Eastsoutheast wrote:

Does anyone here use any oil additive for added protection? I have sworn by ZX1 since being persuaded to use by a Alfa Romeo tech i knew really well many decades ago. They used it in their racing engines (club level racing) religiously. It's not cheap at £25 for a normal up to 2 literally engine or double this on the 4.4 tdv8. However I see it as a wise and good value investment to keep my engines healthy.

I buy my ZX1 from Amazon, £17 for each 250ml bottle ( I buy 3 to say money at the same time )

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Extralube-Anti-Fr...3Y?ie=UTF8

The good thing is that ZX1 is not an "Oil Additive" - it's anti friction treatment eliminator, so if we believe what they say on their website it does not change the properties of the oil at all

https://www.team-zx1.com/what-is-zx1.html

It is often confused with "Oil Additives for engines", when, in fact EXTRALUBE ZX1 Micro Oil is a Metal Treatment therefore different to other engine treatments available on the market today.



It does not contain particulates such as Teflon or P.T.F.E. Molybdenum or Zinc Dialkyldithiophosphate (as quoted by honest john) a common cause of blocked filters and airways which has a toxisty level between milk and garden soil and it is not copper corrosive.



EXTRALUBE ZX1 Micro Oil Metal Treatment does not change the properties of the oil, or other native lubricant, but chemically bonds to the metal surfaces, modifying the friction surfaces of the metal. It allows the oil (Team ZX1 do not wish to rubbish the oil currently being used, as it needs this oil) to do its job even better and the significant benefits result in:-

Lowered carbon exhaust emissions
Increased MPG
Excellent cold start protection and
anti-wear performance
Protects immediately up to 25,000 miles
Impregnated wearing surfaces
Virtually eliminated friction.

SpitfireS wrote:

It's funny, kinda, when it comes to turbo's and engine longevity in general, people recommend synthetic oils while their beloved (& outdated ) C1 oil - they think they ABSOLUTELY need - is not synthetic . The base stock of all C1 oils I've seen (search for the MSDS's) use hydrotreated heavy paraffinic, CAS number: 64742-54-7 and that's considered, by the experts, to be Group III oil, mineral oil.
Oh well...

Instead of idling after a high load run I usually (not saying this happens on a regular basis at all, actually..) turn the heater & fan up fully and open a window/roof to let the hot air out for the last 3 km or so.
I don't live on top of a hill

Pcourtney, thanks for the link and interesting way of adding to your engine. Out of interest which version do you have and how long have you used ZX1 for? 2012 4.4 TDV8 Vogue Santorini black ivory leather

in the Amazon link 250ml bottle

https://www.team-zx1.com/extralube-zx1-mic...tment.html

They say add 350ml for 4400cc engines, so I use 2 bottles ( 500ml ) every 15,000 miles, which is a little bit more than recommended.

I also put three caps of ZX1 in my coolant to treat the internals of the water pump ( a crucial component on these engines) .

My L322 is now coming up to 15 years old and 200,000 miles, I do an annual oil change before my MOT, have done for the last 5 years, you can barely hear the engine running, it's remarkable how quietly it runs

NB It's probably not necessary to use ZX1 - but for me, at just a little over £50 quid, I don't begrudge it one bit, given that I really want to keep the car in good running order until late 2027 when I retire.

Last edited by pcourtney on 16th Jan 2025 12:50pm. Edited 3 times in total

According to the saftey data sheet it's an EP addative in an oil carrier. EP addatives are common in gearboxes where high loads on small contact areas are common but not sure where this would be needed in an engine and certainly not in a turbo. Not many ( if any) reports of engine wear due to insufficient standard lubrication and servicing but if £50 makes you happy and keeps a UK business going then why not. At the quantities specified it's unlikley that whatever it contains will be enough to contribute to ash load or damage the main CAT and the one that's part of the DPF. 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

Sorry, when I asked which version I should have added 'engine'!

