STEVE POLLARD Posted December 8, 2021 Share Posted December 8, 2021 I've always use fuel stabilizer such as "STA-BIL" for all of my classic vehicles ( and small engines like the mower, snow thrower etc... for that matter ) but I never used an oil stabilizer. A friend / gear head co-worker mention the oil stabilizer to me, he suggested "Lucas".... I never used it before, but he said that for my vehicles that sit for weeks without start up, this would be perfect lubricate. It doesn't have to be Lucas, but what's your feelings on the oil stabilizer? Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted December 8, 2021 Share Posted December 8, 2021 I just change the oil in my vehicles before I put them up for winter. Also filter if the vehicle has one. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Huston Posted December 8, 2021 Share Posted December 8, 2021 I have never used an oil stabilizer. I have always changed the oil on my collector cars in the fall and spring. During the winter, I start the engines and let them ideal for about 15 - 20 minutes every couple of weeks. In the spring, before driving them again, I change the oil. This system works for me with out the need to add stabilizer to the oil out here in no freezing weather Commifornia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustDave Posted December 8, 2021 Share Posted December 8, 2021 I never used it until the last couple of years,my daily driver is a 1993 Chevy s10 pickup with the4.3 v6, at about 170000 miles it was using a quart of oil about every 1800 miles,I changed to Mobil one synthetic and the Lucas oil stabilizer now I get about2700 to 2800 miles to a quart,also use it in the automatic trans, dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted December 8, 2021 Share Posted December 8, 2021 If additives did anything, they'd already be in there. 8 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted December 8, 2021 Share Posted December 8, 2021 2 hours ago, JustDave said: I never used it until the last couple of years,my daily driver is a 1993 Chevy s10 pickup with the4.3 v6, at about 170000 miles it was using a quart of oil about every 1800 miles,I changed to Mobil one synthetic and the Lucas oil stabilizer now I get about2700 to 2800 miles to a quart,also use it in the automatic trans, dave Interesting! What cost for the extra miles? Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE POLLARD Posted December 8, 2021 Author Share Posted December 8, 2021 I went down to the local parts store and picked up a bottle ( $13.99 )...it states: Eliminates dry starts: Seals worn cylinders etc...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted sweet Posted December 8, 2021 Share Posted December 8, 2021 totally different usage than a fuel stabilizer. its snake oil 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted December 9, 2021 Share Posted December 9, 2021 STP lives on! 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Green Posted December 9, 2021 Share Posted December 9, 2021 I have used the Lucas oil stabilizer now for approximately 16 years. I use a 35% mix of it with 90 weight oil for the Amphicar in both the water and land manual transmissions per the Lucas instructions. I always had a slight grinding when shifting on occasion however with the Lucas it makes the tranny’s shift quite and seamless even when cold starting out. Never tried it in the oil as Mobil 1 oil seems to work just fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted December 9, 2021 Share Posted December 9, 2021 I use some pills I just drop in the gas tank. Since I started using them my cars have stopped burning oil, the solid lifters are quiet, the fan belt doesn't squeak, and I don't have to get up 4 times at night to pee ...............Bob 2 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junkyardjeff Posted December 9, 2021 Share Posted December 9, 2021 I have been using it in my 37 Chevy p/u for the last few years,the 57 235 that is in it has some loose bearings and have not put a rod through the block yet and I do not baby it so it must be doing something. I do have another 235 on the stand waiting to go in when I get off my behind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SC38dls Posted December 9, 2021 Share Posted December 9, 2021 1 hour ago, Bhigdog said: I use some pills I just drop in the gas tank. Since I started using them my cars have stopped burning oil, the solid lifters are quiet, the fan belt doesn't squeak, and I don't have to get up 4 times at night to pee ...............Bob What are the pills? A full nights sleep sounds good! dave s 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Dobbin Posted December 9, 2021 Share Posted December 9, 2021 1 hour ago, Bhigdog said: I use some pills I just drop in the gas tank. Since I started using them my cars have stopped burning oil, the solid lifters are quiet, the fan belt doesn't squeak, and I don't have to get up 4 times at night to pee ...............Bob i got some of that from a Eurologist, it's called Oxybutinin. Maybe I'll try it out on the cars and see if it stops the leaks. