The Science Of It All

by JIM STUART

��Parts Division�� and Oil Additives: A Tale of Two Standards

The ��Parts Division�� of many auto/vehicle manufacturers is the one division in which stockholders expect money will be made. After all, ��Parts�� is what people need as they make their cars last longer�� and a lot longer than 20 or 30 years ago. Today, the average motorist is making his car last twice as long as in years gone by.

Why?

It��s a basic economic fact: cars cost more, and in the short run, many families can barely justify a $400 budget breaker, as opposed to a new purchase of a $25,000 price tag.

So, the ��Parts Division�� �C auto, truck, motorcycle and others �C often has the ��final say�� in decisions about oil and additive recommendations for the vehicles produced by their manufacturer. After all, if ��parts�� isn��t making its typical ��lions share�� of corporate profits, stock holders complain and heads roll.

��Built-in Obsolescence��: Nothing New in Corporate Practice

All of which is a simple way of hinting at the fact that vehicle manufacturers must make sure that vehicles �C and their parts �C last just so long, before coming in for repairs. ��Repairs�� is where the money trail leads�� to the pain of every American car, truck, and motorcycle owner.

Our experience in working with oil additives showed us that fact in a hurry. Bringing an oil additive to vehicle manufacturers who, at first, were ecstatic about the results, gave us a real lesson in economics. In one case, the manufacturer��s representatives ran tests and found the oil additive performed significantly above even our results. However, they came back later and, rather sheepishly informed us they weren��t allowed to endorse the product.

��Why?�� was our shocked rejoinder. ��Because ��Parts�� thinks it will cut into their revenues�� was their rejoinder.

Rejoinders aside. ��Built-in obsolescence�� is no joke and it is practiced all the time. The corporate world exists to make stockholders happy, at our expense. But, this is particularly noxious in that vehicle manufacturers are often cited as the standard by which to judge oil additives and vehicle performance.

What is really needed is a ��hard look�� at the science of oil additives.

What Should an Oil Additive Do for Your Vehicle?

Friction and heat are the enemy of moving metal parts.

Regardless of the engine oil used, friction and heat will destroy an engine or any other piece of equipment with moving metal parts. Science tells us that moving metal parts need to be lubricated �� or the friction of metal on metal will damage the vehicle��s combustion chamber.

An oil additive should reduce friction. That being reduced, overall engine heat should drop as a result. Overall engine protection is, of course, therefore enhanced.

An oil additive that really does its job, so to speak, needs to have the capacity to accomplish more than a few of the following tasks, if it really is going to make a difference to your billfold.

Here��s a checklist. Then turn to our Part II and see how well the standard additives, including and especially those ��recommended�� by vehicle manufacturers, really performed. We��re betting you will be shocked�� but not surprised.

Oil additive performance questionnaire (Retitled: ��Parts Division Nightmare��):

1. Does the oil additive scientifically reduce engine friction and wear, especially at start-up time?

2. Does the oil additive scientifically promote less friction, thus maintaining normal oil viscosity at engine operating temperatures?

3. Is the oil additive scientifically compatible with SAE specification oils and all non-petroleum-based synthetic oils?

4. Can the oil additive scientifically reduce oil burning, and prevent ��dry start-up��?

5. Will the engine oil additive increase oil pressure and power?

6. Does the oil additive scientifically maintain lower engine heat, thereby reducing oil thinning?

7. Can the oil additive prevent, reduce or even eliminate environmentally destructive "blow by" gases from escaping?

8. From a strictly scientific standpoint, will the oil additive provide a self sacrificing, protective, lubricating layer thus reducing wear on pistons, rings and bearings?

9. If so, (number 9), will the oil additive lubricant stay on the metal or will it eventually flow down to the oil pan when the engine cools?

10. Can the oil additive quiet noisy valves and lifters?

Based upon the answers to the above answered questions:

Does the oil additive scientifically promote longer engine life and efficient, powerful performance?

Does the oil additive significantly improve fuel mileage by reducing internal friction in the engine?

Is possible that the oil additive will bring significant improvement in compression, usable horsepower, gas mileage and overall performance?

Must the oil additive be added to your engine oil at every oil change?