Since I don't really have the technical background I'm not really one to say but it seems to me that every quart of any additive used to replace an actual quart of oil is anywhere from 3.50 to 8.00 worth of oil NOT sold by the companies that make the oil. The strength of the Amsoil tech's argument comes from them not making any oil additives I suppose, but then, I have no idea what price point looks like for this stuff overall. The Lucas stuff I use is cheaper per quart than Amsoil's oil (Least it was when I checked last) so I'm guessing unless they produced it and charged MORE, they'd lose money. I've been using Valvoline's 4-Stroke stuff at 3.50 a quart and half a quart of Lucas Oil Additive and the bike shifts and sounds better than ever at almost 21k. Still...other companies make additives. What it comes down to is I guess I'm not surprised a company is not recommending their competition's product. I just can't say for sure that that, and not making any themselves, is a lock tight argument that additives categorically don't work.
In reponding to the next post, I can't argue that frequent oil changes are essential to small air cooled engines; I change mine every 1500 to 2000, filters too. My understanding of tech issues are often limited to various platitudes however. I've heard since I was a kid that "the worst thing you can do to your engine is start it", since the oil's all in the bottom of the case and has drained off your internal mechanisms; specially on hot days when these things just sit and bake in the sun. My understanding of the Lucas treatment, which after all is 100% a petroleum distillate product, is that it adheres better to those parts, reducing the damage from dry starts. This stuff spider-webs at like, 80F. It seems that no matter how often you change your oil, you're not solving THAT particular problem.
My primary question actually was the value of this stuff as a gas additive to lubricate the upper pistons, rings and keep the carbs clean and increased milage. I actually should take the short walk out to the shop and check the Lucas gas treatment and see if it makes the same claims but I'm still interested in feedback, primarily on a comparison between the Lucas gas treatment and the Mystery Oil on that. What sparked my curiousity was its dual application character.
BB
http://searchbeamfocus.blogspot.com/2007_04_01_archive.html
