| Author | Message | ||
| Laryn Christley (Barn_owl)
Registered Member Username: Barn_owl Post Number: 609 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 153.2.247.32  Rating: N/A |
I am about to do an oil change, and having searched the archives, I only see people parroting testimonials on Lucas oil additives that I have read on the web. After doing a web search, I still don’t see any hard proof that would convince me to put the stuff in. However, a part of me wants to be a believer. After all, my engine is tired and has low oil pressure. Even a little fuel mileage increase would be welcome on this trip I am going to take. The stuff is expensive and I don’t want to be one that has spent money on “snake oil”. What say the ones with experience and/or opinion? Anything new to add to this topic? | ||
| Jeffrey Perry (Maxtravel)
Registered Member Username: Maxtravel Post Number: 1 Registered: 4-2009 Posted From: 173.65.234.211 Rating: N/A |
I can tell you that from experience, Lucas products have worked great for me. I have a 1989 Maxima with 568000 miles and it, does not use or leak a drop of oil. I started using Lucas at the 200k mark. I plan to put Lucas in my 4104 after the next oil change. Less Friction makes a smoother cooler ride. | ||
| John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member Username: John_mc9 Post Number: 877 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 98.70.64.190  Rating: N/A |
A 2-stroke is a 2-stroke, and was designed well to survive on basic oil. The additives may be fine for a four stroke, but do we really want that $tuff in our BIG cylinders? A "friend" did an oil change for me awhile back, on a 350 GMC camper/van. He dumped in a a product known as "Sea Foam". I damned near had to give the thing away, it ran so bad. Be careful with additives, it can be "snake oil" at it's best! | ||
| Austin Scott Davis (Zimtok)
Registered Member Username: Zimtok Post Number: 316 Registered: 9-2006 Posted From: 216.37.73.226 Rating: N/A |
I think oil additives do have there place, but with my bus I add a gallon of oil about every 2-3 weeks mostly due to burning it. Any oil additive I put in will not be there for very long, or will be diluted very quickly. I just stick to straight 40wt from Napa. . (Message edited by zimtok on April 22, 2009) | ||
| Grant Thiessen (Busshawg)
Registered Member Username: Busshawg Post Number: 131 Registered: 10-2007 Posted From: 206.45.93.160  Rating: N/A |
I have never used it in my bus but I probably will once I start putting some miles on it. However I used it lots in my highway tractor when I was as owner operater. I had just over 3 million on my Cat with only one major overhaul, when I sold it. I liked it. | ||
| Chuck Newman (Chuck_newman)
Registered Member Username: Chuck_newman Post Number: 331 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 99.0.41.3  Rating: N/A |
John has a real point about engine type. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I would presume Jeffrey's Maxima, and Grant's CAT both were 4 stroke engines. There has been much said here and printed elsewhere about DD insistence on specific type oils for 2 stroke and 4 stroke engines. FWIW | ||
| David Lower (Dave_l)
Registered Member Username: Dave_l Post Number: 132 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 67.58.201.132  Rating: |
Laryn My two bits worth is to say keep your money in your pocket, If this stuff was so good then why don't the engine manufacturers recomend using it.I think if your engine is tired as you put it all you will be doing bying a delayed major break down in a place mile from no where! So put the cash aside and do a proper overhaul when you can, then you can go on your trips knowing the engine is strong and you wont be wondering is it going to make this trip. :-) Dave L | ||
| Moe Hollow (Moehollow)
Registered Member Username: Moehollow Post Number: 87 Registered: 12-2007 Posted From: 71.102.27.164 Rating: N/A |
I have used some Lucas products with apparent success. I know nothing about their oil additive though. If you are in doubt about whether it is only of use for a 4 stroke, call their tech support. I have had very good experiences in the past talking to company experts on different products. Sometimes they can be extremely honest and helpful. The sales people will read you the literature, but the tech guys generally won't tell you what they do not believe to be true. | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 1419 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.110.9  Rating: N/A |
6 to 8 pounds of oil pressure at hot idle is not uncommon with an 8-71 that still works fine. With the amount of oil these units go through, an approved 40W should be sufficient. | ||
| Clint Hunter (Truthhunter)
Registered Member Username: Truthhunter Post Number: 144 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 24.129.235.190  Rating: N/A |
We had used Lucas Oil (snot) in leaky angle drives on street sweeper side brooms to buy a little patch-up time. The lower shaft seal is at the bottom of the angle drive , and this stuff was so snotty, that it would not leak out. I had also used LUcas snot in a marginal Allison HD 740 transmission without any destruction to parts or function. Did it help , hard to tell and I tend not have much use for belief. In a 2 stroke DD , well it is anybody's guess what it might do to the piston rings/intake port area and blower seals if there is excessive blow back or a shaft seal leaks in the blower, might even be snotty enough to plug the air box drain tubes when cold. These are three configuration differences with a Jimmy from other diesels, another being less recovery time on the crank and rod bearings when compared to a four stroke. There are others. If you try it, do share the results as best you can interpret, short & long term. Once had to repair this mysterious problem in a limit slip differential on a Jeep , the axles keep locking up for short bursts when they shouldn't. The problem : the owner had added the same Lucas snot to deal with a pinion seal leak. On a side note of oil additives in a Jimmy, after a broken head bolt/head gasket leak on Jimmy was patched up , the result of heavy scaring in two cylinders and lots of oil spitting past the rings as "blow back", especially at idle and warm-up, I did add 2 liters of Nu-power (PTF- Teflon) , I suspect it reduced the problem , but only a tear down would give any real indication as to what degree it had smoothed over those cylinder wall scars. It did not destroy anything, that much I can say . That brand of Teflon does produce a wear barrier , as I have seen on tear downs of gas engines that had used it. Not saying anything about other brands, as they are not all the same & I have no tear down experience/experiments with the other brands, only NU-Power. | ||
| Stephen Fessenden (Sffess)
Registered Member Username: Sffess Post Number: 755 Registered: 1-2002 Posted From: 66.38.120.219 Rating: N/A |
I add Lucus at every oil change. I also use 50 wt oil, which DD specifies for my 8V71TA. The engine sits for so long between use that I want the oil to stick to the cylinders as long as possible. Lucus is very thick. I use it to preserve the engine not to make it lubricate better when running. I preheat my engine before I start it also. | ||
| Cullen Newsom (Cullennewsom)
Registered Member Username: Cullennewsom Post Number: 76 Registered: 2-2009 Posted From: 203.176.193.103 Rating: N/A |
I've been told by an oil marketer that Lucas is similar to Texaco's "Crater" products which have stuff in them to increase "tackiness":
If you'll accept my heresay that I will freely admit comes from a dubious source (marketing folk). And then also accept that the benefits outweigh the disadvantages (once we decide what the benefits and disadvantages are). Then maybe. Other good things I can say about Lucas: I've never seen Billy Mays advocate for it. (It doesn't come with a free 97 piece kitchen knife set.) They didn't spend a fortune designing a pretty label. (yes STP, Slick 50, I'm talking about you) I've personally used it, and none of the equipment is ruined. (yet) David, To be argumentative, if there were such thing as a "magic bullet sauce" and it worked, do you really think an engine manufacturer would tell you about it? (and Detroit at that) In reality. It probably won't hurt anything. It might help. If it does help, it will be almost too small a difference to measure. Stephen probably pointed out Lucas' best selling point, (rust prevention) (IMO). David probably has the best advice (keep your money in your pocket). edit - added more sarcasm (Message edited by cullennewsom on June 11, 2009) |
