fortunate back in my RCRA Hazardous Waste Generator Compliance inspection days to conduct an inspection of a major company who formulates additives/cleaners. No brand name given here, but lets say a major facility. I was invited into the lab and met with several chemists and asked a lot of questions because I too was not much of a believer. It was a very impressive facility. They constantly ran QA/QC batch tests and had a cleaning unit that was used to check on cleaning quality. I saw the before and after affects with no smoke and mirror act!

Hey, I was convinced the stuff worked!! This is simply petroleum distillates that is formulated to combust at very high auto-ignition temps, thereby allowing for seepage through the rings after it flushes the cylinder walls and valves. You can smell it on the dip stick! Concentration in PPM? Thats their corporate secret. How much of a 20 ounce bottle mixed into a 12 gallon gas tank is actually cleaner? I have no idea, but the ratio's are designed to minimize deterioration of seals, yet strong enough to attack carbonized parts. So abuse of the stuff is feasible.

I for one am a believer and I will toss in Marvel Mystery Oil into my inventory of magical elixirs.

And for the record, I am not an actor posing as a saleman for this stuff.

Bob

Booney1golf · 06-12-2008, 01:58 PM

Thanks to all of you for your time. I called Lucas today and inquired about using their product with every fill-up and they claim that the Gas today does not have the lubrication qualities that it did in the past and that is the reason their product makes your engine run smoother / more quiet.

Also he stated that their fuel additive is not a solvent and will not hurt and rubber or plastic within the fuel system / engine but will actually lubricate these parts and it will actually help you to burn all of your gas hence making your car more fuel efficient.

I have read the claims about better gas mileage but I don't check my gas mileage. If I wanted to get good gas mileage I would not have bought a Porsche 911.

But when I start the car in the mornings and it does not take one or two minutes to smooth out and also the car seems like I just had a tune up and the car was already running well, ie; top end rebuild 8,000 miles ago, recent tune up and valve adjustment yet it now performs even better.

Thanks again to all of you in this great Porsche Community and thanks to our Host for giving me this opportunity to share ideas and to be able to help each other in our pursuit in driving our Dream cars!!!

Best regards,
Booney1 golf

87 911 Turbo-look Cabriolet
85 911 Targa (Sold but still remembered)
73 911 Targa (Sold but still remembered)
83 944 - This is what started the madness.

Sunroof · 06-13-2008, 09:53 AM

Booney

You could do just as well with Marvel Mystery Oil as a top end lubricant and cleaner. Stuff has been around since the early depression! Looks like strawberry syrup and thee are those who use it in aircraft and motorcylce engines!

Chevron Techron is the strongest cleaner and has many followers here. Although you use the Lucas cleaner, using a longneck bottle (black) of Chevron Techron before an oil change is not a bad thing. The recipe is to let your gas get down to 1/4 and add a bottle to the tank. Fill up with gas only to the half way mark and just drive. Its critical that you get the oil drained within 500 miles. You will notice it thins out the oil and has a distinct distillate odor, but it does clean and will keep the injectors in great condition.

Bob