Is anyone using fuel additive? I recently had someone present a fairly compelling case to use a fuel solvent and lubricant to treat the alleged poor quality gas we are receiving at the pumps. Anyone have any Pros or Cons they would like to share?

I bought my CTS Sept 13th and started treating my gas regularly since around Christmas.

Stay away from any additives! I have never used any and did not have any problems.

The only additive I would use is Techron by Chevron....

Fuel additives go along with throttle body spacers & fuel line magnets. Waste of money. Your car is designed for regular gas and additives wont help. Use top tier fuel as GM recommends and your OK. In your owners manual it says not to use additives,
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so should we be using 89 or 91??

Stay away from any additives! I have never used any and did not have any problems.



The only additive I would use is Techron by Chevron....

hmm... anyone have used and had positive experience?

I use Techron one or two tanks before an oil change on older cars where carbon may have deposited on heads... I was told the techron breaks loose all of that carbon and drastically soils the oil. So, I techron and then change oil quickly after.

This Additive I am using now is mostly a lubricant to keep fuel pump, injectors, valve guides, etc... clean and smooth running...

Still not a good idea?

Fuel additives go along with throttle body spacers & fuel line magnets. Waste of money. Your car is designed for regular gas and additives wont help. Use top tier fuel as GM recommends and your OK. In your owners manual it says not to use additives,
.

Don't know much about throttle body spacers and fuel line magnets... I could though envision a scenario where we are getting cheap gas at the pumps and maybe a little fuel system lubricant could improve delivery and possibly result in a quieter and smoother idle, and smoother acceleration with reduced off idle hesitation. Still not buying it?? I really am trying to convince myself, too!:rolleyes:

I was advised by a regional service manager to NEVER use any additive in the fuel system.
He was called in after the dealer couldn't find the problem, and was highly pissed when he found out I had used an additive. Almost cost me a warranty claim.

Don't know much about throttle body spacers and fuel line magnets... I could though envision a scenario where we are getting cheap gas at the pumps and maybe a little fuel system lubricant could improve delivery and possibly result in a quieter and smoother idle, and smoother acceleration with reduced off idle hesitation. Still not buying it?? I really am trying to convince myself, too!:rolleyes:

The only way you will get poor gas quality is to buy second or third tier gas. As for octane requirements, Look in your owners manual.

This issue was discussed extensively on many boards. Unfortunately companies are trying to make money on unsuspecting public and are marketing all sort of fuel additives, cleaners, conditioners etc. They do not do much good to your car. Quite opposite.
I would put them in the same category as fuel line cleaners, throttle body cleaners etc. I do not believe that car fuel system needs to be cleaned every 5k miles or so.

As I said before I almost always use top tier gasoline, octane ratings – as per manufacturer specifications, and never, ever had any problems. My last car ran better at 94k miles than when it was new! And I never used any cleaners!

You should only use a top tier fuel. You can find out here
www.toptiergas.com who sells it in your area.

Here is some info on carbon deposits http://www.shell.com/home/content/us-en/shell_for_motorists/passionate_experts/engine_gunk/pe_gunk.html.

Also for those who use Shell gasoline make sure you have their Master Card, it pays back 5% on gasoline. Thats over 15 cents a gallon off.

Don't know how it is in other states, but here in Arizona, Shell started charging 6 cents more a gallon if you use a credit card. This started about 5 months ago, and I have stopped purchasing their fuel. To my knowledge, no other fuel distributor in my area is charging for this. Fuel quality is a debatable issue. Certain standards have to be met by all distributors, including the addition of additives.

Don't know how it is in other states, but here in Arizona, Shell started charging 6 cents more a gallon if you use a credit card. This started about 5 months ago, and I have stopped purchasing their fuel. To my knowledge, no other fuel distributor in my area is charging for this. Fuel quality is a debatable issue. Certain standards have to be met by all distributors, including the addition of additives.

Exxon used to do that here in Texas in the '80s. They did it for a couple of years, I think Texas passed a law that basically said a merchant cannot charge more for someone making a credit card purchase than someone making a cash/check purchase.

A few oil companies here in NJ have started the cash and credit pricing, but I have not seen any Shell stations doing it. So if you pay 6 cents more but still pay 10 cents less that still a good deal. As far a quality standards the government only sets a minimum standard that all gasoline must meet.

Just stay with the TOP TIER gasoline, as directed in your owners manual and you will not need any other additives.

