That's the kind of stuff I need to hear. Real life experiences. Thanks for the feedback!
Lucas Oil Stabilizer
- Thread starter pavelow
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I used the Lucas a long time ago in a Corolla and an F100. In the F100, no discernable change. In the Corolla however, it actually made the engine quite noisy. Did an oil change shortly after that.
I've been doing my own "google" research on Lucas and it seems like this stuff is really hit or miss....way too many opinions on both sides of the fence for me to come to a definitive conclusion. Considering my only gripe is the noisy lifter(s) in my 112K mile engine, I'll just leave well enough alone and not use Lucas.
Substitute a quart of MMO for a short OCI and see if that doesn't help. It'd be a cheap experiment if nothing else.
My Grandpa use to introduce a cup of GULF charcoal lighter fluid a couple days of driving before an oil change to clean the engine. I think it was a Dodge Scamp slant 6.
I think it's mostly harmless and really ment for older worn engines that might benefit from a more tacky oil that has a thicker oil film (e.g with dry start problems etc). I wouldn't see much need for it in an engine that wasn't worn and old.
As for what molakule said, I think the issue is that oil companies target the typical engine when formulating a mass market oil, and so there is a possibility that a formula for an oil that would be more specific to worn engines would be beneficial.
As for what molakule said, I think the issue is that oil companies target the typical engine when formulating a mass market oil, and so there is a possibility that a formula for an oil that would be more specific to worn engines would be beneficial.
Originally Posted By: pavelow
But does Lucas hurt the engine?
LOS neither hurts nor helps. After a some successes with Lucas in power steering and manual transmissions I tried it in the engine. It did nothing bad and nothing good. I've lost every one of my cars to rust so I couldn't see any reason to add that much cost to an oil change to solve a problem I don't have.
If Lucas can stabilize rust I'll buy it.
But does Lucas hurt the engine?
LOS neither hurts nor helps. After a some successes with Lucas in power steering and manual transmissions I tried it in the engine. It did nothing bad and nothing good. I've lost every one of my cars to rust so I couldn't see any reason to add that much cost to an oil change to solve a problem I don't have.
If Lucas can stabilize rust I'll buy it.
LOS: A great way to sell otherwise unusable petroleum byproduct for premuim dollars to people who dont know any better and shouldnt be wasting their money - The American Way! I was just as stupid and bought some bahrdahl no-smoke a month ago - more garbage! Well I guess its could be usefull as a tacky general squirt lube for yard equipment, chainsaw bar for winter storage, etc ... . Motor Medic and STP are prob the 2 better oil thickeners on the market - if you feel you need that. EX, you could be at the end of a 5K OCI with 1000 miles to go in late summer and the oil is feeling "tired" and "sheared" You can dump a couple oz of this "motor medic honey" stuff in the near-spent fill and make it to 5k with the rods still attached to the crankshaft
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the lucas will only thicken the oil, it does not have anti-wear additives.
so you will get thicker oil with a decrease in anti-wear, anti-friction,anti-foam, detergents,ect,ect. just thick oil.
so you will get thicker oil with a decrease in anti-wear, anti-friction,anti-foam, detergents,ect,ect. just thick oil.
IMO non-tested .02 the most of Lucas additives or fixers are good on well wornout engines. I run Lucas products in my beater truck.
Also my work car crownvic with a bad transmission has a liter of the trans stop slip in it. Hold it together till I get another car.
Also my work car crownvic with a bad transmission has a liter of the trans stop slip in it. Hold it together till I get another car.
I switched my oil from Rotella 5W40 to Valvoline Maxlife 10W40 and the lifter noise went away after a day of driving. At this time I also switched from a Napa Gold filter to Pure One. I guess I found my new oil and filter....and I didn't need to use Lucas. lol
Originally Posted By: pavelow
I switched my oil from Rotella 5W40 to Valvoline Maxlife 10W40 and the lifter noise went away after a day of driving. At this time I also switched from a Napa Gold filter to Pure One. I guess I found my new oil and filter....and I didn't need to use Lucas. lol
My 4.0 likes Quaker State 10w30. Might give that a try next time.
