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Do Fuel and Oil Additives Really Work?

by Oilem Published on Thursday, May 30th, 2013

Firstly, we really need to understand what is meant by “work” as there are conflicting ideas and interpretations. Some would consider “work” as improve performance or increase mpg, whereas others would consider “work” as clean the fuel system, restore fuel injector efficiency or reduce friction. Others would consider a product to have “worked” if it resolved an underlying problem, such as resolves engine hesitation, restored lost performance or reduced excessive emissions.

So which is correct? Firstly you need to understand how additives work and what they really do:

Fuel additives directly deliver one or more of the following:
1. Clean the fuel system and restore injector efficiency
2. Remove combustion deposits
3. Help clean emissions control system components
4. Lubricate the fuel system and combustion area
5. Protect against chemical or biological contamination
6. Preserve fuel and offer cold weather protection
7. Improve the quality of combustion (catalyst)
8. And so on.

The above direct actions then, may or may not result in:
1. Increase in power and torque
2. Increase in fuel economy
3. Smoother running engine
4. Smoother idle
5. Reduced exhaust emissions
6. Less mechanical vibration or noise
7. And so on.

Can you see the difference? The point I am making here is that an increase in performance or mpg are normally the resultant benefits of cleaning a fuel system, engine or reducing friction. They should not always be considered as the direct aims of fuel or oil additives. The usual goal of additives is to rid the fuel system and combustion area of deposits and thus from these actions, restore any lost performance or MPG. Further combustion modification (catalysts) can then improve MPG further.

We often see the expectations with additives mismanaged. If a vehicle was achieving an expected and realistic 50 mpg, one would then be disappointed to discover when they purchased and used a fuel cleaner that the MPG didn’t improve, if they had actually purchased the cleaner with the purpose of improving MPG. There has to be a degradation of fuel economy in the first place. To improve MPG up and above what the engine is designed to deliver on standard pump fuel you need to use additives that are actually designed to improve combustion and thus maximise the energy output of the base fuel, not a cleaner.

Therefore, to remove any confusion, most fuel additive cleaners do not directly increase economy or performance. The poor cleaners actually do very little whereas the high quality chemistries remove debilitating deposits and thus restore fuel system and combustion efficiency. This may or may not then result in an increase in fuel economy or engine performance. It really depends on what you started out with. Highly quality additives with effective fuel catalyst technology can then marginally increase MPG over standard figures, depending on the quality of base fuel being used.

Symptoms can also be mechanically related. A user may inadvertently use a cleaner or additive to resolve what is in fact a mechanical or electrical issue. This is not necessarily a bad thing as additives can be used as a low-cost process of elimination. However, when using additives to resolve problems it is important to understand the symptoms and thus the probability of these symptoms being resolved through “chemical” means. Additives are not mechanics in a can.

Furthermore, a successful cleaning cycle does not automatically result in a smoother, more performant or more economical engine. Different engine designs respond to deposits in different ways.

Many cleaners (not all) work by restoring performance and MPG. Time and time again we see customers purchasing one-shot cleaners to improve MPG on an engine that is running well and achieving the expected MPG with the hope that it would magically improve fuel economy. Now, if you purchased the cleaner to maintain a clean system then this is valid but we see the expectations of many customers mismanaged when it comes to what they were expecting, versus what they should reasonably expect, versus what products really do and how this translates into discernible improvements to their vehicle.

The best advice we can give is for you to understand your own requirements and goals with respect to fuel, fuel additives and lubricants. Don’t purchase additives on a whim or hope that they may fortuitously effect some change as this is a sure fire way to disappointment. Work out what you are trying to achieve: rectify a running issue, protect the fuel system or engine, maintain a clean running system to prevent future problems, reduce wear, increase power, improve fuel economy, improve the quality of fuel or many of these combined etc. Then complete your own research and/or consult with a professional to match the correct products for you needs with an understanding on what the products actually do and how this translates into measurable results for you.

To summarise, there are legitimate circumstances when additives offer genuine benefits (when chosen correctly and matched to actual requirements,) and other times when they become a waste of money. They become a waste of money when users misunderstand what it is they are actually buying versus what they are trying to achieve.

In the follow up article we are going to break this down further by revealing why results can be so inconsistent when using additives so that you can make an informed decision as to whether your vehicle will benefit or not from their use. We will also reveal some of the pitfalls, the concept of Negative versus Positive Gain and testing protocols so that you, a consumer, mechanic or fleet operator etc., can accurately measure your MPG improvements.

If you require any expert advice or help then please don’t hesitate to contact us and either I or a member of my team will be pleased to help.

13 thoughts on “Do Fuel and Oil Additives Really Work?”

