Up next in 10
18 Engine Additives That Actually Work (Plus 7 That'll DESTROY Your Engine)
6 views
Jul 18, 2025
š SAVE YOUR ENGINE: The Ultimate Additive Guide In this comprehensive guide, I test and rank 18 engine additives that actually work, plus reveal 7 that will destroy your car. From fuel system cleaners to oil treatments, learn which products deliver real results and which ones are expensive mistakes. š§ PRODUCTS MENTIONED: ā Chevron Techron Concentrate Plus (https://amzn.to/4o0C8vy) ā CRC GDI IVD Intake Valve Cleaner (https://amzn.to/46nc5s5) ā Red Line SI-1 Complete Fuel System Cleaner (https://amzn.to/3IzZebW) ā Lucas Heavy Duty Oil Stabilizer (https://amzn.to/4oao9TY) ā Liqui Moly MoS2 Anti-Friction Treatment (https://amzn.to/4lv7sRj) ā Cheap Octane Boosters ā PTFE Oil Additives ā "Engine Rebuilder" Products š° COST SAVINGS: Prevent $5,000 injection pump failures Avoid $3,500 piston ring repairs Save $800 on valve cleaning services Extend engine life by 100,000+ miles šÆ KEY TAKEAWAYS:
View Video Transcript
0:00
Listen up, car owners. I'm about to save
0:02
you from making a catastrophic $6,000
0:05
mistake while showing you how the right
0:07
engine additives can literally add
0:10
100,000 m to your vehicle's life. But
0:12
here's the brutal truth. 70% of engine
0:15
additives on store shelves are complete
0:18
garbage. Some are so dangerous they'll
0:20
turn your engine into expensive scrap
0:22
metal. Others, they're absolute game
0:25
changers that professional mechanics
0:27
swear by. Today, I'm breaking down 18
0:30
engine additives that actually work,
0:32
plus seven that'll literally kill your
0:34
car. The additive I reveal in the fuel
0:37
system section saved my neighbor $4,800
0:40
in transmission repairs, and one of the
0:43
dangerous ones nearly destroyed my
0:45
friend's BMW. Hit that subscribe button
0:48
because this information could save your
0:50
engine's life. The science behind engine
0:53
additives. What's really happening?
0:55
Before we dive into specific products,
0:58
let's understand what's actually
0:59
happening inside your engine. Every time
1:02
you start your car, metal components are
1:04
grinding against each other at
1:06
temperatures exceeding 2,000Ā° F. Here's
1:10
a shocking statistic. 40% of your fuel's
1:13
energy goes toward fighting friction,
1:15
not moving your car forward. That's
1:17
money literally burning up inside your
1:19
engine. Engine additives work in three
1:22
primary ways. Cleaning by removing
1:25
carbon deposits and sludge. Protecting
1:27
by creating barrier films on metal
1:29
surfaces. And enhancing by improving
1:32
fuel combustion efficiency. But here's
1:34
what manufacturers won't tell you.
1:36
Timing and application are everything.
1:39
Use the wrong additive at the wrong time
1:41
and you'll accelerate engine wear
1:43
instead of preventing it. Fuel system
1:45
cleaners that actually work. Chevron
1:48
Techron Concentrate Plus. The gold
1:50
standard. Starting strong with the gold
1:53
standard, Techron Concentrate Plus. This
1:56
isn't just marketing hype. It's the only
1:58
fuel additive officially recommended by
2:00
General Motors, BMW, and Toyota service
2:03
departments. The secret weapon,
2:06
polytheramines, PA, a compound that
2:09
literally dissolves carbon deposits at
2:11
the molecular level. Independent testing
2:14
shows it can restore fuel economy by up
2:16
to 4 m per gallon in severely neglected
2:19
engines. One customer reported their
2:22
2015 Honda Civic went from 28 mp gallon
2:25
to 32 mp gallon after just one
2:28
treatment. That's $200 in annual fuel
2:32
savings. Pro tip: Use this every 3,000
2:35
mi if you're using discount gas
2:37
stations. Premium gas already contains
2:40
similar cleaning agents. CRC GDI IVD
2:44
intake valve cleaner. Direct injection
2:46
savior. If you drive a car made after
2:49
2010, pay attention. Direct injection
2:52
engines accumulate carbon 60% faster
2:55
than traditional port injection systems.
