Oil Additive

[criscodisco]

I was wondering if anyone else has ever used an oil additive called Bestline? I attended the Turkey Run here in Florida last November with my 86 gmc and came across the booth they had there. Their pitch was just like any other additive company but I stood around and watched a bench tester deal they did that was pretty impressive, so I bought some. Just got around to putting it in my truck about a month ago and it seems like its a pretty good product. I ended up getting about a mile more to the gallon and when i put the fuel conditioner in, (came with the package or i wouldnt have bought it) my truck actually gained about 200 rpm at idle. Ive used Lucas, STP and ZMax oil additives before and havent had results like this. I would like to get more, but I was wondering if anybody else has tried it or had any negative results, before I do.

[3r!c84]

Originally Posted by criscodisco

I was wondering if anyone else has ever used an oil additive called Bestline? I attended the Turkey Run here in Florida last November with my 86 gmc and came across the booth they had there. Their pitch was just like any other additive company but I stood around and watched a bench tester deal they did that was pretty impressive, so I bought some. Just got around to putting it in my truck about a month ago and it seems like its a pretty good product. I ended up getting about a mile more to the gallon and when i put the fuel conditioner in, (came with the package or i wouldnt have bought it) my truck actually gained about 200 rpm at idle. Ive used Lucas, STP and ZMax oil additives before and havent had results like this. I would like to get more, but I was wondering if anybody else has tried it or had any negative results, before I do.

lol i was there. the inline 4 or 6 cyl running with no oil pan or oil and they poor sand down on the head. still is running. stuff looked cool.

[criscodisco]

lol, Yeah ive seen the same thing with a v8 that Prolong or Duralube did a while back but just online... not in person. I was at the tent when they started the thing up and it was pretty cool. You could see the crankshaft spinning.

[3r!c84]

Originally Posted by criscodisco

lol, Yeah ive seen the same thing with a v8 that Prolong or Duralube did a while back but just online... not in person. I was at the tent when they started the thing up and it was pretty cool. You could see the crankshaft spinning.

lol yea as they poor sand down it and see it comeout the bottom of the engine stil running. with 0! oil psi

[85Bowtie]

That's all BS. The only additive you need for a flat tappet cam is a bottle of break in lube every oil change. On old motors, you may benefit from adding a quart of Marvel Mystery oil to free up the rings, lifters etc, it's pretty much the same thing as ATF. If you run a quart of ATF through your engine, it will clean all the gunk and crud out, then do an oil change without it. Everything else is a gimmick.

[criscodisco]

I thought the same thing, but after seeing the bench tester deal these guys had with my own two eyes I have to believe that this product performs. Im not sure about Marvel, but most break in lubes use PTFE which works for a short time but doesnt stay in suspension, or bond to the metal (from what i was told). I understand the cleaning capabilities ATF has but it provides little lubrication. This stuff says "Engine Treatment" on the bottle. Im not sure if that means anything, but its probably a good marketing strategy to get it out of the "Oil additive" market. Maybe I should have headed this thing "Engine Treatment" lol

[85Bowtie]

With regular maintenance, your engine will last just as long with or without those gimmicks. As a matter of fact, you can run an engine on residual oil alone for a lengthy amount of time, I've done it with a 318 in a '68 Plymouth. Does that impress you enough to buy my old Mopar? The cam is chewed up, probably the bearings also.....but it runs like a top still....

You won't see any gain in the end, but you're more than welcome to try it if you have money to waste.

[rayfinseats]

I put slick50 in a VW once and it ran much better. For about 15 minutes. I like synthetic oil and if I ever did use any additives they would probably be Royal Purple or maybe Redline. I've always heard good things about them. Most are gimmicks

[Mr79C10]

Originally Posted by 85Bowtie

That's all BS. The only additive you need for a flat tappet cam is a bottle of break in lube every oil change. On old motors, you may benefit from adding a quart of Marvel Mystery oil to free up the rings, lifters etc, it's pretty much the same thing as ATF. If you run a quart of ATF through your engine, it will clean all the gunk and crud out, then do an oil change without it. Everything else is a gimmick.

Ive heard this before, Never done it, but how long would you run the motor with the ATF in it?


