oil additives

[stanrat]

My brother-in-law used to drive, then sell Peterbilts & told me to add Lucas to my latest oil change. I put in 1 qt in with the 12 qts, less than the recommended 20%. Any thoughts on this out there?

 

[FloridaEd]

Not sure what you rig have... but if it's a Peterbuilt and your family member has long experience with Lucas, what can we say... .



However, if your rig is a CTD, I'd be shy about using anything in it that Cummins doesn't recommend..... like Lucas oil additive.



I nosed around and could not find the reference, but I remember some Furd trucks wiith the HEUI fuel system having problems with Lucas because the Lucas additive caused air to entrain in the oil. Air is compressable, unlike oil, and caused fuel delivery problems. The Furds need high pressure oil in their fuel system... which is one reason the newer ones get the "romps" when cold and the oil is thicker.



Don't know is this would impact CTD's or not... . would just not be comfortable going against Cummins recommendations. IMHO, Cummins knows more than my brother-in-law, who swears I need to add a gallon of gas to my diesel fuel every now and then because he used to do that with his Detroit Diesel.



Florida Ed

 

[JHardwick]

wasn't there a link circulating awhile back that showed Lucas additive foaming the oil until it looked like taffy?



edited ... ... . it was a video link of some guy with a home made gear box made of plexiglass.

 

[DPKetchum]

Several reports were done about Lucas oil additives. Bad foaming at anything more then a hamster wheel spin speed. Several independent studies and basicly said DON"T USE IT! Good quality oil and proper changes the Cummins will out last the truck itself.

 

[Buffalo]

Test on Lucas Additive

If you go to the "bobistheoilguy.com" website, you will find the test on the Lucas additive in gear oil.



It seems to entrain quite a bit of air in the oil.



As I recall, the recommendation was to not use any additives. They have a tendency to change the engineering of an already properly engineered oil. The additives can work against the way the oil was originally engineered.



The BITOG website has some pretty interesting reading. Some of those guys seem to really know what they're talking about.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

As I recall, the recommendation was to not use any additives. They have a tendency to change the engineering of an already properly engineered oil. The additives can work against the way the oil was originally engineered.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

Just for what it's worth, it's my understanding that typically, about 60% of the content of most oils is already ADDITIVES! Sure, those additives ARE developed and included by refiners to reach specific goals related to the properties of each brands specific oil - keeping in mind both engine manufacturer and EPA requirements. It isn't the ADDITIVES that are bad, it's the potential mis-matching of additives that might create problems!



SO, the REAL question is 2-fold:



1. WILL the addition of some additive YOU are interested in provide a goal that most specifically affects/benefits YOU and the way you normally use your vehicle?



2. IS it possible that SOME of the potential "unexpected consequences" of re-engineering the oil by use of additives just MIGHT create a conflicting adverse effect that outweighs the intended benefit?



And the bottom line is, unless you have very well established first hand experience with your intended additive, do you REALLY want to take a chance in modifying what most likely is an already pretty well designed lubricant?



Personally, for many years *I* was a regular user of the controversial STP oil treatment - particularly due to the added anti-scuffing component it provided existing oils while engaged in hard towing with our '91 Dodge. I had great success with that additive, and EXCELLENT oil analysis reports to back it up. BUT, substantial oil improvements in recent years, especially in the Delo 400 15/40 I use - mostly the recent addition of Molybdenum and Boron - have convinced me to just leave well enough alone - NO more oil additives for me!



YMMV!