Are engine additives good to use or are they a waste of money?

Question

If they are not a waste of money, can anyone recommend any additive to help prevent my engine from clicking when accelerating.

Answer 1

What kind of car/engine, how many miles?

Generally, additives will not help this kind of problem. An older car/engine clicking on acceleration is usually "spark knock" which is cheap gas or ignition timing. Possibly your valves need adjusting. The easiest test is run your gas low and try a tank of premium. If that's not it, get your timing set. Last and most expensive (that's why you save it till last) have your valves adjusted.

Newer car/engine could be valves or cheap gas again. A knock sensor should adjust timing to eliminate spark knock. Your sensor could be bad. And I guess there could be a few other sensors that would let it click on acceleration. You can try a tank of premium, a high compression engine needs higher octane.

Injector/carburetor cleaner is a good idea every few thousand miles, when you change your oil. . . . BUT . . . I have read many negative articles on engine treatments and have never used them. And I don't believe they ran a car without oil. Quality oil changed regularly is the best treatment you can give your engine. With older cars (15-20 years) at 75-85,000 miles go to a 10w40 oil. With newer cars you can wait til around 100-120,000 miles. Good luck

Answer 2

Read your owners manual. I personally use Berrymans' chemtool every 3rd tankful and picked up an extra 4 mpg !!It is always best to do what the manu. suggests or you could VOID your Warranty !! Some additives are ok some are not talk to an ASME certified mechanic .Most guys will share knowledge if you approach them the right way !!Clicking ? or do you mean pinging ? Clicking is usually a valve problem or lifters as well. pinging on the other hand means you are using too low an octane fuel.Some 1990 on Chrysler prod. require the med. grade fuel. The sorry dogs won't tell you that but it is a fact !!

Answer 3

After being a automotive and a tractor trailer mechanic there is only one brand of additives that I will use: Lucas oil stabilizer and fuel injector cleaner. All other additives arent worth the money. (want proof? I have a 69 charger with 400K miles on the original motor and I use lucas at every fill up and oil change)

Answer 4

If you're talking fuel additives, I'd be very dubious; most big brand petrol/gasoline will have all the necessary additives already in it.

I've heard horror stories of gummed up injectors and such, after using aftermarket additives. Not worth wrecking your engine for.

Answer 5

well, an OIL additive will probably not help that.
a FUEL additive will stop the pinging if its due to the cheapskate behind the wheel who doesn't buy the expensive gas.


hey dude, gm and chevy are the same company... and since when are college professors telling the truth to anyone???

Answer 6

The only additive you need is pure acetone for fuel efficiency. Search the web for Acetone as a fuel additive. BTW Acetone is the main ingredient in fingernail polish remover.. You add 2 oz. to every 10 gal of fuel you put in your tank. It makes gasoline burn like the perfect fuel ...Propane

Answer 7

chevron teckron is a good fuel additive, not only do they claim it cleans deposits from your engine, it also helps improve fuel economy

it's worth a try i have used it myself, and my engine quit knocking

Answer 8

realy most are a waste of money, but if you got one burnning a lot of oil, are makeing a lot of noise,, it help some,, i found one that fair,, call dur, a lube,,,

Answer 9

slick 50 is a good additive ,it also helps ur to keep ur motor in good running condition.

Answer 10

I'M IN COLLEGE, MY SCHOOL TEACHER SAYS "IF THEY DID WORK, GM, CHEVROLET, ETC. COMPANIES WOULD BE USING IT ALREADY",,,,SO THEY'RE BASICALLY A WASTE OF MONEY.