Do you believe in oil additives?

I never have believed much in after market oil additives. But I recently got acquainted to a guy who sold this product: www.steelshieldtech.com
One of the claims this stuff makes, is a 30 degree lower gear case temperature. He gave me a free sample and I decided to test it. I glued a thermocouple to the rear of the differential case of my '90 GT. Ran the wire to the inside via the battery box and connected it to a temperature meter. Without the additive, I drove a 50 mile stretch on a flat highway at a constant 75 mph. After about 50 minutes the gear case temp stabilized at 165 to 170 degrees at an ambient about 90 deg hotter than ambient.

I then did the same test with the additive and not surprisingly I noticed absolutely no difference. I did the test 2 more times, thinking that the additive might need time to work itself into the gears, but there was no change.

On a recent trip with the Palmetto Region PCA to the tail of the Dragon in the Tennesee mountains, I kept watching the temperature while driving there, and the differential was running at about the same temperature, roughly 170 degrees. I was beginning to believe that this additive was no different than Magic Mistery Oil.

Driving home after the weekend in Tennesee, I noticed that the temperature was running lower. Thinking that the battery in my meter had run out, I changed it and the next day I made another run, identical to what I had initially done: 50 miles on the same road, same speed and same ambient of around 75-77 degrees. Lo and Behold, the temperature of the differential was now rising to no more than 145 - 148 degrees, a 70 degree rise.

I am no metallurgist or chemist, just a mechanical engineer and I do not understand the mechanism that makes this product work, but I have become a believer in it. It looks like the product needed some time to work itself in the metal (about 700 miles) . And I will be watching if the effect remains.
I would like to, but I am hesitant to put it in my engine oil, at least for now.

I wonder if anyone else has any good experience with additives?


Peter deJong
Charleston SC
'90 GT

Attached files [img]media/attachments/12243=1401-steelshield.jpg[/img]

Interesting info and thank you for sharing! Personally, I've only added Mobil 15W-50 to my 928 crankcases. So no, I've never bought in to oil additives.

This may be a good time to share storage info

www.amsoil.com/news/2011_November_stored...needs_protection.pdf

i just used TR-1 and used their ZEP additive. (per Greg B's advice)

For now I follow Porsche's recommedations to not use engine oil additives. To me this means as an all-the-time general use product.
I do see the value in cleaning products like BG for various components. I know that times and technology change, so for things other than engine, I might give it a try.

I whole heartingly endorse BG cleaning products however, I have used them to great results. Although it does make me nervous to not know how something is accomplishing it stated purpose, I guess you want to ensure it is not sacrificing something else to do it.

"Just put Castrol in it"

A mechanic in Michigan that I knew well. His diesel VW pickup ran 400,000 miles before it needed an overhaul.

N