OIL ADDITIVES AND DRY SUMP ENGINES

I'm no engineer, but why would a dry sump engine be any different than a normal engine as far as what Lucas stabilizer does? Supposedly, it only works on reducing internal engine friction. How would that be any different just because the 360 has a dry sump?

I hope that Dr. Haas jumps in here, though. I have used other Lucas products, and they are good, but I know there is a lot of controversy whether any of these oil additives do anything at all beyond what a good synthetic or dino oil can do. I know that Dr. Haas has studied this stuff extensively, and would love to hear his comments on whether it is worth giving the Lucas stuff a try, in any car.

 

Do a search on the Lucas product at bobistheoilguy.com There is really no reason to use that product. BTW, Dr. Haas has more oil posts on BITOG than here. They are worth reading.

 

I also concur that dry sump vs. normal sump may not really be much different - except for a couple of things. First, most dry sump systems hold a lot more oil, (maybe twice as much?) - so is it possible that they may not warm up as fast? If that is the case, then starting the car and driving a short distance might not drive out moisture quite as quickly, hence allowing more formation of acidic compounds? Just a guess.

Also, would it be possible that normal sumps need additives to keep the oil from foaming moreso than a dry sump? Guessing again.

OK, now here is one for all the amatuer chemists (or real chemists, as the case may be). What exactly is the real advantage of the so-called "ester - based" synthetic oils like Redline or perhaps the Valvoling and other synthetics? I read the Wiki article on esters (which are the reaction product of an alchohol and an acid). They don't sound to me to be very promising as a lubricant, just on the face of the chemistry - but I am probably missing something. I would guess they might be subject to hydrolysis or other reactions, for example.

Finally, what ever happened to the teflon-style additives that were put into newly built engines to reduce wear on the first break-in? Did this kind of get swept under the rug nowadays, or is it still in use? I don't seem to hear much about it anymore.

 

The long answer is that you should not be mixing additives to fuel or to oil. You may diminish the working properties of the base oil or fuel. Formulations are Balanced. Increasing the concentration of one otherwise beneficial additive may decrease the effects of another.

aehaas

 

I am getting old, so the mind may not be as fresh as it should, but I believe that some of the "teflon-style" additives were causing problems with particles settling out and clogging passages. I also don't think that any were recommended for break-in. I was always told that you shouldn't try to reduce friction beyond the break-in oil so the moving parts could seat themselves. After a short break-in period drain the oil and fill with new. Is this still the current thinking or do I need to look for a home?