2:57
That's why BMW now recommends valve
3:00
cleaning every 30,000 m at $800 per
3:04
service. CRC's GDI cleaner contains the
3:08
highest concentration of polytheramines
3:10
available to consumers. The application
3:13
process is more complex than other
3:15
additives, but the results are dramatic.
3:18
Critical warning, this product requires
3:20
specific RPM ranges during application.
3:24
Skip the instructions and you'll waste
3:26
your money and potentially damage oxygen
3:28
sensors. Redline SI1 Complete Fuel
3:31
System Cleaner, the professional choice.
3:34
Here's the additive that saved my
3:36
neighbor's transmission. Redline SI1
3:39
isn't just a fuel cleaner. It's a
3:41
complete system treatment used by
3:43
professional race teams. What makes this
3:45
special? It contains the same cleaning
3:47
agents as Techcron, but adds upper
3:50
cylinder lubricants and octane
3:52
improvers. The result? Smoother
3:54
shifting, reduced engine knock, and
3:56
improved throttle response. Money-saving
3:59
tip. One bottle treats 60 gallons of
4:02
fuel. Use it quarterly and you'll
4:05
prevent the fuel system deposits that
4:07
cause 2,000 plus injector replacements.
4:10
Gumout Regain complete fuel system
4:14
cleaner. Best value option containing
4:16
the same pea technology as premium
4:19
additives, but at half the cost. Gum Out
4:21
Regain offers excellent value for
4:23
regular maintenance. It's perfect for
4:26
drivers who want professionalgrade
4:27
cleaning without the premium price tag.
4:30
Oil additives that extend engine life.
4:33
Lucas heavyduty oil stabilizer. High
4:36
mileage engine savior. This thick
4:38
honeylike additive is specifically
4:40
engineered for engines with over 100,000
4:43
m. It contains group one mineral oils
4:46
with viscosity improvers that literally
4:48
fill microscopic gaps in worn bearings.
4:51
Warning. Never use this in turbocharged
4:54
engines. The high viscosity will starve
4:57
turbo bearings of oil, causing
4:59
catastrophic failure. I've seen this
5:01
mistake cost drivers $8,000 in engine
5:04
rebuilds. Success story. A customer's
5:07
2008 Toyota Camry with 180,000 mi went
5:12
from consuming two quarts of oil per
5:14
month to just one quart every 3 months.
5:17
That's $600 in annual savings. Liquimali
5:21
MOS2 anti-friction treatment. German
5:24
engineering excellence malibdinum
5:26
dulfide, the same compound used in
5:29
aerospace applications, creates a
5:31
microscopic protective layer that
5:33
reduces friction by up to 50%. German
5:36
taxi fleets have used this for decades
5:39
to extend engine life beyond 400,000 mi.
5:43
Important note, only use this in engines
5:46
with more than 5,000 mi. New engines
5:49
need some friction for proper piston
5:51
ring seating. BG MOA motor oil additive.
5:54
The piston ring protector. Stuck piston
5:57
rings are the silent killers of high
5:59
mileage engines. This $20 additive
6:02
prevents a $3,500
6:04
repair by maintaining proper ring seal
6:07
through advanced detergent packages.
6:09
Independent laboratory testing shows BG
6:12
MOA increases oil's total base number by
6:15
40%. Meaning it neutralizes acids that
6:19
cause corrosion damage. STP oil
6:22
treatment. The classic choice. This
6:24
viscosity improver helps maintain oil
6:27
pressure in worn engines while reducing
6:29
oil consumption. It's particularly
6:32
effective in older American V8 engines
6:35
that need extra protection for worn
6:37
internal components. Diesel specific
6:40
additives protecting your investment.
