[Schnapper]

Fuel/Oil Additives

Hey all.

Was wondering if anyone has had any positive experience with fuel or oil additives in their bikes?
I am kinda looking at the Liqui Moly ones (probably because of their flashy advertising :blush, the oil flush (used when you drop the old oil) and the fuel system cleaner (in the fuel tank)

I am skeptical about the oil flush and using it on my bike, it has almost 60,000km and I'm guessing some oil gunk that it has may be beneficial in keeping the pistons sealed as they are? lol.

And the fuel one would be just because the bike had a major service in its last service, which I'm guessing would have had the carbys cleaned. So this is just a flusher/refresher too.

Experiences welcome!!!

 

[Schnapper]

Hey all.

Was wondering if anyone has had any positive experience with fuel or oil additives in their bikes?
I am kinda looking at the Liqui Moly ones (probably because of their flashy advertising :blush, the oil flush (used when you drop the old oil) and the fuel system cleaner (in the fuel tank)

I am skeptical about the oil flush and using it on my bike, it has almost 60,000km and I'm guessing some oil gunk that it has may be beneficial in keeping the pistons sealed as they are? lol.

And the fuel one would be just because the bike had a major service in its last service, which I'm guessing would have had the carbys cleaned. So this is just a flusher/refresher too.

Experiences welcome!!!

 

[richo]

Piss.

 

[mitch179]

I've heard that snake oil works good in the cbr250's

 

[banana.logic]

Piss.

+1

Usually about a pint glass of it in the fuel will do the trick, but watch out you don't use it after a night out as the alcohol will deteriorate the rubber seals in the carbs.

 

[dayeve]

I'm sceptical of most additives. I remember reading a magazine article back in high school about how some additives can do more damage than good.

 

[Schnapper]

Yeah I've also heard cynicism is great for a bump.

But cheers Dayeve.
The main reason is I like it when you drop the oil and it comes out in still a relatively golden colour.
Meaning clean oil, doing what it's supposed to be doing.
I haven't done it on this yet, but I'm guessing without the additive it's gonna be a filthy black.

 

[smiley_666]

the fuel cleaner is kero/diesel... or the oil cleaner is. cant remember which way round.
if you really want to clean out a sludged up engine, then people have been known to run just diesel as the oil for a few mins, not revving it... i wouldnt recommend it for a good bike/motor though

black oil is just a sign its doing its job. if it comes out clean after a normal service interval then its time to worry

 

[Schnapper]

Yeah I heard it's just kerosine, my mate's a mechanic, he used to do that to all his cars etc.
Told me about the diesel thing too.
I was always skeptical and never did it, but he swore by it.
I thought bikes might be just a bit more sensitive too.

I always thought black oil is bad, ie: a fair amount of oil getting into the piston chambers, bringing back carbon etc into the sump.

 

[Johnnie5]

The main reason is I like it when you drop the oil and it comes out in still a relatively golden colour.
Meaning clean oil, doing what it's supposed to be doing.
I haven't done it on this yet, but I'm guessing without the additive it's gonna be a filthy black.

oil comes out dark because its doing its job of lubricating and carrying contaminants

if it isnt dark then the contaminants are hiding in the motor

should you do an engine flush ?

personally i wouldnt , lift your rocker cover and see how its looking, if its nice and clean then an engine flush isnt going to do anything

if it looks like the bbq thats never been cleaned then you would have more to worry about than a flush as its not going to do a great deal , sure it will dislodge a load of crap , and then send it where ??

you run the risk of blocking oil galleries, bearing oil feeds

 

[King Kenny]

Liqui Moly is a German brand if I'm not mistaken & as such has to pass strict TUV quality control & basically has to does what it says on the tin. It cant get TUV certification any other way

I've used a high octane fuel additive in my 130k km 2.0l petrol Mazda 626 & immediately notice better pick up off part throttle & better fuel consumption (maybe 5% better). Stuff only works if you engine isnt running at optimal basically

 

[Schnapper]

Yeah I also saw that TUV approval on the Liqui Moly stuff, I used to work at Repco see
I've used additives on cars, but they were mostly just basic small, push rod, carb things (superchargers, SU carbies and cam work aside)

Yeah still skeptical and Johnnie 5 you seem to think it's gonna clog up the motor, even though it's designed to make the oil less viscous and in the process you'd think the sludge would become less viscous too?

 

[box_twin2]

I was always under the impression that the discolouration of motor oil was from fuel geting into the oil. Af your rings wear more fuel gets through so your oil is darker/black.

I used deisel oil in my petrol car for a while to help remove the carbon build up in the engine and pistons. Did decrease the amount of oil my car used as well (~1L per 1000km to about 500ml). When changing oil I used the oil cleaners to help get the gunk out as well, not sure how effective it was though, but it was recommended by my mechanic and a mate for an oil car with worn rings.

As for fuel additives, the oily ones I've used are lead additives for my old bike. I dont recomend this with a new bike though.

 

[Drew]

Discolouration of the oil is due to the breakdown that happens normally due to blow by and being in contact with hot surfaces (like the pistons).

Putting an oil additive in these days is just asking for trouble, at best you're putting in something which is already there (moly grease is added to some oils as a surface friction modifier), or at worst you'll add something incompatible which will separate in your oil system and start causing troubles and that is a serious risk with ester based oils and the like which may be polar and therefore not take up the additive effectively.

Interestingly, surface friction modifiers are also the things which screw your clutch pack up.

 

[Matt]

its crap. don't bother.

i used it on the car under the same assumptions, and its started using more oil :S[hr]
also, its a motorbike. not a car, so it has a different clutch

 

[Matt]

RE: Fuel/Oil Additives

don't double post, mate.

its just annoying.

 

[Schnapper]

Ahh fair enough, I don't think I will bother in the end.
Not enough positive feedback on these things :s

I found that the oil looked better in the car, and honestly I had some sticky valves that quietened up in the end so I dunno.
Maybe once the motor is on the way out, or if I find a decent cheapish one I'll give it a shot and let you know. But I'll just keep the maintenance up on it as it is now.

Cheers for that.

 

[dayeve]

RE: Fuel/Oil Additives

schnapper, schnaaaaaaaaaaaaaper, scccchhhhhnapper. Your name is fun after a few drinks.

 

[Tromac]

RE: Fuel/Oil Additives

The only thing worse than a post whore is a thread whore.

 

[Drew]

If you want to put it in then I can save you the time and tell you what will happen; you'll start it up immediately after the oil change and your clutch will slip a bit, this will get progressively worse until the point where the bike is unrideable, at which point you will have to drop the oil, flush the motor and then put in a new clutch pack.