6 Best Oil Additives: Complete Guide

Key Takeaways:

• Oil additives can keep your engine performing well. 
• Anti-wear additives and detergent additives are two of the main options. 
• Valvoline Engine Oil Treatment and Shell X-100 Zinc Additive are two great oil additives. 

Additives help improve the performance of key automotive fluids, from engine oils to fuel. Yet selecting from the countless oil additives available can feel overwhelming, especially if you don’t know how to differentiate one from the next. 

The comprehensive guide below explores the benefits and different types of oil additives before delving into six of the best oil additive products you can use to improve your engine oil’s performance and protect your engine for thousands more miles. 

What Are Oil Additives?

The motor oils you put in your car incorporate additives formulated to enhance their performance and service life. These automotive oil additives offer benefits similar to those of industrial additives, which are custom-tailored to particular applications. 

More specifically, these oil additives help maintain engine health by reducing friction, increasing fuel economy, and removing debris. 

What Benefits Do Oil Additives Offer? 

Treating your car’s engine oil with oil additives can offer numerous benefits, including the following: 

• Extended service intervals: Oil additives can help extend the time between oil changes by replacing some of the original formulation’s additives. 

• Engine protection: Increased lubricity helps reduce wear and tear, especially during cold starts. 

• Stabilized operating temperatures: An oil additive can help reduce foam that can inflate operating temperatures and protect parts susceptible to temperature fluctuations. 

• Increased fuel efficiency: The friction-reducing qualities of oil additives help improve fuel economy.

• Torque and horsepower enhancement: Oil additives coat valve guides and cylinder rings for better sealing power. 

• Engine oil stabilization: Brings the oil’s viscosity index within recommended parameters to avoid thermal breakdown. 

• Noise reduction: Adding an oil additive to the engine oil increases its lubricating capability, allowing the engine to better absorb mechanical shocks that often include an audible component. 

Before we compare the six best oil additives on the market today, let’s explore the various types of oil additives. Knowing how to differentiate the oil additive products you encounter can help you make a more informed purchase. 

What Are the Different Types of Oil Additives?

Oil additives come in several different formulations, similar to conventional, synthetic blend, and synthetic motor oils. Many of the best oil additive products listed below incorporate one or more of these properties. 

Anti-Wear Additives

Oil additives designed to reduce wear typically contain zinc, phosphorus, or molybdenum to form a protective barrier between metal parts. Some anti-wear additives also slow oxidation and prevent corrosion. 

Detergent Additives

Designed to clean the engine’s internals and remove build-up, detergents keep the engine running smoothly. Most detergents target acids and help prevent the formation of sludge. 

Antifoamants

Meant to prevent foaming, antifoamants decrease the surface tension between air bubbles and the engine oil they sit upon. Antifoamants can also help prevent corrosion. 

Dispersant Additives

Designed to suspend solid contaminant particles in the oil and remove them during an oil change, dispersant additives help prevent the formation of sludge and varnish. They can also contribute to viscosity regulation. 

Viscosity Improver Additives

Also known as viscosity index improvers, these oil additives help maintain the oil’s thickness and flow, especially in colder temperatures. Without the right viscosity, your engine’s oil may fail to lubricate key internal components, which could otherwise fail catastrophically. 

Friction Modifier Additives

Aimed at reducing friction between metal components, friction modifiers improve engine efficiency and performance to increase longevity. Friction modifiers can also be added to fuel to enhance efficiency. 

6 Best Oil Additives

Many of the brands below are well-known for producing various aftermarket treatments that keep vehicles on the road longer. As you explore these six best oil additives for your car’s engine, consider which best suits your engine’s specific needs. 

1. Valvoline Engine Oil Treatment

Valvoline Engine Oil Treatment is a one-time treatment that offers long-term results. After an oil change, add Valvoline Engine Oil Treatment to the clean engine oil. This friction- and wear-reducing oil additive also boosts oxidation resistance, improves viscosity, and protects the engine against cold starts.

2. Lucas Oil Heavy Duty Oil Stabilizer

Lucas Oil Heavy Duty Oil Stabilizer is a multi-functional oil additive that thickens engine oil, reducing oil consumption and noise, especially in older engines that often burn oil. Lucas Oil’s formula includes detergents and lubricants designed to protect against engine wear and increase both performance and longevity. 

While Lucas Oil Heavy Duty Oil Stabilizer is compatible with most engines, it’s not ideal for those with tighter tolerances due to its capacity to thicken the oil. 

3. Shell X-100 Zinc Additive

Introducing Shell X-100 Zinc Additive into your older engine can help protect the camshaft and valve train from wear. This product coats metal surfaces with a protective film to prevent premature wear. It’s also compatible with most modern engine oils. 

4. Liqui Moly MoS2 Anti-Friction Engine Treatment

Complete with a Molybdenum disulfide friction-reducing formula, Liqui Moly’s oil additive improves wear protection, increases efficiency, and helps with cold starts. 

Liqui Moly MoS2 Anti-Friction Engine Treatment is compatible with synthetic and conventional oils, and can be used every 20,000 miles on older engines and European cars. However, it can darken the oil and shouldn’t be used with diesel or motorcycle engines.

5. Amsoil Engine and Transmission Flush

If you’re looking to improve oil circulation and reduce engine wear, check out Amsoil’s Engine and Transmission Flush. Although it is not a long-term oil additive, this solvent-free detergent is ideal for use before filling your vehicle with synthetic motor oil. 

Amsoil Engine and Transmission Flush is safe for removing sludge and varnish build-up in gas and diesel engines. 

High-Quality Products Make Better Performance Possible

Oil additives make improving engine performance possible, even more so when you start with superior lubricants specifically formulated to enhance engine health and increase longevity. Cadence stocks only the best lubricants from trusted brands to ensure our customers always receive high-quality products. 

Call us at 336-629-2061 to learn more about the lubricants we carry and our commitment to delivering value at every turn.

FAQs

What are fuel additives?

Fuel additives are chemical compounds formulated to enhance the quality and efficiency of fuel. They are mixed into gasoline or diesel to improve performance, reduce engine wear, lower emissions, and prevent deposit buildup in the fuel system.

Do I really need fuel additives for my car?

In many cases, modern fuels already contain a basic set of additives from the refinery. However, using aftermarket fuel additives can provide extra benefits, especially for older engines, vehicles with high mileage, or those experiencing issues like rough idling, engine knocking, or poor fuel economy.

What types of fuel additives are available?

There are several categories of fuel additives, including:

• Detergents : Clean carbon and sludge deposits from injectors and intake valves.
• Octane boosters: Improve engine performance and reduce knocking.
• Fuel stabilizers: Prevent fuel degradation in vehicles stored long-term.
• Anti-gel additives: Keep diesel fuel flowing in cold temperatures.
• Corrosion inhibitors: Protect internal components from rust and oxidation.

Sources:

What is Corrosion? | Electrochem

(PDF) Review of Viscosity Modifier Lubricant Additives | ResearchGate

Friction & Air Resistance | Lemonade-Ed

Molybdenum - Element information, properties and uses | Periodic Table