Lucas Oil Upper Cylinder Lubricant ?

I've been using this stuff in my 2003 6 cylinder Tundra for years. Not every tank, but quite frequently, at the recommended ratio. I noticed a little better mileage, especially on the highway. Truck seems to run a tad better, especially under load towing, etc.

I know plenty, if not most people will call it hocus-pocus snake oil, and I won't argue. I'm just a dork and I feel it works for me and gives me peace of mind.

I also have 2 boats with outboard motors, one with an Evinrude direct injected 2-stroke, and the other a Yamaha Fuel injected 4-stroke. Both authorized dealers recommended using 'some sort' of fuel conditioner. Lucas makes a 'Fuel Stabilizer/ Conditioner' for gas with Ethanol which is supposed to help with the 'phase separation' associated with long term storage of fuel, so I use that on the bigger boat that holds 60 gallons of gas.

I try my best to buy mobil or chevron gas, (especially for the boats) and steer away from arco, or 'off-brands'. Interestingly the 'Evinrude dealer recommended ONLY using 91 gas in the 2-stroke. He believed that the new crappy ethanol-based gas can lose octane points by sitting long term. He basically said it has a shelf life and the clock is ticking when it leaves the refinery. I also use the Evinrude synthetic XD-100 oil in the 2-stroke and the motor has ran flawlessly for almost 1000 hrs.

So with all that said, does anyone here use fuel treatments in their Tundras regardless of brand? Good gas versus cheap gas??? . . . or just f-it and send it !?!?!

BTW I'm not affiliated with Lucas Oil in anyway, I like how the company started, and that they do a lot for motorsports etc.

 

I’ve run a few cans of SeaFoam in the tank. Even tried their Spinchter Tightening Upper Intake Spray/Soak. Manifold cleaned up nicely, but not sure if I can handle the strain on the engine again.

Gas is from a reputable source. I avoid Stop and Go Gas Stations mainly because of their boiled peanuts odors.

 

BG makes some fantastic stuff (from word of mouth). Just started using some of their stuff myself, time will tell.

But, they stand by their products so much so that they offer component warranties. If that means anything to you.

 

The thing about these products is they are never scientifically proven to work, or proven to not work, by an unbiased third party. I have seen a few youtube videos that used scopes to look at valves and cylinders before and after, some show no difference and some show a slight difference.

I used to pour a bottle of Chevron cleaner in my truck once a month. Don't know if it did anything but for the first year of ownership it made me feel nice. Haven't done that in 11 years and the truck still runs fine and I have an extra $120 a year in my pocket from not buying it.

I know a lot of people swear by seafoam but I have never been a believer. Recently I was talking to a mechanic and he recommended it, that surprised me. He said just put it in the gas tank.

 

Lucas Upper Cylinder Treatment is not snake oil. A great product. I first used it in Anchorage in the winter. At -20 F my 09 Taco's motor would be quite noisy at start up. Clackity clack. That went away after I used the Lucas treatment. I use it now on my 14. We recently had temps here in the single digits. Both mornings I'd crank up and no clackity clack. I also use Motor Kote which is not an additive like Slick 50 crap. Motor Kote is a great anti friction product.

 

I think they all 'work' but only to some degree. Years ago, I worked at an auto parts store that was a dealer for almost all name brand products as well as BG. The only ones that people swore by were Marvel's mystery oil and BG 44K and MOA. I'm fairly certain 44K is kerosene based because it smells just like it. It has a higher burn temp which in theory, would burn some of the deposits away that have gunked up over the years. Our GM would always say "44K, the finest snake oil money could buy!" He worked in the industry for over 20 years...

The reps would all stop by and show their demonstration models but the only one that stood at to me was the MOA friction test:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-TgdYsGz2U

Just yesterday, I was heading up to a job with a superintendent. I noticed his mileage on his truck was just about at 100K and we normally turn our trucks around 100K for replacement. He began telling me that the last time it was in for service, they wanted to change the plugs due to mileage. When they pulled the old ones out, they noted that they looked new so they had already been changed. He told them they have never been changed and they didn't believe him. He uses 1/2 a bottle of Marvel's every fuel up and swears that's why the look new.

The flipside, some of these products work too good; specifically stop leak type of products. While they will normally stop the leak you want them to, they clog up a lot of other things as well.

 

We have a member here that pours a quart of transmission fluid in his gas tank before every oil change. He swore by it. I believe it's the same guy that's had the truck since new and now has 400,000 miles. It clearly isn't hurting anything but I'm not brave enough to try it now.

 

Yeah . . . I don't get too deep in the weeds over 'additives' . . . I do however believe and use fuel additives regularly, and I have noticed some difference, which is good enough for me. Like others have mentioned, I don't have 'proof', other than what performance, and mileage differences I've seen. For me it's peace of mind that I'm taking care of my vehicles/boats.
I did try the Lucas Oil synthetic oil stabilizer 'once', (you are supposed to substitute 1 quart of oil with the stabilizer) but I didn't like the way the oil pressure was reading on my gauge. It was unusually high (according to the gauge). I know the Gen 1 Tundra oil pressure gauge usually reads pretty low, so something had definitely changed (viscosity?) and I was not into it. So I dumped that afterwards and went back to good 'ol straight 5w-30. Never had an issue, and my motor doesn't burn oil, so I'm stoked.

 

Marvel Mystery Oil is no mystery at all. It's basically around 90% mineral oil and 10% Stoddard Solvent give or take. You can make your own quite easily.

 

Trans fluid can clean just about anything but I'm afraid to do that too. A lot of plumbers use trans fluid to clean their snakes, works like a charm.

I remember old school VW guys pouring a little diesel into their carb while the motor runs at full throttle to clean up the valves. Some did this with water or trans fluid too. There are a lot of old tricks like this around that I don't have the cajones to try, but apparently they work.

 

I don't know why you would steer clear of Arco...It's Top Tier gas. If you live near the water, isn't corn free gas available?

BTW, I used that Lucas stuff in a motorcycle that I had with gummed up carbs. After running through about 6 tanks, the bike was running good as new. Lucas is good stuff.

 

I used ARCO for years out on the left coast. Good top tier gas.

 

No corn free gas here in CA unfortunately.
In fact we are at 10% and our dumb-ass state wants to shift it all over to 15%.
Don't get me started on what that'll do to the marine industry.

 

My parents received a letter from Audi recommending they use the Lucas for their A6. I've used it since. Dad swears he gets a performance advantage in his 2000 Tacoma.