MMO thinning oil

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Originally Posted By: fordranger03
Originally Posted By: Donald
I posted the test in a prior post.


Care to point me in the right direction, which thread?


Search the used oil analysis section for people who posted reports with the use of MMO, then decide for yourself if MMO hurts the oil or its ability to lubricate and protect an engine. You'll find the only negative impact MMO has on oil is it lowers the TBN a bit, so don't go looking to run an extended OCI. In any event there is no point in an extended OCI when you are trying to clean up an engine. Get your favorite oil, replace 20% of it with MMO run it 3-4000 miles and dump the oil. If you're concerned about it thinning oil go up a grade.

Check out Kreen and A-Rx too while you're searching the site. Make sure you look at the A-Rx paid posters thread too, lots of good info there.
 
Maybe we can ask how many miles on this car before recommending a solution to a problem he hasn't identified. If he has run API approved oil at regular intervals since new, not sure why anyone would recommend a 20% MMO that reduces TBN and thins oil other than to have "someone else do it"
 
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Originally Posted By: simple_gifts
Maybe we can ask how many miles on this car before recommending a solution to a problem he hasn't identified. If he has run API approved oil at regular intervals since new, not sure why anyone would recommend a 20% MMO that reduces TBN and thins oil other than to have "someone else do it"



Good point, now the flip side: Maybe the OP doesn't know if he engine is clean or not. Maybe he can't see down the fill hole or pull a valve cover and wants to do some PM. As far as someone else doing it, I've already done it more times than I can count, and with positive results. Maybe to clean up an engine, silence a tick, or for preventative measures. I can't help but think of sludge prone engines that were run on approved oils and following the recommended intervals still having problems. IMO a little PM is a good thing from time to time. YMMV
 
Years ago,there was a big news story in the Concord NH area,where a guy had bought a used Toyota van (yes,the original one with the snub nose)from a large dealership.Shorty after buying it it started burning oil.He added Marvel Mystery Oil thinking it was going to slow the oil consumption down.Well,shortly thereafter the engine quit.He had it towed to the dealer and they tore the engine completely apart.They said there was excessive wear in certain components.He admitted then to adding MMO.They told him MMO thinned the oil too much and ruined lubrication,and thus would not stand behind the engine repairs at all.Plus he was to pay them hundreds for removing the engine and taking it apart.He picketed with signs off the highway exit claming they Wouldnt Stand behind their used cars.The dealer had him removed from the exit by state police.He kept up the negative campaign and within a few days the dealer contacted the guy to reach some sort of compromise.I dont know wether they split the repair costs or decided to get another vehicle,but the dealer was pretty straightforward that MMO ruined the oil's properties and caused the engine to fail.Of course there are many variables here...what weight of oil,how old was it,and how much MMO did he pour in?
 
Originally Posted By: NHGUY
Years ago,there was a big news story in the Concord NH area,where a guy had bought a used Toyota van (yes,the original one with the snub nose)from a large dealership.Shorty after buying it it started burning oil.He added Marvel Mystery Oil thinking it was going to slow the oil consumption down.Well,shortly thereafter the engine quit.He had it towed to the dealer and they tore the engine completely apart.They said there was excessive wear in certain components.He admitted then to adding MMO.They told him MMO thinned the oil too much and ruined lubrication,and thus would not stand behind the engine repairs at all.Plus he was to pay them hundreds for removing the engine and taking it apart.He picketed with signs off the highway exit claming they Wouldnt Stand behind their used cars.The dealer had him removed from the exit by state police.He kept up the negative campaign and within a few days the dealer contacted the guy to reach some sort of compromise.I dont know wether they split the repair costs or decided to get another vehicle,but the dealer was pretty straightforward that MMO ruined the oil's properties and caused the engine to fail.Of course there are many variables here...what weight of oil,how old was it,and how much MMO did he pour in?

Note what I bolded above. The problem wasn't the MMO, the problem was he bought a problem car from a shady dealer. Rather than go back to the dealer under warranty, he tried the $5 fix. When that didn't work, the car broke down. Then he gaffed providing the shady dealer ammo to blame it on him. (admitting using MMO). Its the way these side of the road car salesmen are. They can't afford to fix them, and will do anything to wiggle their way out of paying for something.
 
Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
The problem wasn't the MMO, the problem was he bought a problem car from a shady dealer. Rather than go back to the dealer under warranty, he tried the $5 fix.


The vehicle may have been sold "as is" with no warranty.
 
Originally Posted By: TurboJim
Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
The problem wasn't the MMO, the problem was he bought a problem car from a shady dealer. Rather than go back to the dealer under warranty, he tried the $5 fix.


The vehicle may have been sold "as is" with no warranty.

You think maybe it was the MMO? Why?
 
Originally Posted By: NHGUY
Years ago,there was a big news story in the Concord NH area,where a guy had bought a used Toyota van (yes,the original one with the snub nose)from a large dealership.Shorty after buying it it started burning oil.He added Marvel Mystery Oil thinking it was going to slow the oil consumption down.Well,shortly thereafter the engine quit.He had it towed to the dealer and they tore the engine completely apart.They said there was excessive wear in certain components.He admitted then to adding MMO.They told him MMO thinned the oil too much and ruined lubrication,and thus would not stand behind the engine repairs at all.Plus he was to pay them hundreds for removing the engine and taking it apart.He picketed with signs off the highway exit claming they Wouldnt Stand behind their used cars.The dealer had him removed from the exit by state police.He kept up the negative campaign and within a few days the dealer contacted the guy to reach some sort of compromise.I dont know wether they split the repair costs or decided to get another vehicle,but the dealer was pretty straightforward that MMO ruined the oil's properties and caused the engine to fail.Of course there are many variables here...what weight of oil,how old was it,and how much MMO did he pour in?


LOL maybe the MMO thinned the 90W gear oil the shady dealer installed in a bad engine to quiet it down. We had a manager who took many trades with knocking engines, because he was CLUELESS in how to check a vehicle. When the shop checked them out many of the "front line cars" got an oil change and one or even two bottles of LOS to shut them up. I mean after all how could they let the hammer used car manager look like a fool taking a bad trade to sell retail? Many came back just after the customer's dropped their oil, and discovered the knock.
 
Like Mr Demar-I've been using MMO since 1976 or 77-never had an engine problem. Have had great success getting rid of ticks and other miscellaneous underhood noises. I use it as a top off in the Tahoe, if it uses any before the OLM indicates a change is due
 
Originally Posted By: Donald
Just remember that MMO hurts the lubricity of the oil. It may do some cleaning but it certainly does not help the oil. There are better cleaners like AutoRx or Kreen. I posted the test in a prior post.


I believe you have that backwards. MMO is oil based and that's why you can run it a full OCI if you want to, and thus the reason for "Oil" in the name. I think Kreen is mostly a solvent. Multiple used oil analysis suggest MMO can decrease wear (probably at start up) and there is no evidence to even suggest it negatively affects wear that I'm aware of.
 
Originally Posted By: NHGUY
Years ago,there was a big news story in the Concord NH area,where a guy had bought a used Toyota van (yes,the original one with the snub nose)from a large dealership.Shorty after buying it it started burning oil.He added Marvel Mystery Oil thinking it was going to slow the oil consumption down.Well,shortly thereafter the engine quit.He had it towed to the dealer and they tore the engine completely apart.They said there was excessive wear in certain components.He admitted then to adding MMO.They told him MMO thinned the oil too much and ruined lubrication,and thus would not stand behind the engine repairs at all.Plus he was to pay them hundreds for removing the engine and taking it apart.He picketed with signs off the highway exit claming they Wouldnt Stand behind their used cars.The dealer had him removed from the exit by state police.He kept up the negative campaign and within a few days the dealer contacted the guy to reach some sort of compromise.I dont know wether they split the repair costs or decided to get another vehicle,but the dealer was pretty straightforward that MMO ruined the oil's properties and caused the engine to fail.Of course there are many variables here...what weight of oil,how old was it,and how much MMO did he pour in?


So many problems with the dealers version of that story it's ludicrous. Obviously a blatant attempt to blame shift and save money.

