Marvel Mystery Oil

[evillecutter]

the mystery of the oil is whether it works or not - 500 miles later and no change for me

[blacksambo]

I'd keep trying it. What do you have to lose...$4.00?

[evillecutter]

I'd keep trying it. What do you have to lose...$4.00?

you are right - and it does seem to have quieted it down a bit but it could just be my imagination

[89Vette]

It would be reasonable to assume that units still running well -- and w/o any lower ring issues -- will be aging to the point where valve seals will seep (especially at start-up). Take a good look out the back window at (cold) start-up. If you see some [light-bluish] smoke, that's probably where your oil is going.

MMO definitely won't help that. Not really convinced these high-mileage oils would provide the "magic" seal conditioner that would help valve seals either. Seems they're more for simple leaky gaskets -- which are better off replaced.

[blacksambo]

It would be reasonable to assume that units still running well -- and w/o any lower ring issues -- will be aging to the point where valve seals will seep (especially at start-up). Take a good look out the back window at (cold) start-up. If you see some [light-bluish] smoke, that's probably where your oil is going.

MMO definitely won't help that. Not really convinced these high-mileage oils would provide the "magic" seal conditioner that would help valve seals either. Seems they're more for simple leaky gaskets -- which are better off replaced.

My rear main seal started leaking so I changed to high-mileage Mobil1 with seal conditioner, and low and behold it worked like a charm 15K miles ago. Still going strong.....

[Scott Larson]

There's no such thing as a magic cure, that said, Marvel is not magic, nor is it a mystery. It's just a high strength petroleum detergent with good lubrication qualities. In the RC world we've used it for years to keep nitro engines from gunking-up and sticking during storage. With that knowledge in mind, I've used it for as many years in automotive, marine and motorcycle engines with satisfactory results, but no miracles...

[VX KAT]

There's no such thing as a magic cure, that said, Marvel is not magic, nor is it a mystery. It's just a high strength petroleum detergent with good lubrication qualities. In the RC world we've used it for years to keep nitro engines from gunking-up and sticking during storage. With that knowledge in mind, I've used it for as many years in automotive, marine and motorcycle engines with satisfactory results, but no miracles...

Scott- Do you think this MMO would clean so well that leaks may occur when it cleans away crud/varnish,which were acting as a seal?

[Scott Larson]

Sue, in my opinion, no. It is has detergent qualities but it is not harsh, I've never experienced any problems nor would I expect any. I've used Amsoil Engine Cleaner in several engines with only good results also...The "false seals" you're referring to really only show-up in high-mileage, truly dirty engines.

[VX KAT]

Sue, in my opinion, no. It is has detergent qualities but it is not harsh, I've never experienced any problems nor would I expect any. I've used Amsoil Engine Cleaner in several engines with only good results also...The "false seals" you're referring to really only show-up in high-mileage, truly dirty engines.

Thansk Scott.
I used Seafoam once in '09, then used the Amsoil Engine cleaner in 2011
For my VX with 81,400k and about 4,000 miles/year, how frequent should I use these cleaners?

THe MMO sounds so good, I'm thinking of throwing a quart of that in too.

[89Vette]

Sue, in my opinion, no. It is has detergent qualities but it is not harsh, I've never experienced any problems nor would I expect any. I've used Amsoil Engine Cleaner in several engines with only good results also...The "false seals" you're referring to really only show-up in high-mileage, truly dirty engines.

Mechanical backgroud?

Assuming yes...if you buy into the benefit of MMO, what about "Motor Flush"for higher concentrated (oil-change) flushing? Seems like this would be the next level of treatment really hoping to free up engine sludge.

I'm thinking it's mosting Naptha...and you add a whole quart, idle for a few minutes, then dump....and change oil.

[Scott Larson]

No prob Sue. As to your second question, if you change oil regularly using quality oil and filters (such as Amsoil Synthetic), you should never need to run an engine cleaner again. It's one of those things you do when you get a used vehicle and suspect or confirm that it was not properly maintained by the previous owner(s)...

[Scott Larson]

An old-school trick to engine cleaning was to ad a quart of diesel fuel/fuel oil to your engine for about a half hour of run time and then pull the plug, I wouldn't recommend that trick any more. There's also alot of voodoo engine cleaners I wouldn't trust either, especially anything containing naptha, ether, toluene, acetone or anything caustic.

[Scott Larson]

I guess the bottom line is if you have a really gunked-up, high mileage engine and feel you must clean it, don't be surprised if you open a can-o-worms in the process. Don't let your engine get that way and don't buy an engine that way and you should be good...and still you can have problems, there are no guarantees!! Too many forum members have done exactly the right things and still gotten burned...

[kehecross]

I guess the bottom line is if you have a really gunked-up, high mileage engine and feel you must clean it, don't be surprised if you open a can-o-worms in the process. Don't let your engine get that way and don't buy an engine that way and you should be good...and still you can have problems, there are no guarantees!! Too many forum members have done exactly the right things and still gotten burned...

I am with ya Scott, My VX started using more oil about 7000 miles ago it went from a quart 1000 to 1500 mile to a quart 300 to 700 miles. I figure that maybe if I add MMO now maybe I get it clean before it goes to long. I am the second owner of this car. Bought it with 56000 miles it now has 69000 miles on it. I honestly think that MMO would be not as harsh as some other engine cleaners out there. If it works I'm happy happy happy! if not I will run it till it blows. Just gotta try something

[Scott Larson]

Sleeping on an issue sometimes brings clarity...I recall this morning something my dad did to free sticky rings in our '64 Comet with great results. It was burning oil and he knew it was getting past the rings 'cuz it even smoked a little after warm-up, so one Friday night after mom got home he pulled the plugs and poured Marvel Mystery Oil in each cylinder and then turned the engine over a few times by hand and shut the hood 'till Sunday afternoon. He reinstalled the plugs and fired it up, let it build oil pressure and then reved the hell out of it; man did that thing smoke! After about five minutes of idling and occasional reving he took it out with me and "burned the carbon out". No more smoking Comet, the MMO freed-up the rings and they did their job for the next couple of years until my older brother got the car and proceeded to wreck it much to our father's dismay...Now, would that trick work on our oft-times fouled-ringed little V6's? Can't see how it could hurt to try, it dissolved whatever gunk was sticking the rings in that old Ford. In hindsight, and with what I've learned since all those years ago, I'm sure the ring-lands were carboned-up and the Marvel dissolved that carbon. Sounds like a familiar situation, hmmmmmmm... Anybody care to give it a shot?