Fuel Treatments

[marshdude71]

Does anybody use any fuel treatments ? In the past I have used Lucas Fuel Treatment & Lucas Cold Weather Fuel Treatment . Just wonder if any other
brand are better for the GTP . I have a 1998 GTP with 144,00 miles. I am not having any problems with it.But, just wondering if I just use a fuel treatment. I used in past cars. Thanks

[00GTP4ME]

I run a bottle of fuel inj. cleaner with each oil change. I usually use STP or gumout; there are better brands out there, but I do it as preventative instead of corrective. Not sure if that's really what you're going after, but hey, there it is.

[GTP Version 2.0]

I run Seafoam once an oil change, and lucas fuel injector or gas treatment in between. You see Seafoam is great but it has the tendency to dry out the injectors; Seafoam lubricates but isn't as good as Seafoam for cleaning. Personally I think gumout and STP and many others are a load of bull. You might as well go down to the store and get Toluene (paint department) and acetone (cosmetics). But AS ALWAYS, use good gas with a minimum octane rating of 91. Shell and Chevron are the best, 76 is ok, but stay away from discount gas, i.e., the stuff you get at supermarkets or costco. Its discounted because it will expire in about a week and often the octane rating isn't as it should be.

[marshdude71]

Thanks for the information. It's just preventive maintenance

[GTPjoe]

hello i have ran lucas fuel treatment in every car i've ever owned along with lucas tranny treatment and lucas oil stabilizer with all fluid changes and i have never had a car last less than 200,000 miles!!! I also drive pretty competetively(always down to spank a tuner in the GTP!!!!!)

['97ventureowner]

Originally Posted by GTP Version 2.0

Shell and Chevron are the best, 76 is ok, but stay away from discount gas, i.e., the stuff you get at supermarkets or costco. Its discounted because it will expire in about a week and often the octane rating isn't as it should be.

That may have had some truth years ago, but times have changed. Most supermarkets and discount fuel sellers get their supplies from the major oil companies,( i.e.Mobil, Hess, Sunoco, etc.) The difference between the "discount" gas is it doesn't have the specific additives package that the oil companies add for their own branded stations and what they advertise. All fuel offered for sale must meet minimum government guidelines . As for octane ratings, the gas stations pretty much comply with the laws regarding the proper labeling and sale of their fuels. Monitoring of this by sample testing and spot checks usually fall under the guidance of each state's Department of Agriculture. If a station is found to be selling sub standard fuel, that is fuel which does not meet the rating on the pump label, the station could face stiff fines or penalties and other actions for doing so. It's not worth their time to try and pass off lower octane fuel as higher octane because it's not worth their effort if they are caught and have to pay. It still may happen from time to time, but with increased enforcement we are seeing less instances of this occurring.

[GTP Version 2.0]

True. But when is the last time you saw an inspector at gas station? The Department of Weights and Measures has better things to do. I remember when gas first jumped in 2007 when the local transport line in Tucson to Phoenix broke ($5-6 gas) and the complaints in AZ about the pumps not dispensing what they should be...one agent was dispatched but no one got their money back nor were any fines administered. Regardless, unless you are using a tank of gas in a week's time the octane rating will reduce with discount gas due to different vapor pressure of the ingredients of gas and possibly cause KR. Gas stations only have two tanks of gas. 87 and 89. For the premium 91 they will mix 89 with toluene/acetone/xylene to reach the octane rating. Formula one racers use about 60/40 toluene to gas ratio which boost them to an octane rating of about 116. Try running pure toluene and you'll have a blast . The only thing worse than discount gas is E85. Not only is it the biggest load of bullsh%$ that Congress ever dreamed up but its horrible for your engine. It was primarily started to get tax breaks and govt subsidies to those who grow corn (or should I say paid not to grow). To start, the amount of electricity that is needed to refine corn into ethanol tips the energy scale toward the costs rather than the benefits (endothermic). After that, ethanol is a highly oxygenated fuel, and for those of us experiencing declining gas mileage might realize that winter formulas of gas are more oxygenated. In fact, though E85 is usually cheaper than standard gas, the gas mileage you will experience is about 75% of your car's initial economy with regular fuel. And if you really like losing money, E85 engines will not last as long since you are running a highly oxygenated fuel that will cause premature aging, the engines are about $5k more than regular models, also consider the amount of gas you will use looking for a place that carries E85, honestly how many foreign vehicles so you know that run E85?


As for additives for oil, they are a waste of time and counterproductive. You see the oil companies spend millions in developing different formulas for engine oil. All of these formula have a specific balance and using a different additive (even from the same company) can severely disrupt the predefined chemistry and cause heavy oxidation. Lucas unfortunately is one of these. When you go to the store and see there displays of the gear box with Lucas in one chamber and regular oil in the other chamber, it is just that. They simply want to show you how well Lucas is in sticking to/lubricating the gear assembly. However, they are not mixing their oil stabilizer with another companies oil. Try it sometime. Under heat the Lucas oil stabilizer will cause heavy oxidation by trapping air within the oil as it passes over metal and will turn the oil to a creamy color. If you are going to by oil additive wise up and buy a better oil like a synthetic. They are just a few dollars more than regular but last 10K miles versus oil that lasts 3-5k miles. So in the long run you are saving money and the life of your car.

Oh...and if you are using Zmax the next time you are buying these additives pour them on yourself....light a match...and chant "I will not buy stupid SH*# for no reason!"

Check out this website:
http://www.carbibles.com/additives.html

['97ventureowner]

Originally Posted by GTP Version 2.0

True. But when is the last time you saw an inspector at gas station? The Department of Weights and Measures has better things to do.

Maybe things are done different from state to state , here in NY they are pretty good about testing the fuels. They run random checks and sometimes the results are published in the newspapers, especially when discrepancies are found or a fine is issued. (They do however have issues doing the Indian owned gas stations, among other governmental agencies. The Native Americans claim they are exempt because they are a 'soverign nation'.)

The only thing worse than discount gas is E85. Not only is it the biggest load of bullsh%$ that Congress ever dreamed up but its horrible for your engine. It was primarily started to get tax breaks and govt subsidies to those who grow corn (or should I say paid not to grow). To start, the amount of electricity that is needed to refine corn into ethanol tips the energy scale toward the costs rather than the benefits (endothermic). After that, ethanol is a highly oxygenated fuel, and for those of us experiencing declining gas mileage might realize that winter formulas of gas are more oxygenated. In fact, though E85 is usually cheaper than standard gas, the gas mileage you will experience is about 75% of your car's initial economy with regular fuel.

That 10% ethanol blend we have to run now isn't any better I know my mileage took a hit among everyone else, but the point hit home today when I topped off my tank while running errands. After I fill up I reset certain sections of my DIC readouts ( trip odometer, avg. mpg, and avg. speed.) I just happened to notice today the miles est. for the amount of fuel in the tank was about 80 miles less than what it normally is when I have a full tank ):

[BNaylor]

Gentleman if you use decent detergent top tier gasoline you do not need to add any fuel treatment. The fuel additives unless you have a specific problem like moisture in the gas tank are a total waste of money. For example Seafoam engine treatment contains or removes moisture in the gas tank so it is good for that purpose. Most top tier gasoline has a fuel treatment additive(s) which do a good job of cleaning fuel injectors. For Example Chevron has Techron. See the link below.

http://www.toptiergas.com/

[CrazyHorst]

Personal anecdote. My GTP has never seen a bottle of fuel system treatment in 168k. Runs quite well without it.

So I don't put much personal stock in it. I think a better use of "cleaners" is in the throttle body.