6:43
Ultra low sulfur diesel fuel lacks the
6:45
natural lubrication properties that
6:47
engines need. This additive replaces
6:50
those lost lubricants while boosting
6:52
seatane ratings from 42 to 49. The
6:55
difference between rough starts and
6:57
smooth operation. Cost analysis. At $12
7:00
per bottle treating 25 gall, you're
7:03
spending 48 cents per gallon to prevent
7:05
$5,000 injection pump failures. That's
7:08
insurance worth buying. House Diesel
7:11
Treat Antigel Winter Protection. Winter
7:13
diesel problems cost drivers thousands
7:15
in towing and repair bills. This
7:17
additive prevents gel formation down to
7:19
minus40Ā° F while improving fuel flow and
7:23
reducing emissions. Pro tip: add this
7:26
before temperatures drop below 20Ā° F.
7:29
Once diesel gels, no additive can
7:31
reverse the damage. Specialty additives
7:33
for specific problems. AT205 receal. The
7:37
seal rejuvenator. This plasticizer is
7:39
the closest thing to magic in automotive
7:41
maintenance. It rejuvenates hardened
7:44
rubber seals throughout your vehicle,
7:46
engine, transmission, power steering,
7:48
and differential. Real results. My
7:50
customers 2010 Honda Odyssey had
7:53
transmission fluid leaks requiring $800
7:56
in seal replacements. One bottle of
7:58
AT205 stopped the leaks completely,
8:00
saving $650 in labor costs. Seafoam
8:04
motor treatment. The Swiss Army knife.
8:06
The Swiss Army knife of additives.
8:08
Seafoam works in fuel tanks, oil crank
8:10
cases, and can even be sprayed directly
8:13
into intake manifolds. It's made from
8:15
petroleum napa, and isopropanol. Safe,
8:17
effective ingredients. Versatility
8:19
advantage. One product handles fuel
8:22
system cleaning, oil treatment, and
8:24
carbon removal. Perfect for DIY
8:26
enthusiasts who want simple solutions.
8:28
Marvel Mystery Oil, the century old
8:31
classic. With over 100 years of proven
8:33
performance, this classic additive
8:35
combines fuel system cleaning with upper
8:37
cylinder lubrication. It's particularly
8:39
effective on older engines with
8:41
mechanical fuel pumps. Classic car
8:43
essential restorers swear by MMO for
8:46
freeing stuck valves and removing
8:48
decades of carbon buildup. Lucas TBZN
8:50
Plus Classic Car Protection. Modern oils
8:53
contain reduced zinc levels to protect
8:55
catalytic converters, but pre-194
8:58
engines with flat tap at cam shafts need
9:01
1,400 plus ppm zinc to prevent cam lobe
9:04
wear. This additive boosts zinc content
9:07
to over 5,000 ppm, providing the
9:10
protection classic engines were designed
9:12
for. Ricelone ring seal compression
9:15
restorer. When compression starts
9:16
dropping, this additive can restore seal
9:18
between pistons and cylinders, buying
9:20
you time before major repairs. It's a
9:23
temporary fix, but it can extend engine
9:26
life significantly when used correctly.
9:28
Starron enzyme fuel treatment, ethanol
9:30
fighter. Ethanol fuel causes phase
9:32
separation and corrosion. Starron's
9:35
enzyme technology breaks down these
9:36
problems while improving fuel stability.
9:39
Essential for vehicles that sit for
9:40
extended periods or use high ethanol
9:42
fuel blends. Bardall no smoke eliminator
9:46
reduces oil burning and blue smoke in
9:49
high mileage engines through seal
9:50
conditioners and viscosity improvers.
