You stop at the auto parts store for new seat covers and floor mats. You walk down an aisle with shelves and shelves of engine oil additives that promise to provide better fuel economy, a cleaner engine, and more power. Is your vehicle missing out? Is an additional engine oil additive worth it?
Learn more about oil additives before picking one off the shelf and pouring it into the most important component of your vehicle – the engine.
What is an engine oil additive?
It’s helpful to know the main purpose of engine oil itself before understanding the function of an engine oil additive. The function of engine oil is to lubricate your engine and reduce friction between its many moving parts. Oil also plays an essential role in protecting against corrosion, helping to remove contaminants, preventing sludge buildup, and keeping the engine cool.
There are different additives for different applications. Additives can include detergents, anti-wear additives, friction modifiers, antioxidants, corrosion inhibitors, viscosity index improvers, and more. Millions of dollars and hours are spent creating and testing oil formulations so they are perfect.
Most of the brightly colored bottles you see at the auto parts store are *aftermarket* or *supplemental* engine oil additives. Some claim to extend the oil’s life and others say to reduce engine smoke. However, research is mixed on whether they do what they claim.
What engine oil additives do to the engine
The majority of engine oils contain about 15% additives. Without additives, the oil is essentially incapable of performing its critical functions. Wear, oxidation, and breakdown can cause the oil to degrade over time.
Engine oil can lose its additives as it ages. Without the proper levels of these additives, you risk increased engine wear, which could lead to rust, corrosion, oil sludge, reduced fuel economy, breakdowns, overheating, and costly engine damage.
This is one reason a driver might consider an aftermarket or supplemental engine oil additive between oil changes – they want to revitalize their oil as quickly as possible. The value of an additive, however, would be whether it contains the additives that have been depleted and if it offsets any of the other existing additives remaining in the oil. Many types of oil additives work by attaching their molecules to an internal engine component. Too much of one additive can prevent a second necessary additive from doing its job.
Are engine oil additives good?
The question of using aftermarket engine oil additives has been controversial for years, and the answer is not a simple “yes” or “no.” You might assume that since standard engine oil already contains additives, no additional additives are necessary. But it’s not always that black and white. You’ll want to do your research, consult your vehicle manufacturer, especially if your car is still under warranty, and make the decision for yourself.
“When it comes to supplemental additives, I always say it’s the consumer’s choice,” says the Global OEM Technical Manager for Shell Lubricants. “Petroleum chemists and automotive engineers are really smart people who know what is and isn’t needed,” he says. “The oil already contains additives to do certain things, so the consumer needs to leverage that knowledge and look to oil additives that are carefully formulated into the oil by the oil manufacturer to provide an additional improvement in those areas.”
There are two factors to consider when deciding if aftermarket oil additives are a good idea for your vehicle, including:
- Warranty: Most importantly – double-check your manufacturer’s warranty. “Adding additional [aftermarket] additives to an engine oil could unbalance the additive system, leading to detrimental side effects and potentially voiding the engine manufacturer’s warranty,” reports the OEM Technical Liaison for Petro-Canada Lubricants.
- Vehicle Mileage and Age: The more miles on your engine, the more likely your engine is running at less than peak performance, making it more vulnerable to potential damage. Adding certain carefully balanced oil additives into a fully formulated high-mileage engine oil has the potential to reduce stress and wear on your high-mileage engine and help restore performance. Consistently using a quality high-mileage oil can help.
Start with an oil change
When it comes to what’s best for your engine, adding aftermarket engine oil additives can be a bit of a gray area. Ultimately, getting regular oil changes with a high-quality oil that meets your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations may be more beneficial for your vehicle’s long-term performance and uphold your vehicle’s warranty.