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Snake oil


19Walt93

Well-Known Member
Ford Technician
V8 Engine Swap
Joined
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Messages
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Location
Canaan,NH
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
351
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Drop
3"
Tire Size
235/55R16
My credo
If you don't have time to do it right will you have time to do it over?
Ford doesn't approve any transmission fluid addititves, use quality fluid like Motorcraft and change it once in a while. "Lubed for life" is b/s unless you don't mind a short life. I use Marvel Mystery oil to lube my air tools and used it 30 years ago to free up the carboned up, stuck rings in my father's old 2.0 Ranger. Methanol based drygas can cause all kinds of problems, we used to have good luck with isopropanol based drygas but I haven't used any since 10% ethanol was added to the gas. One of my former techs came to me from a GM dealer, he told me that Cadillac 4.1 engines required "cooling system pellets"(stop leak) added during maintenance, I think every 15k, because they had problems with block porosity. I've never had any faith in mechanic-in-a-can products, usually anything that easy doesn't work.
 


19Walt93

Well-Known Member
Ford Technician
V8 Engine Swap
Joined
Nov 13, 2018
Messages
4,477
Reaction score
4,412
Points
113
Location
Canaan,NH
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
351
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Drop
3"
Tire Size
235/55R16
My credo
If you don't have time to do it right will you have time to do it over?
As for Fluid Film, It's probably better than nothing but it doesn't work as well as bar and chain oil and it stinks something awful because it's organic. Some of my former techs would Fluid Film their vehicles in the shop on the weekend and the whole place smelled like something died under a workbench. I know, oil undercoating isn't environmentally friendly but what's the environmental impact of building a new truck because road salt ate the old one?
 

8thTon

Well-Known Member
--- Banned ---
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Location
Pennsylvania
Vehicle Year
2004
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Engine Size
3.0
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
My world is filled with stuff that needs to be fixed
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.
That's great stuff.
 

Dirtman

Former Middleweight Moss Fighting Champion
Joined
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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've sprayed fluid film on stuff that was already rusting and it's kept it from getting any worse without doing anything else for a couple of years. I also use it on mating surfaces of stuff like rotors to hubs and the rotors always just fall right off next time I do brakes where without it it's usually a job requiring a sledge hammer...
 

4.0blue98

I don't feel tardy...
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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.
One of my former techs came to me from a GM dealer, he told me that Cadillac 4.1 engines required "cooling system pellets"(stop leak) added during maintenance, I think every 15k, because they had problems with block porosity.
Subaru "required" a cooling system additive for their 2.5L back in the early 2000s. The second generation (01) Outback I had got the defective head gaskets that leaked out. Their solution was basically just a 5.5oz bottle of Holt's Radwell repackaged as a Subaru product. Add it anytime the coolant is flushed or replaced. Think it's just some sort of flax protein derivative. Probably could have just cracked an egg in there like the old days. I used it and the stuff did work until I pulled the motor at about 95k and did the gaskets and the timing belt etc.

Subaru almost made my sh!t list because of this...
 

.38spl

Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2018
Messages
62
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48
Points
18
Location
Lake Barkley, Kentucky
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
2.9
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
6”
Tire Size
33x12.50x15
My credo
James 1:19
Blue Devil coolant system/ block sealer. Put some in a 5.9 Dodge with a leaky head gasket, and it’s still working good 25k miles later.
 

PetroleumJunkie412

Official TRS EV Taunter
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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.
Risoline Nano Prime...

Will freely admit, only bought it because it was marked down from $23 to $2.10.

I have NO idea whats in this stuff, but it makes lifters shut up. Like, instantly.

Changed oil, added it and 5qt of Mobil 1.

Lifter tick at startup was gone until next change. Add MMO after that one, and clacking worse than an AK on a cold morning.
 

PetroleumJunkie412

Official TRS EV Taunter
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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.
Actually, while we're on the subject, does anyone know of a ZDDP additive that actually works?
 

4.0blue98

I don't feel tardy...
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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.
Actually, while we're on the subject, does anyone know of a ZDDP additive that actually works?
I have used the Rislone 3x additive in my old vehicle and it has a good reputation around the web. Now I just use Valvoline VR1 oil in vehicles that need that stuff.

This one: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Rislone-3X-Concentrated-Oil-Supplement-with-Zinc-Treatment/52628126?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222227047794170&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=146907668833&wl4=pla-260259418301&wl5=9008067&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=52628126&veh=sem&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5-y_xc-j5gIVDm6GCh1nNgoHEAYYBiABEgIgPPD_BwE

Not sure how you tell it works but my cam ain't flat.
 

adsm08

Senior Master Grease Monkey
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
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Location
Dillsburg PA
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1987
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Ford
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4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Tire Size
31X10.50X15

4.0blue98

I don't feel tardy...
Supporting Member
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
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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 tried that without grinding but they don't flow a s well.
 

Dirtman

Former Middleweight Moss Fighting Champion
Joined
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Messages
19,304
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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.
Zddp hasn't been needed on engines since the 60s and even then engine oil technology has advanced way beyond the point its necessary at all... might as well get you some whale oil for your transmission while your at it.
 

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 only use it in my 67... New oil rocks for everything else.
 

19Walt93

Well-Known Member
Ford Technician
V8 Engine Swap
Joined
Nov 13, 2018
Messages
4,477
Reaction score
4,412
Points
113
Location
Canaan,NH
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
351
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Drop
3"
Tire Size
235/55R16
My credo
If you don't have time to do it right will you have time to do it over?
ZDDP is still needed for flat tappet cams, the zinc and phosphate were removed because if an engine with a cat burns oil with those additives it will poison the cat. I have heard that a fully broken in flat tappet cam will live without zinc but why risk it when the additive is so cheap compared to a ground up cam and metal throughout the engine?
 

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've also heard that the zinc etc has to be incorporated in a certain way (temp etc) for it to actually work so the additives may not work as well as an oil produced with the ZDDP package. I think Lucas and others make old timey fortified oil too. Most if not all are not synthetic base oils.
 

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