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesR Posted December 9, 2021 Share Posted December 9, 2021 17 hours ago, ted sweet said: totally different usage than a fuel stabilizer. its snake oil Steve, I'm afraid I agree with Ted. My impression is the Lucas so called "stabilizer" is intended for worn out engines that need some help lasting another 10,000 miles before going belly up. That's why it's so thick, if I'm thinking of the same product. In that context, it's maybe okay for a daily driver with 190,000 miles on it. Yes, it's extreme viscosity will help worn out bearings quiet down and old rings seal better, but I've heard it can be detrimental to engines in good condition. I may have used it once in one of my old collector cars, but I've never been able to bring myself to do that again. Instead, I use STP in engines with good results, so it's not like I'm opposed to additives in oil. A respected local engine builder recommends STP, in fact. Sometimes after extended periods of non-use, I'll also put Sea Foam in one of my cars to free sticky rings, but only on a temporary basis. Once the car stops smoking after the rings are freed up, I change the oil and don't use Sea Foam. My general attitude is the less additives the better, but it isn't a hard and fast rule for me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted December 9, 2021 Share Posted December 9, 2021 STP is just a viscosity modifier. If you like what it does, just buy thicker oil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Str8-8-Dave Posted December 9, 2021 Share Posted December 9, 2021 (edited) Oil is pretty stable, it's just that they keep on taking stuff out of it. If it smells bad or is known to cause cancer in laboratory rats that drink it, the EPA has removed it. A common wear additive that has been carefully removed is Zinc Dialkyl Dithio Phosphate which you may recognize comes in little bottles marked ZDDP. This additive leaves a wear resistant coating on high friction surfaces like flat tappet camshaft surfaces. I'm a firm believer in Sta-Bil for fuel preservation, all my shop fuel gets treated the day it comes in the door because I'm a forgetful old guy, I can never remember how many years ago I bought it. A small bottle of this stuff is probably good medicine for your modern oil, especially if your engine has non-roller flat tappet valve gear. Edited December 9, 2021 by Str8-8-Dave (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richasco Posted December 9, 2021 Share Posted December 9, 2021 Go to your local auto parts store and look for the Lucas Oil Demonstrator. It’s a plastic housing with gears that you can crank by hand. One side has regular oil the other has Lucas in it. You are supposed to spin each side so you can see how the Lucas sticks to the gears. No one ever mentions the fact that the Lucas does not sling off the gears and you get no splash lubrication. If you are at the point where you think you need this miracle in a bottle, it’s already too late. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted December 9, 2021 Share Posted December 9, 2021 Personally I know I need my ZDDP restored. I sure cant ZDDP around like I did in my younger days! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesR Posted December 9, 2021 Share Posted December 9, 2021 2 hours ago, Matt Harwood said: STP is just a viscosity modifier. If you like what it does, just buy thicker oil. As I recall, the STP is also a zinc additive. That's really why I started using it to begin with. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted December 9, 2021 Share Posted December 9, 2021 Many times my wife and I have walked away from a conversation with another person and she has scoldingly told me "you know that believed you!". I read a recent study from a noted Eurologist. Part of his study was was based on the affects of Lucas products in the automotive field. The scientific community threw it out as common dark humor. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SC38dls Posted December 9, 2021 Share Posted December 9, 2021 (edited) Was it dark humor because it was Lucas? 😳 dave s Edited December 9, 2021 by SC38dls (see edit history) 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bryankazmer Posted December 9, 2021 Share Posted December 9, 2021 2 hours ago, Matt Harwood said: STP is just a viscosity modifier. If you like what it does, just buy thicker oil. If it's still the same formula, it's a solution of polymer in oil - basically a concentrate of the multiviscosity oil modifier, as Matt says. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe in Canada Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 Does about as much good as gas stabilizer. Nothing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Dobbin Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 Once I had a gas powered golf cart that lost it's zip. I put some "Restorer" in and the compression went up from 70 PSI to 90 PSI. The manual said 100 PSI when new. It was only30 years old but didn't regain its zip. What did I expect from 8.5 HP? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan G Posted December 13, 2021 Share Posted December 13, 2021 I was pumping gas into my old Ford one day a while back when a fellow ambled over and let me know I had a water leak. "Ah, 65 years old, I expect it to leak now and then!" "Hey, I'm 65!" He then excused himself...to use the rest room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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