Thomas McHale says:

October 4, 2017 at 8:45 pm

I am thinking about buying a 2011 seat Iberia 1600 diesel the problem is that i only use it for work and back 6mile round trip the Car has done 48000 miles will I need to use a additive and how often?

Reply
1. Oilem says:
  
  October 5, 2017 at 9:40 am
  
  Continual use of a detergent or combustion modifier based product such as Hybrogen Road or AR6900-D MAX.
  
  Reply
John Roseby says:

October 1, 2016 at 4:07 pm

Hi,
As a classic car owner I have been researching which fuels (petrol) contain ethanol, I now realise after a painstaking search that there isn’t any, even Vpower and BP Ultimate have 5%!! what a mess !
Have been looking at additives such as enzyme treatment ie Star Tron, then I saw your site and tech info. any advice would be helpful.
Thanks

Reply
1. Oilem says:
  
  October 3, 2016 at 11:08 am
  
  Hi, the Star tron or AR6200 will resolve any issues with ethanol.
  
  Reply
Malcolm Garth says:

August 11, 2016 at 9:45 pm

Hi I hope someone can help me I have a Vauxhall zafira 1.7cdti Sri and I have a problem with rough idling it only happens every so often and it does my head in I have tried other fuel additives and I have taken it to Vauxhalls and they can’t find anything wrong with it I get my car serviced 2 times a year I have had the car for nearly 4 years now I want to try one of the other additives can you give me some advice which one would work thank you mr Garth

Reply
1. Oilem says:
  
  August 18, 2016 at 9:19 am
  
  It is possible that there maybe another underlying problem that a fuel additive simply cannot fix.
  
  Reply
DAVID Curran says:

May 30, 2016 at 11:55 pm

I have been running a classic car (English ford escort 1600cc twin side draft carbs) on 97/98 octane which it runs really well on however I have recently relocated to another country where 95 octane is the highest. I completely understand the notion that you need to know what your expected result should be. In my case it’s all about performance that is to avoid detonation/pinking (knock).. But with reasonable engine protection.. What should I be considering… Thanks

Reply
1. Oilem says:
  
  May 31, 2016 at 9:36 am
  
  If it is official BS 228 petrol then there is a good chance it is closer to 96 RON. An octane booster is an option but you will need to use one of the higher strength products and at full dosage to achieve a 2-3 RON increase. Also, if using continually then the oil will need changing more regularly and the spark plugs cleaned or replaced every 2-3k miles.
  
  The other option is to have the engine retuned to set the ignition timing back a little to compensate for the lower RON/MON.
  
  Reply
D kirby says:

January 24, 2016 at 8:32 pm

I have a 1.5 Renault scenic diesel 120000 miles runs ok .would any of your products improve mpg

Reply
1. Oilem says:
  
  January 25, 2016 at 10:00 am
  
  Hi, I would try AR9100 in with the oil and test both AR6200 and AR6800 to see which gives the you the best results. UPDATE: I would recommend the new AR6900-D Max.
  
  Reply
Mark says:

August 31, 2015 at 12:36 pm

i dont know if they work yet or not, just ordered this product, plan to use it in the oil (currently i am using 5W20 synthetic w/ 1pt Lucas), differential (front and rear), transfercase, and power steering, ~ i feel alittle insecure about putting it in the transmission. i work as a traveling home healthcare worker in a rural community, I drive 80-120+ miles/day in Mid-Ohio area, so i have a 4×4 (because of Snow), ’99 Jimmy with 270xxx miles, i write my mileage down at every fillup and it varies mpg 18.5 – 22 (average over time would be like 20-21) hoping this helps ALOT, as the companies i work for have stopped paying mileage …

Reply
Sue Black says:

September 1, 2014 at 11:55 am

Hi I wonder if you can recommend which product may help with my Renault Grand Scenic 2litre Diesel. The Engine Hazard Warning re Anti Pollution system light came on and I took it to a garage who charged me £50 for removing the warning and mentioning something to do with Turbo system and clogging? Advised me to go on a long run as local driving may have caused a build up. I had at that time recently driven to London and back! It has since come on again returning from a 100 mile trip to Wales and back. I have been googling and saw your site and wondered if your product may be the answer to my problem?? Your advice would be appreciated Kind regards Sue 07973187292

Reply
1. Andy Archer says:
  
  September 2, 2014 at 8:15 am
  
  Hi Sue,
  
  It is difficult to establish the cause base on the information provided. Did they advise of the error code the warning light produced?
  
  Either way I would first try AR6400-D in a full tank of fuel as a process of elimination.
  
  Regards
  
  Reply