OK, I’ve noticed some talk about engine additives and this subject does tend to crop its little head up now and then. Therefore, I am going to share my experiences with you.

 

Firstly, Slick 50. I don’t want to say much about this but last time I heard they were being sued for a number of engine failures and/or false claims about their product? This could be wrong. Does anyone have any further information on this?

 

Secondly, After a great deal of research on engine additives I have found a US based company who specialise in additive/cleaning and servicing products to the automotive industry – BG Products. I have in fact tried and tested some of their products with great results.

 

BG44K – This removes all deposits including carbon deposits from the fuel system, pistons, combustion chambers, etc. Does it work? Put it this way, before I stuck a can of it in my tank I pulled out my spark plugs and shone a torch down the hole to confirm that the top of the pistons were caked in carbon. After a tank full of gas with this stuff I pulled the plugs again and rechecked. I could see the pistons again, silver and very clean! The engine was noticeably smoother, quieter and picked up cleaner. I’m almost sure I have better MPG too.

 

Also, from what I have read there is only one other product on the market that comes close to BG44K and that’s Chevron’s techron. The interesting fact is that Chevron purchase the active ingredient from BG and dilute it down to 4%! BG “own” the rights to the active ingredient used in BG44K and that it is almost 100% active ingredient that you get in a tin of BG44K hence why its so effective

 

The M3 guys also conducted an independent review of this product and the effects of the prolonged use of Optimax fuel. Check the results http://www.m3supercar.com/enginecare.html

 

BG’s Oil flush – I tried that too. Even though my oil was still half-clean I used this stuff as instructed and the oil came out jet black. It must have done something.

 

MOA – Oil additives. Yep, oil additives – this is where most of the controversy lies. Andy Cotton from Powerflow UK (UK BG distributors) readily tours the country promoting BG products. They have a particular test to demonstrate the power of MOA. It goes something like this. Imagine a device with a large bearing being rotated mechanically and a huge steel lever pulling down onto the bearing. The aim is to halt the rotation of the bearing by forcing down on it with the lever.

 

Without any oil and with some force the lever does stop the bearing from rotating ……screeeeeeeech… and a nice score mark as a souvenir. Using synthetic engine oil (he has used Mobil 1, Magnetec and Shell Helix) it takes some force, but the bearing does eventually stop rotating, still leaving some damage to the bearing. Then they try the same synthetic engine oil with MOA added. No matter how hard he tries he is unable to stop the bearing from rotating and there are no signs of damage to the bearing. Period. More importantly, even when removing the oil from the bearing that has been “treated” with MOA-added oil, he is still unable to stop the rotation of the bearing. This is where MOA plays such an important role in cold start protection. Andy Cotton recently did this demonstration in front of a Green Flag audience using Shell Helix FS. The audience is asked to come up with what they think is the best oil available!

 

The big Q: Why aren’t engine oil manufacturers using this kind of technology then?

 

Answer: Because it’s too bloody expensive and they are primarily interested in profit. Besides, their oil already far exceeds the various standards and quality requirements so why would they want to improve it. Its already very good, just not exceptional like it can be. Also, companies that produce engine additives own the patent to their formulas. Therefore, companies like Mobil, Shell etc have to improve on what they already have or come up with a new formula – very very expensive to do. Powerflow can easily demonstrate that adding MOA will improve the quality of any engine oil on the market today.

 

So why aren’t garages using these types of products?

 

Answer: They are! More so in the US but BG is not as well known in the UK yet.

 

BG website: http://www.bgprod.com

 

If you want further info then Contact Andy Cotton at Powerflow on 07711 824993 and mention that Any Archer passed you on. You can also order directly from him.

 

USUAL: (before I get slammed). I am not affiliated to BG or Powerflow in any way. What you do to your car is up to you and at your own risk. What I have told you is from my observations only.

