View Full Version : Gas additive products...


buddy
02-03-2010, 02:23 PM
So... I don't exactly know that this thread would go along with the premix thread, as that involved discussion about the addition of oils into the gas... this is about a couple of other things...

:icon_tup: The first one I wanna talk about is a fuel injector cleaner of the "Lucas" brand. It's the one on the left... Before anyone starts ragging about adding things to the gas... hear me out on this one. After all I figure that if I use something in my 8 that IMPROVES the drive, I'd be obligated to share, no? Alright.

Besides the dud battery, one of the FIRST things I noticed when I test-drove my RX-8 on the lot was the roughness of the engine, before it idled, just right from the get-go. It sounded like what a misfire would sound like on a piston engine (I say that because I've never heard what an RX-8 sounds like when it misfires, although that was probably it). After it FINALLY dropped the engine speed, it was a SOOPER rough idle, like the mirrors were shaking and you felt like you were in a moonjump. Well it smoothed out a bit with a new battery and some TLC and driving. ANYWAYS, the first time I put gas in it, I tried a little bit of the Lucas fuel injector cleaner. and to no ill effect whatsoever! It even helped, drastically btw, with the somewhat still rough idle. So far, it seems to be doing reeeallly well. It also seems to really help with gas mileage. So if your having those problems, try it out, it might help quite a bit! It always worked awesomely with my other car, a 2001 4-cylinder Mercury Mystique. About $8-$12 a bottle depending on where you get it. 3 ounces to every 10 gallons, so each bottle treats up to 100 gallons of fuel! A great deal too. ;)

:icon_tdow: The second product I wanted to give mention to, wasn't such a good thing like the Lucas injector cleaner. It's an octane booster from Prestone, the one on the right... eh... I suppose it did its job because the car was smooth and everything; okay yeah, it worked fine, but it did NOT help mileage, whatsoever. Again, it DID NOT HELP WITH MILEAGE... in fact it suffered. My fuel light came on (I know I'm so bad) so I stopped and put $10 of gas to try out the octane booster. Maybe it was bad measuring, and the proportions weren't right, but $10 IS NOT SUPPOSED TO GET YOU 16 MILES BEFORE THE LIGHT TURNS ON AGAIN! So yeah, enough said on that one. The gas here on that night was $2.53/gal. So that's just under 4gal, give or take. EITHER WAY!!! 4 gal should NOT translate to 16 miles ie, 4MPG!!! I think something else was up there... O.O lol

Here's what the bottles look like... I'll add another product from time to time to give heads up on whatever I try. ;D ;)

Pico
02-03-2010, 02:52 PM
I'm guessing this is a new car for you.

I would try Bg44k in the tank if that doesn't do the trick I would soafoam the engine.

Check the coils/plugs----- has the engine ever been flooded?

How do you drive the car?
Miles on the car?
Anything else that would be a concern?

cornholio135
02-03-2010, 02:56 PM
I'm guessing this is a new car for you.

I would try Bg44k in the tank if that doesn't do the trick I would soafoam the engine.

Check the coils/plugs----- has the engine ever been flooded?

How do you drive the car?
Miles on the car?
Anything else that would be a concern?

+1 on the BG44K...

invasion08
02-03-2010, 03:25 PM
+2 on the BG44K Fuel System Cleaner

jasonrxeight
02-03-2010, 04:11 PM
how do you seafoam a rotary? wont it hydrolock the engine?

invasion08
02-03-2010, 04:17 PM
If you idle is rough i would think your motor mounts are shot. After i had my motor mounts replaced it idled smooth. The difference was like night and day. Octane Booster is a waste of money.

Jedi54
02-03-2010, 04:26 PM
where do you guys buy your BG44?
I got it from Rosenthal mazda in the past but didn't see it on their website last weekend.

EDZRIDE
02-03-2010, 04:31 PM
where do you guys buy your BG44?
I got it from Rosenthal mazda in the past but didn't see it on their website last weekend.

Most of the dealers carry it and it's also available on E-Bay.

greg985
02-03-2010, 05:43 PM
how do you seafoam a rotary? wont it hydrolock the engine?

you cant hydrolock a rotary

Jedi54
02-03-2010, 05:45 PM
yes you can, it's just very difficult.

invasion08
02-03-2010, 05:48 PM
I never ordered from here yet but this is the cheapest i found besides ebay. http://bbgearstop.com/bgproducts.html

I few other places are
http://rpgproduction.rpmware.com/bg_premaco/bg_fuel_additives_fuel_system_cleaners/208/i-151808.aspx

http://www.nismoparts.com/catalog/?section=774

http://www.omegalap.com/bg-products1.html

Jedi54
02-03-2010, 05:51 PM
Invasion: thanks so much for those links!