It's clear the problem was he bought a Toyota!
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MMO was created to go in an engine's oil, was created to do what we use it for, clean the inside of the engine. Not sure where people are getting the idea MMO is some foreign substance.
 
i have been using MMO in my gasoline for about 3 decades. i have not found a reason to use it in the crankcase. how ever i have a LOT respect for our friends, on this site. so DONT toss the ideas they give. if you think you might want to use MMO in your gasoline, here is a lubricator, that makes it easy to put MMO in the intake manifold. www.ampcolubes.com
 
Been using it in vehicles for many years. Last one was a 98 Escort that I'd run 1 quart mmo then 3 qt oil. 25% of sump capacity with MMO for 5000 mi OCI. NEVER an issue. Spotless valvetrain at 100k. No oil burning, and no engine problems or leaks at all.
 
Originally Posted By: fordranger03
Originally Posted By: Donald
I posted the test in a prior post.


Care to point me in the right direction, which thread?


http://www.natbiogroup.com/docs/education/lubricity additive study results.pdf

http://www.eng.wayne.edu/page.php?id=4971

Note this has nothing to do with a diesel engine. Its testing diesel as an oil with MMO, and other additives and with no additives. Some additives make the test results better (2 cycle oil for example) and some make it worse (MMO). You could substitute a 10W30 motor oil and rerun the test.
 
^ What does this have to do with adding MMO to the oil in a gas engine to clean it up? ^

As long as you're on a witch hunt check out our own used oil analysis section and see for yourself just how well MMO did adding it to the oil. The used oil analysis reports were quite good in fact, only a slight loss of TBN. As I already mentioned you shouldn't be extending OCI's when you're cleaning an engine, so its a moot point.
 
I would not think its a good idea to add something to the oil that hurts the lubricity of the engine oil and run it for any period of time. Thats why Amsoil flush is run at fast idle, no load and for 20 or 30 minutes.

Maybe MMO could be run like Amsoil flush under the same contitions.

I am not sure one UOA tells a whole lot about whether MMO helps or hurts lubricity.

My comments are on the lubricating side of MMO, not the cleaning side. You may conclude the cleaning effects outweigh the drop in lubricity. If so, Walmart has MMO by the gallon jug at their stores.
 
So if the used oil analysis reports showed additional wear or a problem then you'd agree with them? You've obviously searched the www. high and low to try and find fault with MMO, and this was all you could find? I'd think in over 85 years if it were ruining engines we'd know, There are probably thousands if not tens of thousands of people running in their sump year round each and every OCI. A know a few personally that have done so for decades, with squeaky clean engines with very high miles on them.
 
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Originally Posted By: Donald
I would not think its a good idea to add something to the oil that hurts the lubricity of the engine oil and run it for any period of time. Thats why Amsoil flush is run at fast idle, no load and for 20 or 30 minutes.

Maybe MMO could be run like Amsoil flush under the same contitions.

I am not sure one UOA tells a whole lot about whether MMO helps or hurts lubricity.

My comments are on the lubricating side of MMO, not the cleaning side. You may conclude the cleaning effects outweigh the drop in lubricity. If so, Walmart has MMO by the gallon jug at their stores.

Think I should repeat myself here. MMO was created to go in an engine's oil, was created to do what we use it for, clean the inside of the engine. Not sure where people are getting the idea MMO is some foreign substance.
 
Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
Originally Posted By: Donald
I would not think its a good idea to add something to the oil that hurts the lubricity of the engine oil and run it for any period of time. Thats why Amsoil flush is run at fast idle, no load and for 20 or 30 minutes.

Maybe MMO could be run like Amsoil flush under the same contitions.

I am not sure one UOA tells a whole lot about whether MMO helps or hurts lubricity.

My comments are on the lubricating side of MMO, not the cleaning side. You may conclude the cleaning effects outweigh the drop in lubricity. If so, Walmart has MMO by the gallon jug at their stores.

Think I should repeat myself here. MMO was created to go in an engine's oil, was created to do what we use it for, clean the inside of the engine. Not sure where people are getting the idea MMO is some foreign substance.


Just because MMO was created to go in engine oil does not mean that its any good.
 
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