 

Cheers,

 

Andy

well,this reminds me of a thread on here months ago in the same veign,to which i left a lenghthy reply,oil additives are not the answer in my oppinion,its engine additives that are,take for example the best there is ,in the eyes of the M.O.D,(it goes in every engine possible from tanks to trucks,tested to destruction by them,they use no other)Japanese Enginering companys,the yanks put it in there fighter jets even,and its the only engine additive to pass the Timken Bearing Test in the USA,COSTS £20 A BOTTLE AND ITS BRITISH.and the name ZX1,all the info at,

http://www.team-zx1.co.uk/ at least its something to read!;)

So back to the real world. I accept the fact that the motor industry may have little incentive to use the stuff (although I'm sure they'd rather sell a car as a disposable unit that never needs servicing, so they don't have to stock spare parts etc), but if there is one place where reliability in extreme conditions is critical and where financial contraints are almost non-existent, then it's the world of racing. So do any F1 teams use it ?

Many race teams do use zx1,but becouse of contractual aliances with bigger bucks to wast than zx1 makers, its effectivly banned for any one F1 team unless they all use it,and that will never happen,thats why zx1 is more industrial related,its never advertised like TPFE,s Wynns ,STP etc,they have the industrial market sown up,they dont need the public sector to make there money.

Sorry, I was actually referring to the original BG stuff we were discussing not the zx1. Just read some of the zx1 website - quite interesting.

ah,still it gives me keyboard practise,and i am crap at it to say the least mate:D :p

Yep, thats a good site Tony, very useful info.

 

As far as I know BG develop and manufacture only for the general automotive industry.

 

The big giants like Shell, Mobil and Castrol sponsor and provide oil to the F1 teams but i'm sure its not the oil we buy off the shelf LOL. Again the oil companies probably spend insane money perfecting a blend for an F1 application. I wouldn't be surprised if the formula is kept secret too.

scrub that

Originally posted by Anders UK

Alright Gio, calm down....

Sorry, but thats just my £0.02

 

PS. No offence is intended

 

Sorry mate - calming down.... You're quite right.

 

(oh - and nothing you said could have given any offence to anyone. ;) )

 

The QEB quotient I meant to apply to the external sites. I did read it - and also the ZX-1 site and also did a bit of googling.

 

It has been a couple of decades since I was a physicist. Much of the intervening time has been spent in marketing for automotive and consumer electronics so I get over sensitive about what I perceive as some monkey in a suit trying to bullsh*t customers. It's both easy and immoral.

 

The BG and ZX1 sites set my alarm bells ringing for just these reasons. That's why I look for RAC or SAE or other independent organisation to confirm. Same reason I automatically distrust anything which starts with "everyone knows..." or "my dad's mate's brother..." or - well you get the picture.

 

Still, as everyone knows, the 300ZX is the world's best car ;)

 

Cheers and sorry for any offence. Fancy a pint? - Gio

I agree with you wholeheartedly about the "monkey in a suit".

I have been stung a number of times especially with fuel injector cleaners (Wynns, STP blah blah) and found they never worked, no difference at all. Well, there goes another 2 pints down the drain.

 

I just started of using the BG44K formula to clean out the fuel system and remove the carbon deposits, but this time it actually worked and did exactly what it says on the tin. I found that quite refreshing. It made a very noticable difference and I checked the piston crowns to make sure - yup, no more carbon. I gained some trust in the company and it went from there just like any company you would deal with.

 

Pint - yes indeedy...only quality lager though I hope? LOL

Originally posted by AndyP

but if there is one place where reliability in extreme conditions is critical and where financial contraints are almost non-existent, then it's the world of racing. So do any F1 teams use it ?

 

I doubt it. I know the Ferrari team use specially blended Shell oils to maximise power. They are blended differently for different races and are chnged after each race, so would not be good for any road cars, as their oils need to last for a reasonable time, so they have antioxidants etc. The used race oils are returned here to where I work and we analyse them for various properties like concentrations of wear metals.

 

I have blended some of these oils up, and they contain many additives and oils, but nothing that could not find its way into another oil for road cars. The main difference is the different levels of different additives, and the type of base oils.

