could anybody tell if it s ok to add lucas to my trans fluid. i have the meced. trans w/dip stick in a 1999 xjr

 

No additives are recommended by MB -- And I wold only use the correct MB fluid for top ups and changing

 

Can someone come into this thread and tell us what happens if you, for example: a.) add STP to the crankcase b.) add "trans-medic" type products to the trans and c.) just measure the trans fluid quantity drained, and somehow shoot an equivalent amount of new fluid back in. Or is this even possible? And what about the trans dipstick "kit" I've seen somewhere, which allows you to fill the unit the old fashioned way. Is THIS even possible, and if not, why are they making these units with seemingly "impossible to shadetree" maintenance procedures>>>???WTF??

 

Let's stay away from profanity.

 

In general, additives are not a good idea.

There are some exceptions, but if there were some benefit to an additive, it would have been part of the formulation.

 

Yup.

Much like anything that you can pour into to the gas, if it was of benefit, it would already be there. The oil companies could them market the h*ll out of them.

 

thanks P.M. and thanks for keeping this highway verbal clean

 

I'm not entirely persuaded by this argument. I can imagine that costly additives might not be blended in by refineries, for reasons of cost, especially if they are to be used in concentrated form for limited periods. I'm thinking of "Marvel Mystery Oil" or even gas stabilizers. or "Restore"

 

I've never seen a circumstance where a modern engine required or would have benefited from the additives you've mentioned or similar ones. The engine live a long happy life without them it seems.

 

And that's why I said ... "there are some exceptions". Restore is one of them of course.

The point is that someone should know for a fact what an additive does before using it and why it applies to their specific usage.

The marketing blurbs and claims are not really a valid basis for using any particular additive.

 

I'm reminded of a product advertised on TV many years ago, that was supposed to make you lose weight while you slept. It was called "Dream Away."

 

Maybe not in one that has not seen any problems. But, on the "Restore" maybe you could have a best out of three with Brutal.

 

I agree that IF an engine is being naughty, some of the traditional additives can either permanently or at least temporarily whip them into shape, but the key is that they must first misbehave. This is extremly rare on modern engines for a thousand different reasons.

The idea of using them to 'keep bad things from happening' would be a waste of money 999 times out of a 1000. Much like the great oil debate, it's using whatever makes the owner happy.

 

As I understand it, there's only one additive Jaguar recommend to their USA tech's - BG44K a petrol additive that clears clogged fuel injectors and carbon deposits. Brutal recommends it if an engine throws an odd code.
I agree with what Mikey says in the above post, stick to regular services with Jaguar recommended fluids. Only when an engine starts to show signs of wear, i.e. noisey VVT's at startup, then using a can of Restore might help.
To add stuff when no issues are apparent can cause issues down the line.

IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT.

 

Ok sorry my bad.