It's definitely quietened some engines in the last and kept them purring. 2012 4.4 TDV8 Vogue Santorini black ivory leather

Click on the car on the left…. If they have filled in that bit of their profile….

I’m a fan of ZX1 having used it in both cars and performance bikes for a while. My understanding ( I’m not a chemist by training ) is that it bonds at the molecular level where friction occurs.

Like others I’ve noticed that the engine is quieter and has a smoother feel. I add every oil change, so about every 6k.

It can also be added to power steering fluid. I did this as it turned out an incorrect spec of PS fluid was in the vehicle when I acquired it which was making the pump noisy. A PS fluid flush & change, including the recommended quantity of ZX1, has made the whole system quiet again and much smoother.

For anyone wanting to go down a rat hole on the oil additive topic…. and with more than a few hours to kill on YouTube - may I suggest “The motor oil Geek” channel ( beware though, no other family member is going to thank you ! ).

https://youtube.com/@themotoroilgeek

https://youtu.be/erxjPicpYyw?si=ISfWLi4_CvhlV_1B

https://youtu.be/CAGT5inQScE?si=wsF-s1xgGKTx4V1A TDV8 4.4 2012

Ramblinman, seems we follow as very similar regime albeit I have not used ZX1 in my bikes yet. 2012 4.4 TDV8 Vogue Santorini black ivory leather

If these additives do anything, why don’t oil and car manufacturers use and recommend them?

Same manufacturers who, (not aimed specifically at any particular manufacturer)

Recomend 20000 mile oil changes
Fit wet belts
Use plastic in places within the engine plastic should never exist as guaranteed to fail
Advise gearboxes are sealed for life without telling you what they deem as 'life'
Sell ceramic coatings applied in damp conditions following no more than a wash (happens all the time)
Push engine flushes when there is evidence this is not always appropriate and can cause damage
Sell cars with faults dealt with via an update or face-lift to avoid launch delays

I am sure I could keep typing for ages but just because a manufactorer doesn't recommend a particular additive it shouldn't be seen as pointless.

Certain high end HiFi manufacturers at one point advised against expensive cables advising to use what came in the box or basic cables. Now those same manufacturers sell expensive cables they push at every opportunity.

In my little brain additives do 1 of 4 things
Nothing
Something positive
Something negative
A mixture of positive and negative

I have never had a negative experience in 40 years of car ownership and have always been that person who spends money on additives. It is possible that I wasted money on additives that didn't offer the expected benefits so at worse I have wasted a little money.

Everyone I have recommended ZX1 to have spoke positively about the benefits they experienced. Maybe placebo, who knows but we're talking £20 to £50.

I have nothing to do with anyone in any sort of vehicle or accessories trade these views are just my honest views as a petrol head. 2012 4.4 TDV8 Vogue Santorini black ivory leather

The oil industry spends huge amounts on R&D, but instead of revolutionary cheap, permanent molecular-bonding-at-normal-operating-temperature, friction-reducing magic additives that can be poured into any bit of the car, they come up with stuff like Magnatec. I know it’s easy to be cynical, but…

Eastsoutheast wrote:

I am sure I could keep typing for ages but just because a manufactorer doesn't recommend a particular additive it shouldn't be seen as pointless.

Certain high end HiFi manufacturers at one point advised against expensive cables advising to use what came in the box or basic cables. Now those same manufacturers sell expensive cables they push at every opportunity.

Jaygee as someone who has spent silly amounts on speaker cables i totally agree they are snake oil.

I am willing to believe that lubricants can be improved on and that a quality additive offers some benefit. I have watched videos of project farm and his lubricity test which shows difference between oils and oils with additives.

I do also accept that I could be wasting money but having never suffered any ill effects and only using a few premium additives I am happy until proven otherwise. 2012 4.4 TDV8 Vogue Santorini black ivory leather

If these adatives reduced internal friction as claimed then it would be easy enough to measure the mpg and power gains as internal engine friction is a significant load. 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)