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Are Oil Additives Good or Bad?
I’m so confused! I purchased a product called an oil additive. I’d never heard of it, but the guy at the store said it would improve my engine’s performance and gas mileage. But when I got home my roommate told me not to use it—that it was bad for my engine. Should I use oil additives? Are they good or bad?
Patrick Price · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
This issue can be a bit confusing. The short answer is that oil additives are good for your engine. More than that, they’re essential for oil to do its job properly.
Unfortunately, it’s not quite as simple as it sounds. Your oil already comes with additives in it. Adding aftermarket oil additives can sometimes improve performance, but too much can cause problems.
Using the right amount of oil additives can improve your engine’s performance, lengthen its lifespan, reduce the need for repairs, and improve your fuel economy. But too much of a good thing can have the opposite effect. If you overuse additives it can cause the following problems:
- Decreased fuel economy
- The formation of rust or corrosion
- Oil that is sludgy or has the incorrect viscosity
- Overheating
The question of aftermarket oil additives is a bit of a grey area. As you’ve already found out, people often disagree as to whether or not you should use them.
Not all oils have the same percentage of additives in them—most oils are 10%-30% additives when you buy them. Generally speaking, you should avoid having more than 30% additives in your oil mixture. Past 30% the benefits typically level off, and the risk of negative effects increases.
Before you use additives, check the label of the motor oil that you use. It should say what percentage of additives it already has.
To make matters more confusing, the oil will lose its additives over time. And older cars can do with a higher percentage to help well-worn parts move better.
If you don’t feel confident that you can use just the right amount, and if your car isn’t particularly old, you might be better off simply following good oil maintenance practices. Get your oil changed regularly, and check its levels often.
While working on your car, do some maintenance on its insurance as well. Use the
car insurance comparison
app Jerry
to find the best policies for the best prices! Jerry is fast, easy, free, and saves its users an average of $887 each year. Download it today and see for yourself! View full answer
- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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