Engine life and performance rely heavily on the lubricating materials used inside engine components. Standard oil lubricants are formulated to be compatible with the workings of the engine, per manufacturer recommendations. Oil additives are designed to enhance engine performance and protect inner workings; however, this may, or may not be case.
Oil additives are made up of synthetic materials designed to reduce the wear and tear on the car engine, according to Modern Car Care, a car care resource site. And while there are many different brands available for use, polytetrafloeraethylene (PTFE) is the common active ingredient used in each brand. PTFE is a Teflon material, and a trademark product of the Dupont Chemical Corporation. In effect, PTFE is suspended inside the additive in a powered form. Some oil additives may contain additional materials to increase the anti-wear effect of the fluid.
API-licensed oil --the kind that's recommended for use in an engine---is carefully formulated to work inside an engine without causing corrosive or clogging effects within the workings of the motor. And while oil additives are intended to enhance the lubricating effects of API-licensed oil, many manufacturer warranties may be voided when aftermarket lubricants are used, according to Modern Car Care.
As standard oil is designed to protect engine parts from friction, heat and maintain the life of the engine, oil additives are marketed as engine "enhancers," capable of protecting and strengthening engine performance. As PTFE, or Teflon, is a well known anti-stick, durable material (as far as cookware goes), these benefits are believed to transfer when used inside the workings of an engine. Reduced engine wear during start-up, driving performance, extended engine life, lower temperatures, increased power and increased gas mileage are some of the effects oil additives are marketed as having.
In terms of cost, additive brands vary with prices ranging anywhere from $6 to $36, according to Modern Car Care. This is in addition to the cost of the standard oil used for an oil change, and the filter component. Once processed through the engine, free-floating Teflon particles contained inside the fluid are designed to be caught by the oil filter once they reach a certain density level.
Tests conducted in 1998 by the NASA Lewis Research Center examined the actual effects of oil additives on engine condition and performance using different marketed brands. Bearing surface contact, sedimentation and reduced wear-and-tear effects were the conditions observed during testing. Results from the tests showed sediment accumulations along engine inlets, and clogged oil filter components that ultimately caused reductions in oil pressure and engine performance. In some cases, sedimentation prevented needed lubricant fluids from reaching areas of the engine. Researchers concluded the overall effects of oil additives could actually be damaging to engine components in the long term, according to Modern Car Care. Ultimately, the question as to whether or not additives do work may depend on a user's perspective, and the risks he's willing to take.
