• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

Snake oil


PetroleumJunkie412

Official TRS EV Taunter
Supporting Member
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Oct 31, 2018
Messages
7,826
Reaction score
6,565
Points
113
Location
Dirtman's Basement
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Size
2.9l Trinity
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Give 'yer balls a tug. Fight me.
Apparently Liqui Molly MbS2 works. When the 2.9 finally gets its rebuild, it's getting it from day 1. I'll start running it when I change oil in the spring.

What else works? Doesn't? I have a few I'll throw in if this gets a few hits.
 


85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,192
Reaction score
17,494
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
“Engine restore” did not restore my 2.8.

“Dike” by Conklin is the best coolant stop leak.
 

PetroleumJunkie412

Official TRS EV Taunter
Supporting Member
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Oct 31, 2018
Messages
7,826
Reaction score
6,565
Points
113
Location
Dirtman's Basement
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Size
2.9l Trinity
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Give 'yer balls a tug. Fight me.
Marvel mystery oil p*ssed off my 2.9 something awful. Idk wtf it pushed around up there, but I'm guessing it was 3m abrasive wheel debris and it got pushed into a lifter. That's two of them now that sound like sh*t on startup.

F*ck you MMO. It's no mystery. You suck.
 

Bgunner

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
Joined
May 14, 2018
Messages
1,755
Reaction score
1,039
Points
113
Location
Western Mass.
Vehicle Year
1994
Make / Model
Ford/Ranger XLT
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Tire Size
225/70/R15
My credo
If it's not broken Don't Fix It!
I guess MMO is a subjective thing since I put it in a '98 Dodge 360 to quite a lifter and never had issues with that motor again. It came back for front end issues and rear suspension but never for the motor till it was traded in.
 

lil_Blue_Ford

Well-Known Member
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
V8 Engine Swap
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
8,207
Reaction score
5,962
Points
113
Location
Butler, PA, USSA
Vehicle Year
95
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.9L
Transmission
Manual
Seafoam works. After putting a junkyard 2.9 in my choptop years ago, I put some in through the intake and dumped the rest in the gas. Let it sit for the recommended time and started it. Nothing impressive then, tiny bit of smoke. Shut ‘er down for like a half hour then had to leave. Nothing much when I started it, but when I opened up the go pedal leaving the driveway, I left almost a quarter mile of midnight behind me. Ran quite well after that too.
 

Dirtman

Former Middleweight Moss Fighting Champion
Joined
May 28, 2018
Messages
19,304
Reaction score
13,326
Points
113
Location
41N 75W
Vehicle Year
2009
Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
It's up there.
Total Drop
It's down there.
Tire Size
Round.
My credo
I poop in the furnace.
There's only a few additives I use and believe aren't useless nonsense.

Lubeguard red transmission fluid additive - This stuff is the only trans fluid additive that is used and recommended by ford.

Seafoam - I cant verify how well it works in the gas tank or crankcase but it does a great job cleaning intake valves and carbon in the cylinders.

Heat gasoline antifreeze & water remover - It's just a bottle of rubbing alcohol but it does it's job.

Torco octane booster - The only octane booster sold that raises the octane by any significant amount. Been using this stuff in my mustang for years and I can run 87 octane with torco and it will run fine where my mustang will ping on 93 octane.

Rain X washer fluid additive - Love this stuff, its 4 bucks and turns normal cheap washer fluid into rain x. Water just beads right off after you squirt your windshield a bit.

And an Honorable mention to Fluid Film. That stuff is like Frank's Hot Sauce. I SPRAY THAT SH*T ON EVERYTHING!
 
Last edited:

97RangerXLT

Forum Staff Member
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Sep 18, 2007
Messages
6,738
Reaction score
3,841
Points
113
Location
Fishers, IN
Vehicle Year
1997
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
2"
Tire Size
31"
another vote for Seafoam and Heet. I need to do the intake of the Ranger, but do not really want all of my neighbors calling the fire department on me for the smoke show lol

another one that I have had great luck with for a rear main leak... mind you this is not a huge leak but enough to drip every now and then is Bars Leaks One Seal Stop Leak. put some of that in the crank case and the seals get more pliant/ flexible and the oil leak stops for two oil changes.

