FE, "friction modifiers", and additives.

[chesspirate]

I've mentioned BITOG on here a couple times but nobody ever seems to go and read the stuff. Its a forum of a bunch of people who talk about oil. Just like this forum, but more specific.

Anyway, i've used VSOT and liked it in my truck and wifes car (won't be in new car though). Using FP60 and LC20 in my new car though, check out the gas log, i think most of my mileage increases are due to tire pressure and additives (since those are the only two things i've done)

There are guys on there that do UOA's (used oil analysis) on oil and figure out how the oils hold up in different cars for different service periods, all very technical stuff, and they give out info here and there on what oil brands are really like under the microscope.

[ZugyNA]

I recently managed to find 2 bottles of VSOT at a NAPA store...it can be hard to find. Will use at 4 oz per change.

Good to hear of your mpg gains with it!

I'm also going to start using a dino oil with higher levels of moly in it...probably Havoline.

Here are some oils that should have good levels of moly already in them (need to verify?):

Chevron 15W40 moly = 198

** Chevron 5W30 moly = 221

Chevron Delo 400 15W40 moly = 220 or 164

Valvoline All Fleet Plus 15W-40 API CH-4/SJ moly

** Mobil Clean 5000 5w-30 moly = 156

Valvoline Synpower Additive moly = 2324

Texaco Havoline 5W-20 ... moly 400+

Mobil 7500 10W30 moly = 112

** Pennzoil 5W30 moly = 207 or 179

Have 2 old cars with solid engines that are rusting away...while I've been using synth oils in them. I've put 70K on one and 40K on the other...they still don't use anymore oil than when I started. So I'll save on oil costs.

[ZugyNA]

Originally Posted by chesspirate

I've mentioned BITOG on here a couple times but nobody ever seems to go and read the stuff. Its a forum of a bunch of people who talk about oil. Just like this forum, but more specific.

I've been there a few times....good place to study oils/additives. They didn't like my tales of using solid moly and teflon together in an engine though. A lot of people with some prejudices...mostly based on "facts" though.

[chesspirate]

Good to hear of your mpg gains with it!

whoa! read my post, i didn't claim a gain with the VSOT, i claimed a gain with the FP and LC.

I used the VSOT in my Truck and am not sure what to think, old engine, was looking for something good for it.

Using it currently in wifes civic, can't track changes in mileage with her, but i've driven the car with and without the VSOT and like it better with.

I added some LC to her oil without telling her and she proceeded to get excited the next 3 tanks were giving her better mileage (i've at least got her checking her mileage casually)

[DracoFelis]

Originally Posted by chesspirate

whoa! read my post, i didn't claim a gain with the VSOT, i claimed a gain with the FP and LC.

I used the VSOT in my Truck and am not sure what to think, old engine, was looking for something good for it.

Using it currently in wifes civic, can't track changes in mileage with her, but i've driven the car with and without the VSOT and like it better with.

I'm the one that seems to be getting better MPG with VSOT. However, like so many of these things, YMMV (as there are many variables that control how a given engine responds to something you do).

So I have no idea what percentage of other people get better MPG with VSOT. There are some (older) reports on BITOG mentioning better MPG with VSOT, so I'm clearly not the first to notice this effect. However, I don't know how common that FE boost is, nor do I know what factors (condition of the engine, oil used, etc) determine who might get an MPG boost from VSOT, and who won't. And even many of the people that don't seem to get better FE with VSOT, have reported lower wear in their UOA (Used Oil Analysis), and a generally "happier" sounding/running engine.

BTW: I just mentioned VSOT as an example of a "good" additive out there, not as the only one. I still believe that many additives are junk, but (as I said at the start of this thread) we shouldn't assume that all are junk, simply because many are. If you want another example (that I've got on order, but haven't personally tried yet), Auto-RX is also (according to BITOG forums) supposed to be very good for what it does (which in the case of ARX, is to gently clean the junk out of an older engine/transmission/etc, thereby letting the equipment work closer to it's designed/peak effeciency).

NOTE to all:
The BITOG forums ( http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php ) are NOT just about oil. Yes, they are primarily an oil related web site, but they have branched out into several other (mostly car related) topic areas. For example, while I learned about pumping up the PSI on tires from this site, I actually learned a lot more about the physics of what that does to the tire/car (the good, the bad, and the just plain different, aspects of higher tire pressure) from the BITOG "Tires & Wheels" forum (then I did from this forum)! I have also learned a lot about antifreezes/coolants on the BITOG site as well. So, while they may be one of the best oil related sites out there, they are not just about oil.

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by chesspirate

I've mentioned BITOG on here a couple times but nobody ever seems to go and read the stuff. Its a forum of a bunch of people who talk about oil. Just like this forum, but more specific

I've lurked at BITOG a few times... I even learned something.

I mainly went there to learn about cleaning out the engine. Everyone was using seafoam and I went to BITOG and learned about AutoRX.

While I still havn't actually used the stuff (don't drive enough) I do think I will be using it sometime soon to clean out my engine and get it all pretty.

I would love to learn about any oil additives that help with gas mileage. Now that my gas mileage car is running again I want to get as many "small" things done as possible to make give me a big boost.

[jamescartagena]

What are FP60 and LC20 and who makes them?

[chesspirate]

Originally Posted by jamescartagena

What are FP60 and LC20 and who makes them?

http://www.lubecontrol.com/index.htm

discussed heavily on BITOG, small company, you must order online.. LC20 is an oil additive for the crankcase, supposed to add lubricity and help keep things clean. FP60 is a fuel additive that is supposed to keep things lubed and clean as well.

I've been using them on my new Yaris and my wifes Civic and have noted some mileage improvement and smoother running engine. I used to just use Marvel Myster Oil as a fuel additive in the civic and my truck, the smoothness part was cool, but not really any mileage changes (unless i overdosed, then the mileage went down).

Check out the additives section on BITOG, loads of info.

I've also used Auto-RX, and since i haven't done any UOA's with it i won't ever really know for sure, but with so many people reporting great results (or at least nothing negative) i felt confident i wouldn't at least hurt anything.

[ZugyNA]

Just put 4 oz Valv Synpower additive in both cars.

Might be a good idea to TRY to mix or shake this stuff up some before using 4 oz....I noticed some darker stuff (moly) settled in the bottom of the bottle.

If you used the full bottle...wouldn't need to?