I switched my oil from Rotella 5W40 to Valvoline Maxlife 10W40 and the lifter noise went away after a day of driving. At this time I also switched from a Napa Gold filter to Pure One. I guess I found my new oil and filter....and I didn't need to use Lucas. lol
My 4.0 likes Quaker State 10w30. Might give that a try next time.
My real life experience with Lucas Oil Stabilizer is not a good one either. I used it for a few oil changes in my 2.3L Mercury Capri. Not only did my lifter ticking get worse at startup, but I lost fuel economy also. It seems that when you add 1 quart of the Lucas in with 4 quarts of 10W40, it gets too thick to flow through small passages in the engine well- which actually will increase engine wear and friction. So I quit using the stuff. If you're worried about seals or engine varnish, I found that Valvoline MaxLife does wonderful things.
I used it last year, I'm a sucker for marketing, Suburban ran fine until I let her sit for 3 weeks, Went to start and had had her first dry start, just a moment but It peeved me. I dropped the oil put in QS ( on sale ) did a 500 mile oci to get that junk out of my motor. All is good now, but that stuff is a scam.
MolaKule
Staff member
Quote:
But does Lucas hurt the engine?
But does it do any good while thinning your wallet?
That is my question.
But does Lucas hurt the engine?
But does it do any good while thinning your wallet?
That is my question.
i found the lucas to be a great and i mean GREAT engine assembly lube!! there is nothing out there that sticks like that stuff. works good for that.
and it also works great for an engine with low oil pressure problems. it will give you a good bump in oil pressure.
and it also works great for an engine with low oil pressure problems. it will give you a good bump in oil pressure.
It's great stuff.
My steam turbines at work have 30 tonnes of load on 18-20"diameter (and length) bearings.
Normally, the bearings have a jacking port on the underside, that provides 3000 psi oil to "jack" (lift) the shaft to allow it to turn at low speeds up to around 800RPM.
During maintenance, often the jacking oil system is unavailable.
A drizzle (literally) of lucas over the journals, leaving it sit, then providing a bit of torque by wrapping a soft sling around the coupling and lifting with a crane makes the shaft very easy (comparitively) to turn for doing run-outs and alignments...one squeeze lasts for days.
And being not much at all additive wise, doesn't eat the bearings, or contaminate the oil system.
My steam turbines at work have 30 tonnes of load on 18-20"diameter (and length) bearings.
Normally, the bearings have a jacking port on the underside, that provides 3000 psi oil to "jack" (lift) the shaft to allow it to turn at low speeds up to around 800RPM.
During maintenance, often the jacking oil system is unavailable.
A drizzle (literally) of lucas over the journals, leaving it sit, then providing a bit of torque by wrapping a soft sling around the coupling and lifting with a crane makes the shaft very easy (comparitively) to turn for doing run-outs and alignments...one squeeze lasts for days.
And being not much at all additive wise, doesn't eat the bearings, or contaminate the oil system.
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I thought you used KY jelly on your shaft
Is Lucas an upgrade?
Originally Posted By: lui
i found the lucas to be a great and i mean GREAT engine assembly lube!! there is nothing out there that sticks like that stuff. works good for that.
and it also works great for an engine with low oil pressure problems. it will give you a good bump in oil pressure.
Problem is that it really does not have much for anti wear additives so while it seems slippery, it wont protect well if there is a dry spot. Id rather use STP since it atleast has a decent amount of zinc in it, and that stuff is super sticky as well.
i found the lucas to be a great and i mean GREAT engine assembly lube!! there is nothing out there that sticks like that stuff. works good for that.
and it also works great for an engine with low oil pressure problems. it will give you a good bump in oil pressure.
Problem is that it really does not have much for anti wear additives so while it seems slippery, it wont protect well if there is a dry spot. Id rather use STP since it atleast has a decent amount of zinc in it, and that stuff is super sticky as well.
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