Hello,

I have just bought my first truck or car for that matter about 2 month's ago it's a 2002 Ranger Edge 4x4 4.0L. Anyways I was reading all the talk about oil and what not and I wanted to know from you guys that have had these trucks way before me if useing Prolong or Duralub engine treatment (Super lubercant's) is a good idea I have 8,322KM on my Ranger so far, and want to know if I should consider putting the suggested oil treatment's in my engine.?


Is their any down sides to these products? or anything I should know?


Thanks.

 

Those products (and Slick 50) provide no benifit what so ever to your engine.. Oil experts, auto manufactures, good mechanics, and independant lab's (like consumers report) all agree on this point..

All that is needed to keep your engine working great for well over 200k miles is to change the oil and filter at every 3k miles, and do the other general maintaince.


One point that is contraversial is 'should you use synthetic oil to prolong engine life'.
My opinion is that there are several synthetics out there that are technically 'better' than conventional oil (Amsoil, Mobil 1, and LE), however they provide no short or long term benifit when compared to conventional oils.. They do not harm the engine in any way though, and some synthetics can safely allow extended drain intervals.

 

Snake oil pure and simple. Do not waste your money on these products. Those companies are just trying to make an easy dime. Some additives could actually damage (Zmax increases corrosion) your engine so I would steer clear of them.

Your truck allready has all the lubrication it needs, its called oil...plain and simple. Pick a good brand, use a good filter (not Fram) and change it every 3k whether you use synthetic or not. Synthetic gets dirty just as fast as conventional so it doesnt increase your change interval unless you run a dual bypass filtration system. As for other benefits of using synthetic I really dont know. If you can afford it, it certainly wont hurt. Personally, I bought my bowtie with 140,000 miles on it. It used half a quart every 3000 before, when I switched to synthetic it didnt use any oil and my oil pressure went up. Also it flows better in the wintertime reducing wear when its cold. To me its worth the extra cost.

But if you will only be keeping your truck a few years then its probably not worth the cost. Im running the wheels off of mine so if it gives it an extra 20,000 miles then I will be happy.

 

I know i am new here and i just recently got a 2001 f-150....but if you read any part on the owners manual, and i am not sure if its the same for the rangers, but it says if you use any oil additives you will void any warantee on your engine!!!! just a friendly reminder!!!

 

Avoid oil treatments!! Especially for such a new vehicle!

Simply change your oil and filter per the owners manual and possibly consider using a synthetic oil.

 

Don't know about the ones you mentioned but I do add dynosurge metal treatment to my 01 L every time I change my oil. Is it just snake oil ? I don't know but I do know that my L has 18,000 daily driven, 1/4 mile raced miles on it and does not use/loose any oil, has no 'piston slap', or any other uncommon noises. You can read about it at www.dynosurge.com, and no, I don't sell or distribute it.

Btw, the Royal Purple #11(5W20) synthetic Racing oil helps too. Mine's fairly quick too--see sig.

Dan

 

Avoid the additives! Not only are most of them snake oil but some are harmful. For instance, when Prolong is broken down it is similar to housesold bleach. Very corrosive!. Run a good synthetic and your engine's internals will remain sludge free and you will have the utmost year-round protection.

 

Buy quality oil and filters and save your additive money for useful mods.

 

I used to believe in those engine treatments especially Duralube.
Used them in my previous vehicles and my wifes Villager van. Well, the van had a severe oil pan gasket leak. the gasket all the way around the pan was completely eaten away. The mechanic who fixed it said it was a silicon gasket and those types of engine treatments were known to not be compatible with silicoln gaskets ( I did not tell him I used any treatments). We still have a rear main seal leak on that van. It cost almost $200 to replace the pan gasket and we have been getting estimates for $400 to $800 to fix this seal.

Absolutly do not use Duralube!

hobbit

 

I do beleave in using synthetic oils, specifically Mobil 1. I called the manufacture and they told me if any of the additives worked, they would put it in their oil. They told me DO NOT USE...

 

The additives (all of them) provide a short term solution to a long term problem....lack of regular maintenance. The commercials show morons who never change their oil adding a little vial of magic juice to the crankcase, and presto!!...less valve clatter and better gas mileage...but the ads all end before the head gaskets and oil pan gaskets get melted, before the tiny oil passages in the OHC engines get clogged etc... Stay away from this stuff, especially on a new engine.

I run sythetic oil because I feel it performs better in very cold or very hot conditions, and because it does a good job of suspending dirt molecules until the next regular oil change (I dump it every 3000 miles). I run Castrol Syntec, but Mobil 1 is also very good. My oil is 5w50 weight, which maintains its viscosity at higher temperstures, expereinced while towing or off-roading (I'm in the bush every weekend).
As long as you change your oil, any good quality oil (dino or synth) will keep your engine clean for years...conversly, you can run Mobil 1 but if your skip an oil change, you're screwed.

John

 

Since most of these products contain a for of chlorine and when moisture(from combustion) mixes with chlorine at high temperautes this causes hydrocloric acid which eats metal away.

If you plan to keep you truck a long time I would not use any additves that would do harm like eating metal! Just my preference.

The oil that comes in your truck is good. If you want better performace/protection then think about synthetics. But definately stay away from all addtives. There is not an oil maker out that recommends them. Amsoil Included!
http://www.amsoil.com/frequent.htm#additives

 

I work at a lube station, and everyday i have customers wanting me to add duralube and stuff like that to their oil. I usually laugh at them and tell them ok, but if they have a f-150, i tell them it is bad for their motor. if anything, spend the xtra money and get mobil 1, or better. the only additive i have ever used on my motor was oil system cleaner, forgot what brand, but it will not hurt anything, cleans old oil out too.

 

I've heard good stuff about Marvel Mystery Oil. We'll see if the oil comes out any different when it gets changed in about 1000 miles!

 

You are essentially thinning your oil with a solvent. Check you Mystery Oil carefully. Smell it. Check the ingredients. It is nothing but low molecular weight aromatics... aka solvents.

Now, Marvel has been known to work well in cleaning up sludge filled engines, but why would you reduce the viscosity of the oil in a modern engine that is maintained properly?

Were you to get a case of cylinder wall scuffing or prematurely worn main bearings, and you told them you used Marvel Mystery Oil, they might be well within their rights to deny your warranty claim.

http://www.vtr.org/maintain/oil-additives.html