AJ
 

4.0blue98

I don't feel tardy...
Supporting Member
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Jan 5, 2008
Messages
900
Reaction score
672
Points
93
Location
Frederick, Maryland
Vehicle Year
1998
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0 OHV
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
Round
My credo
It was like that when I found it.
I try some stuff every once in a while if its on sale. I have very low expectations. I'd swear the FR3 and Stiction Eliminator from HotShots works for me. Their fuel treatment made a noticeable difference in my Ranger. I think it's called Gasoline Extreme? I've had some luck with MMO but I've had a few things it didn't help too.

Heet and Lubeguard :icon_thumby::icon_thumby:
 

adsm08

Senior Master Grease Monkey
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
Ford Technician
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Sep 20, 2009
Messages
34,623
Reaction score
3,613
Points
113
Location
Dillsburg PA
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
31X10.50X15
None of those oil stop leaks worked for me when the oil pan wasn't installed.
 

snoranger

Professional money waster
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
RBV's on Boost
ASE Certified Tech
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
GMRS Radio License
Joined
Nov 25, 2007
Messages
13,052
Reaction score
13,523
Points
113
Location
Jackson, NJ
Vehicle Year
'79,'94,'02,'23
Make / Model
All Fords
Engine Type
2.3 EcoBoost
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
I didn't ask for your life story, just answer the question!
Do they still make Prolong? I really liked the infomercial where they drained the oil out of a dozen or so cars (I remember a Viper, Volvo, Dodge minivan, and some other shit.) and drove them around a race track in the desert.
 

Shran

Junk Collector
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Mar 4, 2008
Messages
8,636
Reaction score
4,703
Points
113
Location
Rapid City SD
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Heet is about the only additive I'd use... and it's more of a preventative measure than a cure... I dump a bottle in about halfway through winter and don't seem to have any issues. I think it was more of a necessity in the carburetor era than it is now.

I do know a guy who used some high end head gasket sealer in his Honda... it was burning coolant, overheated quickly and was blowing exhaust through the overflow tank. It actually seems to have worked for him, the coolant loss issues have stopped and it apparently hasn't overheated since.

I think a lot of additives are sold to desperate people that are facing major repairs and think "why not..." and then of course it doesn't work, and then the thought is "I guess the problem was just too big for the easy fix." Waste of time and money 99.999% of the time.
 

Dirtman

Former Middleweight Moss Fighting Champion
Joined
May 28, 2018
Messages
19,304
Reaction score
13,326
Points
113
Location
41N 75W
Vehicle Year
2009
Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
It's up there.
Total Drop
It's down there.
Tire Size
Round.
My credo
I poop in the furnace.
I absolutely refuse to use any form of stop leak products. They may very well work but I've also torn apart engines and seen the aftermath when they were used. Ever try to clean a cooling system that had bars leak in it? Same with trying to replace a tire full of fix-a-flat. :annoyed:
 

97RangerXLT

Forum Staff Member
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Sep 18, 2007
Messages
6,738
Reaction score
3,841
Points
113
Location
Fishers, IN
Vehicle Year
1997
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
2"
Tire Size
31"
I absolutely refuse to use any form of stop leak products. They may very well work but I've also torn apart engines and seen the aftermath when they were used. Ever try to clean a cooling system that had bars leak in it? Same with trying to replace a tire full of fix-a-flat. :annoyed:
yeah, those products are garbage for the reason that they put particulates that can clog passages (bars leaks radiator sealant) or really goop up your rim, and with modern cars destroy the tpms sensor.

the bars leak stop leak is pure petroleum, no particulates.

AJ
 

97RangerXLT

Forum Staff Member
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
TRS 20th Anniversary
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Sep 18, 2007
Messages
6,738
Reaction score
3,841
Points
113
Location
Fishers, IN
Vehicle Year
1997
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
2"
Tire Size
31"

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Truck of The Month


Kirby N.
March Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top