I have read that I shouldn't be using additives in the fuel, oil and transmission. Is this true. 2004 XJ8, 4.2 X350. New first time owner.
Don't want to damage anything.

 

It says not to use them right in the owners manual. That's good advice unless you like blowing money on snake oil.

 

Mikey
Thanks for the confirmation

 

The only worthwhile additive is Stabil for the fuel, only if the car will sit more than a month. Definitely nothing in the oils.

 

Especially with OHC motors. Flat tappet OHV motors may benefit from ZDDP, but any quality motor oil in the right grade is adequate.

 

ZDDP as a separate additive will ruin the catalyic converter. It is meant for pre 1989 flat tappet autos.

This is well documented.

 

I use Techron fuel injector cleaner. I've had good success with it as my car seems to run a bit smoother after using it.

 

same here..

 

Always used Techron on a used car purchase. 2x Bottles per tank x2 tankfuls (treats 12 gallons) Then I change the oil, simply because I change all fluids over the first few months, but also because I fear the Techron gets into and thins the oil. Could be urban legend, but why take chances with the long term health of my new baby. Other than that I follow the Owners Guide and add nothing but the highest quality fluids, and never scrimp to save a few bucks.

 

I think it depends on the additive and what it is promising it will do. I tend to stay clear of oil additives but feel that fuel additives can have a benefit. I've used a product at work by a company named MOC, its a fuel system treatment that cleans the fuel injectors and combustion chamber. Using a bore scope, before and after, I can see less carbon after the treatment. We've been treating vehicles with this for years with good results, especially those with direct injection.

 

All modern fuels I'm aware of contain more than enough additives to keep performance at 100%. Whether it's worthwhile having injectors surgically clean or just 'clean enough' or if it affects performance seems to be in doubt.

Again, Jaguar instructs against any additives.

 

Agree Don. No mention by the poster of his intent. If storing the car for the winter, fuel additives are well advised IMO, especially here in the north.

So funny story, as a mechanic in the early 80's, we used to drain the oil and replace it with kerosene, 5 qts. Fire up the engine for a very thorough scrubbing of the rings, pistons, seals etc.... Smoke billows of course. 15 minutes later, drain the kerosene and change out the filter, add oil....

 

I am going to mess with all of your heads now LOL
Do some research ON TC-W3 as an additive
I have been using it in my diesels MB engine'd Jeep for over 100.000 k,s and in my previous XJR6 and now in my XJ8 X350 also use it in my motorbikes and scooters if its got an internal combustion engine I use it in it LOL
Been testing Oil
do some research for yourselves you will be surprised

 

That's got all the standard hallmarks of a classic snake oil story

- a story based on the premise that there's a wide spread problem with (insert name of product)in this case, gasoline

- describes in detail the bad things that are going to happen unless action is taken

- whips out 'a cure' to prevent all these bad things from happening

- relates their own marvelous experience using this product

-step right up folks, be the first, blah blah blah


Please.......................

None of the evil things he describes would have happened anyway. Gasoline today is not sh*t in the way he describes and was never required to do half the things he dreamed up.

 

This is technically true if you have an oil burning issue. It won't really do much to the cat unless the ZDDP gets burned, but there's no real benefit to using it with roller cams.

 

At 1.9 ml per litre is hardly anything and at that ratio its cheaper than any other additive on the market just got to use it all the time its not a one shot wonder

I originally started using it in my Mercedes OM642 powered turbo diesel Jeep (3.2 ML per litre) I was extremely impressed but when your wife says what did you do to my car its so smooth and quiet that says something not to mention guys you don't know say that's not a diesel its to quiet and its got 300,000 k,s on the clock and going better than ever maybe there is something in it

Like I say I use it in all my vehicles and motorbikes made quite a difference on my XJR6 so I decided to try it in the X350 will be using it till I sell it or it dies works like the guys on the forums said smooths it out

Like I said going to mess with You all a bit (LOL)