As far as oil additives, snake oils,,,,

[S10Fan]

I run a bottle of ZDDP with each oil change in my flat tappet motors, the 283 in my Chevelle, The 383 in my S-10 and the 454 in my C-10. I've seen too many camshafts worn out by today's motor oil. Gooberment regulations required removal of zinc from motor oil which caused problems for older motors. Diesel oil was a good alternative for a while but regulation forced zinc removal from products like Shell Rotella as well.

I lost a cam lobe in the first 350 I dropped in my S-10. Once the lobe was worn off all the metal shavings found their way on to most every bearing surface. A bottle of zinc additive would have been a lot cheaper than another motor rebuild.

[BigBlocksRule]

I've used ATF several times to clean the internals, it's very high detergent. My builder told me NOT to drive it, ATF doesn't have the film strength or additives that oil does and you can damage your engine if you load it up. I add a quart before oil changes, let 'er come up to temp and run for about 15 - 20 minutes, then do the oil change. I rev mine a few times to get pressure up, but mine have 45 - 50psi at idle anyway.
I've known quite a few mechanics that use Engine Restorer and swear it works, but none of 'em will use any of the other snake oils on the market today.

[silvereagle07]

Here is a very informative site on oils and additives. www.bobistheoilguy.com

[motornut]

I've never tried the ones mentioned
I've never heard of the ATF used as a cleaner
but I do use dura-lube in my engines
swear by it for 15$
seems to quiet down noise and seems to run smoother
cheap insurance when u run a leaker

https://www.duralube.com/default.aspx

https://www.duralube.com/TestData.pdf when compared to Lucus

[piecesparts]

I have seen old mechanics fill an oil pan with diesel fuel and run (mostly idle) the engine to clean the oil passages, so any lubrication will work most of the time. I use a friction reducer, but never have used the brand listed above. I believe that I can attribute my high mileage engine run periods to the friction reducer. I may be wrong, but 304,000 miles on my 91 daily driver and still running strong with good oil pressure. Every guy to his own taste.

[Adams74Chevy]

Originally Posted by piecesparts

I have seen old mechanics fill an oil pan with diesel fuel and run (mostly idle) the engine to clean the oil passages, so any lubrication will work most of the time. I use a friction reducer, but never have used the brand listed above. I believe that I can attribute my high mileage engine run periods to the friction reducer. I may be wrong, but 304,000 miles on my 91 daily driver and still running strong with good oil pressure. Every guy to his own taste.

My Father-in-law's 93 GMC w/ a 350 has 300K on the clock as well, it's starting to show low oil pressure at idle according to the factory gauge, we haven't checked it with a good gauge to make sure, but it isn't run too often anymore so it's not a huge priority. As far as I know he's only been oil changes from jiffy lube and places like that so it hasn't ever had any special treatment.

[criscodisco]

Originally Posted by S10Fan

I run a bottle of ZDDP with each oil change in my flat tappet motors, the 283 in my Chevelle, The 383 in my S-10 and the 454 in my C-10. I've seen too many camshafts worn out by today's motor oil. Gooberment regulations required removal of zinc from motor oil which caused problems for older motors. Diesel oil was a good alternative for a while but regulation forced zinc removal from products like Shell Rotella as well.

I lost a cam lobe in the first 350 I dropped in my S-10. Once the lobe was worn off all the metal shavings found their way on to most every bearing surface. A bottle of zinc additive would have been a lot cheaper than another motor rebuild.

Yes, most people would be surprised to see the very little lubrication regular motor oil provides. I haven't used ZDDP (Oil additive) but i have used motor oils such as Joe Gibbs with high levels of zinc in them. You can actually feel the difference just by dipping your finger in a bottle and rubbing them together. The thing is... When i was at the Rod Run, I dont think these people had ZDDP (oil additive) but they did have Amsoil, Joe Gibbs and a couple others high in zinc that they tested against their product. These oils would pull pretty high ft lb. numbers on the tester but not near as high as the Bestline product. The Bestline people actually wiped off the bearing/race with a rag and pulled higher numbers than the others, saying the product actually gets into the metal...which I now believe. Their "claim to fame" was being the only patented engine treatment on the market, which i have researched and also have found to be true. I must have been in the booth for an hour or so. lol Anyway, I just find this stuff interesting and was wondering if anyone had ever used/heard of it before. I think i'm going to end up paying another $20 for a 16oz of Bestline and some extras than $10 for a 4oz bottle of ZDDP.

[3r!c84]

YouTube - Bestline Superior...