Engine additives are all sorts of substances that increase the performance of an automobile engine. Car dealerships today offer a wide range of these types of products. However, their choice should be taken with caution, since thoughtless use of additives can lead to damage to the power unit.
All additives can be divided according to application technologies. They can be poured into cylinders, injected into the engine through a carburetor, but the most common are drugs added to oil or gasoline.
All fuel additives serve to improve the quality of the fuel used and must correspond to the type of engine: carburetor, injection or diesel. All these drugs can be divided into three groups:
- to remove water from the gas tank. Helps to get rid of condensate vapors or partially bind water in low-quality fuels.
- for cleaning the fuel system (fuel lines, combustion chambers, exhaust valves).
- to eliminate detonation phenomena, increase the octane number of the fuel.
Various additives in engine oil are designed to improve its properties and increase the service life of vehicle power units. Today, there are several types of such additives:
- Detergents. They keep the engine clean. The substances that make up their composition help to remove the products of oil oxidation and wear of parts, prevent soot from sticking to the walls of the metal, etc.
- Preparations to prevent wear of engine parts. Their task is to provide additional protection in those places where an oil film of the required thickness does not form.
- Additives that increase the efficiency of the engine by reducing the friction force.
- Restoring. Capable of restoring a layer of ceramic or metal on worn out parts of the motor. Such additives can increase the service life of the power unit and reduce oil consumption.
- Auxiliary substances for better grinding of rubbing surfaces of parts during the running-in period of a new machine.
- Thickening, allow to obtain oils with good viscosity-temperature properties. This, in turn, makes it possible to operate vehicles in harsh climatic conditions.
There are also multifunctional additives that combine antiwear, detergents, anticorrosive, antioxidant and other properties. But before you decide to use these drugs, weigh the pros and cons of their use. After all, they are not a panacea for automobile "diseases". It is only a preventive measure that must be used carefully to avoid damaging the engine.
