Since the personal automobile was invented, there have been countless products advertising that you can improve the performance of your car and prolong its life on the road. Aside from spark plugs, no product has been so heavily advertised and not quite as understood as engine oil additives. Are all of the claims and promises true? Should you use oil additives in high-end cars? Dig deeper to learn about oil additives, maintaining luxury car engines, and which (if any) products you should use on your new or pre-owned Bentley.
What are Engine Oil Additives?
Your standard engine oil already contains some additives to optimize your vehicle’s performance and overall lifespan. Depending on the oil formula, between 10-30% of each bottle contains some additives alongside the synthetic or crude oil.
What is Engine Oil’s Purpose?
Engine oil is made to lubricate the engine and keep parts running smoothly by reducing friction. It also helps avoid overheating (also caused by friction). The oil formulas are also designed to prevent build-ups of sludge and unwanted debris that could otherwise clog or choke your engine. This is accomplished thanks in part to additives already mixed in.
Which Kinds of Oil Additives Exist?
For starters, you need to understand that the engine oil additives you see in stores are additional or aftermarket products not necessarily recommended by auto manufacturers. With several styles of additives available, the common ones you’ll see claim to:
• Reduce sludge
• Inhibit corrosion
• Decrease friction
• Prolong the lives of moving parts
• And more.
For more information about engine oil and additives, contact our parts center.
Do Engine Oil Additives Improve Engine Performance?
While it may be disappointing, there isn’t really a clear answer one way or the other. In some cases, yes, they can help. In other cases, not so much and they may actually do some harm. Since engine oil already contains additives to preserve the oil itself, reduce oxidation in the engine, and keep things running smoothly, adding extra aftermarket products may create an imbalance.
Engine oils are specially formulated with additives in mind to keep your engine clean and avoid damage. By introducing additives, you are throwing off the balance crafted by the expert manufacturers at the oil company and while you may, for example, reduce oxidation with an oil additive, you could increase friction, leading to problems.
Are Engine Additives Safe for Luxury Cars?
Once again, we are met with a tepid “maybe” as an answer, but more likely leaning towards “no” as it may be ill-advised. Luxury cars will often require high-end, specialty oil for the engine to keep the meticulously crafted engine and associated parts working as intended by the auto manufacturer. Because luxury cars are often designed for enhanced operation and require specialty care, additives may cause damage by throwing off the balance of the oil used in your regular oil changes, as we previously mentioned.
Another thing to note is your vehicle’s warranty. Some manufacturers state that using engine oil additives could void the warranty, which can become a major issue later if there is significant damage to your car — especially in the engine.
Enhancing Luxury Car Engine Performance
While we can’t unilaterally say whether you should or shouldn’t use engine oil additives in high-end cars, we can advise you during oil changes and routine maintenance. The best practice is to bring your vehicle to our luxury car service center in South Florida so that we can inspect it and advise you with all of the necessary information.
The age of the car, the mileage, and possible engine issues you experience may warrant the use the engine oil additives in your luxury car, but it’s best to look things over first. If you’re curious about advanced engine care for high-end vehicles, contact us or call us at 786-577-5211 to set up an appointment and discuss engine oil additives.