9:53
It's particularly effective for engines
9:55
that pass emissions but still produce
9:57
visible exhaust smoke. Restore engine
10:00
restorer, the controversial choice. This
10:03
controversial additive uses CSL
10:06
technology to fill microscopic scratches
10:08
in cylinder walls, potentially restoring
10:11
compression. While results vary, some
10:14
users report significant improvements in
10:16
engine performance. Additives that will
10:19
destroy your engine. Cheap octane
10:21
boosters. Mathematical lies. Those $5
10:24
octane boosters promising 10point gains
10:27
are mathematical lies. 10 points equals
10:30
just one octane number from 87 to 88.
10:34
Real racing fuel goes from 91 to 100
10:38
plus. Danger warning. Many contain
10:41
methyl cyclopentadionile manganese
10:44
tririccarbonile MMT, which leaves orange
10:47
deposits on spark plugs and oxygen
10:49
sensors, causing $1,200 plus in repairs.
10:55
PTFE teflon oil additives, the clogging
10:58
catastrophe.
11:00
Despite sounding high tech, PTFE
11:02
particles don't stay suspended in oil.
11:05
They accumulate in filters and oil
11:07
passages, causing oil starvation and
11:09
engine seizure. The FTC finded Slick50
11:13
$10 million for false advertising after
11:16
NASA engineers proved PTFE additives
11:20
cause more harm than good. Engine
11:23
rebuilder additives. Pure snake oil
11:26
products claiming to rebuild engines
11:28
with copper, silver, and lead are pure
11:31
snake oil. Soft metals cannot repair
11:34
hardened steel cylinder walls. It's
11:36
physically impossible. These products
11:38
are simply thickening agents that
11:40
temporarily mask symptoms while causing
11:43
long-term damage. Transmission honey
11:46
treatments, the temporary fix trap.
11:49
These thick additives temporarily mask
11:51
slipping by increasing friction, but
11:53
they destroy clutch bands and cause
11:55
overheating. A $50 treatment becomes a
11:58
$4,000 transmission rebuild. Never use
12:01
these products. They're designed to hide
12:03
problems, not solve them. Copper-based
12:06
head gasket sealers, cooling system
12:09
killers. While some head gasket sealers
12:11
work temporarily, copper-based products
12:14
often clog heater cores and radiators,
12:17
causing expensive cooling system damage.
12:20
They create more problems than they
12:21
solve. Automatic transmission fluid in
12:24
engine oil. Outdated danger. This
12:27
mechanic's secret from the 1970s is
12:30
dangerous in modern engines. ATF
12:32
contains detergents that can damage
12:34
modern seals and cause oil leaks. What
12:37
worked decades ago can destroy today's
12:40
engines. Anything containing
12:42
tetraethylled, teel, the poisonous
12:45
threat. While banned in most countries,
12:48
teel is still occasionally found in
12:50
racing additives. It's a neurotoxin that
12:53
damages your brain, liver, and kidneys
12:56
while destroying catalytic converters.
12:58
If anyone offers you this, call the
13:00
police. It's that dangerous. Conclusion:
13:03
Your engine's future is in your hands.
13:05
The right engine additives can literally
13:08
add 100,000 m to your vehicle's life
13:11
while saving thousands in repairs. But
13:14
the wrong ones will destroy your engine
13:16
faster than neglecting maintenance
13:18
entirely. Remember these key takeaways.
13:21
Match the additive to your engine's age
13:23
and condition. Follow instructions
13:25
precisely because more isn't better.
13:28
Avoid anything claiming to rebuild
13:30
internal components and invest in
13:32
quality products from reputable
13:34
manufacturers. Your engine's longevity
13:36
depends on the choices you make today.
13:38
Choose wisely. Follow proper application
13:41
procedures and watch your vehicle reward
13:44
you with years of reliable
#Autos & Vehicles
#Vehicle Modification & Tuning
#Vehicle Parts & Services
#Vehicle Repair & Maintenance