I was advised by a regional service manager to NEVER use any additive in the fuel system.
He was called in after the dealer couldn't find the problem, and was highly pissed when he found out I had used an additive. Almost cost me a warranty claim.

Thanks for the feedback. What additive were you using, and what problems did you have, please?

Just stay with the TOP TIER gasoline, as directed in your owners manual and you will not need any other additives.

My sentiments exactly. A LITTLE knowledge Is dangerous. Use TOP TIER gasoline as instructed.

Been using Top Tier for the last 3-4 years.

Thanks for the feedback. What additive were you using, and what problems did you have, please?


The car was an '02 Olds Aurora V-8, purchased new. Upon delivery my wife was sitting in the car with the salesman as he was going over the various nuances of the car. I walked around to the back of the Aurora and noticed it sputtering, and the tail pipes were very sooty.
I thought maybe the spark plugs were fouled due to not being driven except for moving it around on the lot. We drove it for several months and it never did clear up, and black smoke poured from the tail pipes upon moderate acceleration. The car wasn't throwing any codes, dealer couldn't find anything wrong, and I got the usual "they all do it" bs.
Finally a regional guy was called in, and a grumpy bastard he was from the onset. He agreed to replace all the injectors, and I then informed him I doubted it would help since I had used injector cleaner for the last three or four tankfuls of gas.
This is when he went ballistic. He said ALL gasoline has an adequate amount of cleaner and any extra would damage the injectors. Why, I have no clue.
I'm sorry, I cannot remember the brand name of the additive.
The guy may have been full of "chit", but that's what he stated and I had to play his game. BTW, replacing the injectors helped marginally, but never fully corrected the issue. Traded 2yrs. later and was glad to see it go!!

Maxie,

Thanks for the great explanation. It sounds like this car might have had problems before you owned it.
I have done a lot of research on this and I know this topic is hotly contested, so I have refrained from posting this for some time, but I really feel I must share this with you all.
Here's what I'm doing guys. I take a 6oz mixture and add it to each tank after it gets less than 1/4 full. I mix 3oz of Lucas Upper Cylinder Lubricant and 3 oz of Marvel Mystery Oil. The Lucas product is basically oil and solvent, and the Marvel Mystery oil is basically a penetrating oil that bonds with the Lucas and allows it to flow better through the fuel system. Keep in mind, this is 6oz added to 17gallons or so.
I am telling the absolute truth. I noticed markedly smoother idling, crisper throttle response, a quieter engine at idle and under acceleration, and improved fuel economy.
Listen to the racket that these aluminum motors make, add this concoction, and tell me you don't notice a difference. My engine loves this treatment. I add it to every tank. Try it and see, and let me know what you find.
Thanks guys...
Cutter125

That top tier website doesnt seem to make much sense. So Exxon, BP and Marathon are somehow substandard when compared to "Turkey Hill mini markets" lol.

Maxie,

Thanks for the great explanation. It sounds like this car might have had problems before you owned it.
I have done a lot of research on this and I know this topic is hotly contested, so I have refrained from posting this for some time, but I really feel I must share this with you all.
Here's what I'm doing guys. I take a 6oz mixture and add it to each tank after it gets less than 1/4 full. I mix 3oz of Lucas Upper Cylinder Lubricant and 3 oz of Marvel Mystery Oil. The Lucas product is basically oil and solvent, and the Marvel Mystery oil is basically a penetrating oil that bonds with the Lucas and allows it to flow better through the fuel system. Keep in mind, this is 6oz added to 17gallons or so.
I am telling the absolute truth. I noticed markedly smoother idling, crisper throttle response, a quieter engine at idle and under acceleration, and improved fuel economy.
Listen to the racket that these aluminum motors make, add this concoction, and tell me you don't notice a difference. My engine loves this treatment. I add it to every tank. Try it and see, and let me know what you find.
Thanks guys...
Cutter125

Cutter,

You're welcome, and yes, the car had issues when brand new. I really was disappointed as I had owned many Oldsmobiles and they were great cars. My '97 Aurora was trouble free.

Aaaah, good old Marvel Mystery Oil!! Although I don't remember using the Lucas product, I have used MMO over the years and may have used it in the "02 Aurora as well.

I have an '89 Chev. Silverado that I purchased new and has only 51k on it. Every 6 mos. or so I will add a full can of MMO to about 22 gals. It does exactly as you described, but without the Lucas product added. Yes, you can really tell a difference in performance of the engine.