Why the huge obsession with adding MMO?

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It's basically used as a finisher during an oil change to help give one final push/clean before changing out the oil in a car that hasn't been well maintained. It's a mild solvent and does a good job of cleaning. I wouldn't use it all the time, only when needed.

Now for fuel, I think its a great addition, smoother engine, UCL, and might see a mpg improvement.
 
Here is how I see it. This is a general statement, and applies for anyone using any additive, not only MMO. If you honestly believe that the oil maker is giving you the very best oil possible, that can't be improved upon. That is loaded with goodies that will give you the least wear, keep your engine clean, free of lifter noises, dirt, etc. then there is no need to use any additives.

OTOH if you don't think the oil is the very best, and you suspect dirt, or think you can extend life by reducing wear, have ticking lifters, or noise during cold starts it might be worth looking into an additive. There are countless success stories here with many additives, seems the biggest critics of them are people who have no experience using them. JMO

I believe all oil companies including the most expensive boutique oils are blended with cost in mind. I also believe that anything can be made better. In business profit comes before quality. I'd like to say profit "always" comes before making the very best, and believe "always", but will say "mostly" not to go off onto another topic, or discuss business ethics.
 
MMO will do nothing good to my engine IMO. Run good oil, change it when the manufacture recomends and you will probable sell it as a good running vehicle at 175,000+ miles.
 
Additives are not for everyone. For those who don't feel the need, they shouldn't use them. I also think oil companies have proft in mind, and the very best oil doesn't exist. JMO
 
I'd use it b/c it is a very 'gentle' cleaner.

It won't hurt anything, and it may remove samll amounts of deposits.

Plus, in the US, it seems to be VERY inexpensive.
 
Originally Posted By: Hemi426
Today's engine oils don't need anything added to their chemistry yet every post has someone adding it to their oil or even their gas.


I've been "obsessed" with MMO since youth. (that's been awhile)

I've witnessed many cases of "unstuck" rings, quietened valve-trains, and gunk removed that "good quality" oils would not touch.
These are remedies that can be demonstrated in the field.

As a fuel additive I believe the effects are less demonstrable.
It would make sense that some upper cylinder lubrication is provided. In addition it is assumed there is some valve stem/guide and fuel system lubrication occurring. Use in gasoline would bring a modest decrease in the fuel's octane.

Chemists Etc. I welcome correction if I am wrong with this:
I believe that the downside may lie in the aromatic hydrocarbon content. I assume that the aromatic fractions while having solvent activity; will eventually break down when used in the crankcase.

I never leave MMO in the crankcase for over 500 miles due to my suspicions.

I recently minimized the oil consumption in a '96 Saturn using two short runs of MMO. Of course to have been scientific I should have tried Ultra first. The MMO cost less, and is a known remedy for my purposes.

As others have said, I don't recommend it in the crankcase as a preventative. As a curative, yes good results can be obtained.

My recommendation:
If you need it, use it.
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Rickey.
 
Originally Posted By: Rickey
Originally Posted By: Hemi426
Today's engine oils don't need anything added to their chemistry yet every post has someone adding it to their oil or even their gas.


Use in gasoline would bring a modest decrease in the fuel's octane.



Rickey.


Rickey, do you know this for sure? According to Rich Kelly on the MMO site, MMO at the recommended rate has no effect on octane.
 
Originally Posted By: Spyder7
Good read.

I'm wanting to do one of these as well a little further down the road (same problem, but not as severe). Seafoam has been suggested but my preference is to try MMO. This will be after I get the sludge I inherited with the car cleaned out, and while changing the plugs for the first time in this car's lifetime (part of my 2011 major tune up plan).

-Spyder


i suggest 2-3 oz in each cylinder and let it sit at least 8 hours. when i came back, 3 of the 4 cylinders had drained dry, so it would be a good idea to check up on it now and then. just crank it over to get some of the excess stuff out, put the plugs back in and start it up, it will smoke a little, now go drive it like you stole it.

adding the maintenance dose was also a pretty good idea on my part now that i think about it, long term cleaning. this actually did make a big difference because it A) now burns no noticable about of oil to date (i'll have to check it later today) and B) before i did it, the car wouldnt get past 100, seemed stuck at one rpm and had no power, now it runs perfectly.

i wouldnt use seafoam because it will strip off any oil layers between the piston and the cylinder thus causing a completely dry start, if you do decide to use it, i would at least use MMO afterwards, and ideally a tiny bit of motor oil too.
 
As an engineer, I know full well there is nothing designed or engineered to "perfection." Everything in this world can be improved, including oils. If you don't think an oil can be improved, I'm guessing you assume there will never be anymore new oils coming out or reformulations?

I don't blame anyone for trying to improve something. That is how things evolve and improve and how society advances as a whole. Does MMO improve anything? I don't know.
 
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Originally Posted By: badtlc
As an engineer, I know full well there is nothing designed or engineered to "perfection." Everything in this world can be improved, including oils. If you don't think an oil can be improved, I'm guessing you assume there will never be anymore new oils coming out or reformulations?

I don't blame anyone for trying to improve something. That is how things evolve and improve and how society advances as a whole.


+1
 
Originally Posted By: panthermike
Originally Posted By: Rickey
Originally Posted By: Hemi426
Today's engine oils don't need anything added to their chemistry yet every post has someone adding it to their oil or even their gas.


Use in gasoline would bring a modest decrease in the fuel's octane.



Rickey.


Rickey, do you know this for sure? According to Rich Kelly on the MMO site, MMO at the recommended rate has no effect on octane.


I know for a fact that considerably more than the recommended dosage will increase tenancies to spark knock.
I have to believe that there is some (inconsequential) loss of octane even at recommended doses.

Rickey.
 
even a large dose (i.e. 1 quart for a full tank) is such a small percentage of the total volume that i cant imagine it dropping more than 1, maybe 2% octane rating.
 
Originally Posted By: badtlc
As an engineer, I know full well there is nothing designed or engineered to "perfection." Everything in this world can be improved, including oils. If you don't think an oil can be improved, I'm guessing you assume there will never be anymore new oils coming out or reformulations?


New oils and reformulations will be driven by government mandates, not innovations. Wether or not the "improvements" are actually improvements will be open to intense debate.
 
Originally Posted By: gfh77665
Originally Posted By: badtlc
As an engineer, I know full well there is nothing designed or engineered to "perfection." Everything in this world can be improved, including oils. If you don't think an oil can be improved, I'm guessing you assume there will never be anymore new oils coming out or reformulations?


New oils and reformulations will be driven by government mandates, not innovations. Wether or not the "improvements" are actually improvements will be open to intense debate.


Oh, yeah, that makes total sense considering everyone makes bottom of the barrel API SM oils that have no discernible differences.....
 
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