S T P Brand Fuel Additives And Engine Cleaners

[NanLaew]

Back when I was a young hoon, after midnight racing back from the local hop against my buddy's Triumph Dolomite Sprint in my palatial Vauxhall VX-490, sometimes we would invest in some imported engine cleaners and conditioners made by STP in the USA. These seemed to work wonders with loads of blue smoke blown out and at least a feeling of better acceleration (we weren't much interested in better fuel economy in the 70's).

I see that STP products are made under license in Thailand and available locally. They include fuel conditioners for diesels as well as petrol heads. Does anyone use these or have an opinion on their efficacy with newer technology engines?

[IMHO]

Fuel technology has advanced a lot since the glory days of these types of products, and better ones all include cleaning agents.

Pretty unlikely you'd see clouds of blue smoke after adding STP to a car that drinks Caltex Techron or Shell V-Power Nitro, unless the STP stuff makes the blue smoke itself

[NanLaew]

Fuel technology has advanced a lot since the glory days of these types of products, and better ones all include cleaning agents.

Pretty unlikely you'd see clouds of blue smoke after adding STP to a car that drinks Caltex Techron or Shell V-Power Nitro, unless the STP stuff makes the blue smoke itself

Good point. I am a PTT man myself but now I am Gold with AIS Serenade, I may start using Banchak as they give some freebies.

When I had the 15,000k service on the Ranger, the dealer added a can of 'cleaner' to the old oil before the draining and putting in the new oil. I reckon this is to degunk the oil pump, sump and other rotating bits inside the motor. Just wondering if adding the STP cleaning product for diesels (goes in the fuel tank) is worth it to clean the injectors, heads and other hot bits on the other side of the rings and seals?

[BSJ]

Never used such products and probably never will. But I did have a Red, White and Blue STP sticker in the back window of my HR Special! It fooled the motorheads into thinking I cared.

[MAJIC]

According to my Ford Mondeo Manual,FORD recommends that you not use any petrol additives,the reason :They are uneccessary and can damage your'e engine.

[IMHO]

Fuel technology has advanced a lot since the glory days of these types of products, and better ones all include cleaning agents.

Pretty unlikely you'd see clouds of blue smoke after adding STP to a car that drinks Caltex Techron or Shell V-Power Nitro, unless the STP stuff makes the blue smoke itself

Good point. I am a PTT man myself but now I am Gold with AIS Serenade, I may start using Banchak as they give some freebies.

When I had the 15,000k service on the Ranger, the dealer added a can of 'cleaner' to the old oil before the draining and putting in the new oil. I reckon this is to degunk the oil pump, sump and other rotating bits inside the motor. Just wondering if adding the STP cleaning product for diesels (goes in the fuel tank) is worth it to clean the injectors, heads and other hot bits on the other side of the rings and seals?

Can't say I've ever seen diesel engine oil 15,000KM old, but I can only imagine it's going to be heavily fouled up with diesel soot by then - so I expect the additive they used was probably just to assist in evacuating the old stuff?

My wife uses PTT diesel in her car due to convenience (no Shell or Caltex on her normal routes), but we do run a tank of Shell V-Power Nitro diesel through it every 3-4 tanks, and there's a slight, but noticeable difference.