Do they use any of this stuff in piston engined aircraft? I would have thought that efficiency and reliability would have been paramount for those engines. You really wouldn't want it to seize at 20,000ft, or even worse 100ft!:eek:

 

What do NASA have to say on the subject?

Originally posted by Anders UK

 

 

Also, companies that produce engine additives own the patent to their formulas. Therefore, companies like Mobil, Shell etc have to improve on what they already have or come up with a new formula – very very expensive to do.

 

Shell use additives in their oil from several different 'independent' additive companies. So it's not true what you said above about oil companies only using their own additives.

 

Also, aren't those additives designed simply to clean out a dirty engine ? Are they proposing you use them all the time, at each oil change. There is no evidence there of long-term use is there ?

 

I'm deliberately trying to find flaws in your arguments purely to shed light on this debate.

Originally posted by x-biker

You really wouldn't want it to seize at 20,000ft, or even worse 100ft!

 

Haven't got the energy to contribute on-topic.

 

But, re the point made by x-b, you'd be better off with an engine seizure at 20,000 ft than 100 ft. If something goes wrong in aviation, you want it to happen high so you have more time / distance / landing options.

 

Flying isn't dangerous. It's landing you want to avoid.

Originally posted by Hairsy

Flying isn't dangerous. It's landing you want to avoid.

 

 

Correct - it's not speed that kills, it's STOPPING that causes problems !;)

Originally posted by Nelson MainFella

Shell use additives in their oil from several different 'independent' additive companies. So it's not true what you said above about oil companies only using their own additives.

 

Also, aren't those additives designed simply to clean out a dirty engine ? Are they proposing you use them all the time, at each oil change. There is no evidence there of long-term use is there ?

 

I'm deliberately trying to find flaws in your arguments purely to shed light on this debate.

 

 

Your missing the point. I am no longer interested in backing up their claims. I have used enough of their products with success, spoken to enough of their representatives with success and read enough positive reports and tests to satisfy my requirements. As a result I have made up my own mind. I do not go to every dentist and ask them to prove they are qualified or ask every mechanic to prove his experience or prove the science behind every piece of work he does on my car unless I don't trust him. When the trust has been built up I no longer need to ask those type of questions.

 

Going into the science on what is the most recognised oil testing body, results of such tests and so on would make me bored out of my mind. Its like asking how Bridgstone came up with the S03 and how can they prove it is a good tyre. No, its the consumer who tries the tyre, rates it and shares his successes with others.

This is the same with oil itself, Its Mobile 1, no its Castrol 10w60. no its Shell Helix and I work for them etc etc. People have picked a favorite from their own and probably others positive experiences.

 

 

This is from the about us page from the BG website. Like I said, they are huge, very well established and I have yet to hear any problems about their products including the effects of long term usage. Until I do........

 

Since the founding of BG Products, Inc. in 1971, our commitment has been to product excellence. Never content to be common, BG has been innovative and responsive in producing extraordinary petro-chemical products for an ever-changing automotive industry.

Through the years, BG Products, Inc. has kept pace with the many changes in engine design and the problems that have arisen because of continuous, stringent environmental regulations.

 

In 1985, BG was first in developing and marketing a convenient, inexpensive method of cleaning fuel injectors without removing them from the engine. Intervening years have seen BG Products ahead of the industry in providing products to prevent and correct drivability problems caused by intake valve and combustion chamber deposits.

 

Known for high-quality standards, BG products are used extensively in automotive, industrial, heavy equipment, trucking and fleet applications.

 

BG Products, Inc. manufactures and distributes a broad line of specialty lubricants, greases and chemicals throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Far East. BG products are distributed through a network of independent distributors. Each distributor is assigned an exclusive marketing area and is responsible for the hiring and training of a specialty sales organization.

 

BG Products, Inc. and it's distributors are a close-knit family with a common commitment to excellence in product development and service.

 

Cheers,

 

Andy

Sounds good - website is also good. Maybe they are good products.