I stand corrected though, Rosenthal Mazda still carries BG 44k, they just had it listed under the Mazda 3 category. http://www.finishlineperformance.com/store/product.php?productid=16610&cat=0&page=1

buddy
02-03-2010, 09:15 PM
@ Pico: lol new for me yeah... But to answer your questions...

I checked the coil/plug as best I could and it SEEMED to check out alright, but then again, that's my non-expert status' observation.

I drive the car in kind of a reserved fashion, usually keeping rpm between 1500 and 3000 (during the day lol). Of course the occasional 'drifting' and Manual mode usage too... I've kicked the speed up over 100mph twice, scaring the crap outta myself... lol

On the car right now, about 34,200 miles on it.

The only concern is that it's due for a spark plug change according to the manual's schedule, I'm also gonna give it some new oil, ignition wires, and tranny fluid because I dunno how current the previous owner was with everything. I've replaced coolant already though.

BG44K??? Sure I'll look it up and stuff. :) The Lucas stuff is working fine so far... I'll post a mileage approximation when the tank is empty. ;D

I thought I saw on the seafoam can "Do not use on Rotary Engines"? O.o Maybe that was a different product, I read a lot of cans that night. lol

@ jasonrxeight: I feel kinda dumb... but what is hydrolock? I can assume it's when water locks something up??? but what? O.o

@ invasion08: Motor mounts??? yeah, the idle used to be super rough, it's not anymore, but there is a rhythmic shake every now and then. Is that costly? For motor mounts I mean...

lmfao... I know that now about octane booster. Thanks... lol

Thanks for all the links lol!!!!!

robrecht
02-03-2010, 10:16 PM
Don't use BG44k too often; it will interfere with your oil films inside your combustion chamber, right?

Jedi54
02-03-2010, 11:43 PM
not if you have the OMP settings cranked up via an AccessPORT like the rest of the cool kids do. :cool:

robrecht
02-03-2010, 11:59 PM
not if you have the OMP settings cranked up via an AccessPORT like the rest of the cool kids do. :cool:Yeah, I am the most uncool person in the world--I'm so totally uncool that some people think I'm ultracool. But, regardless, I just didn't want the newb to get the wrong idea. He too may not be as cool as the rest of you kids.

BTW, I think if you notice too much improvement when using a premix like Lucas UCL, you might wonder if your compression is already a little low.

swoope
02-04-2010, 12:02 AM
Don't use BG44k too often; it will interfere with your oil films inside your combustion chamber, right?

yes,

and that is a good debate.. i always stopped premix one tank before i ran 44k.. 44k for me was more about injectors..

10k miles was the time to run it..

beers :beer:

swoope
02-04-2010, 12:03 AM
Yeah, I am the most uncool person in the world--I'm so totally uncool that some people think I'm ultracool. But, regardless, I just didn't want the newb to get the wrong idea. He too may not be as cool as the rest of you kids.

BTW, I think if you notice too much improvement when using a premix like Lucas UCL, you might wonder if your compression is already a little low.

:)

in early 05!

beers :beer:

Jedi54
02-04-2010, 12:10 AM
same here swoope: I've run a bottle through my car to keep the injectors clean. I do it every 10-15k

swoope
02-04-2010, 12:20 AM
not if you have the OMP settings cranked up via an AccessPORT like the rest of the cool kids do. :cool:

700 bucks to be cool?

OMP cranked up good! but does not make you cool..

and an odd observation.. even cranked up.. i would have to watch comp ratios to feel safe... you cannot undo what is done.

beers :beer:

Razz1
02-04-2010, 12:53 AM
Lucas is good I use it on my 8

buddy
02-05-2010, 07:24 PM
Much information... :)

I don't think compression is bad because the power seems to be there... There's not lagging or anything, the revs feels and sound good. But then again I don't know what the exact symptoms of low compression would be like... O.o

Btw... I hit a pot hole on Wednesday... swirved on wet roads, smacked my rear end against the curb, and tore the crap outta the rim... :( Apiece of it is hanging, I'll post a pic later.

But I ordered it already, and it should be in tomorrow. XD Good thing there wasn't a pole or sign... or another car where the curb was cuz that would sucked! lol Luckily just the rim. :)