Questions About zMax, Hy-Per Lube, and Similar Products

[Soul Shinobi]

These products, zMax and Hy-Per Lube/Hy-Per Fuel, are oil and fuel additives said to clean the engine and fuel systems.

My interest in these stems from the age and mileage on my 1992 Legacy L AWD in MT with over 250,000 miles. These products claim to make the engine run smoother and last longer. I basically want to know how well they work and if you would recommend them. Now I must confess that I know little about automobiles at this point, but I do understand that these will in no way be a cure-all, I merely am looking for some mild protection and perhaps restoration to my vehicle.

Alright, so, this zMax stuff I've seen on an infomercial a while ago, and after sixty minutes of it, well, I'm thinking about it. A fuel additive, an oil additive, and a transmission fluid additive. At $40, I don't mind. What do you think?

The other brand in question sells an oil additive Hy-Per Lube, and a fuel additive Hy-Per Fuel. The company sells these two together in a 'starter pack' for only $14. After seeing this I'm beginning to think zMax is pushing their luck--

--but is it really the same? Again, I know so little.... Hell, I'd even use them together if you guys gave me to okay, anything to keep this car alive. Maybe one day I'll be able to give it to my kids.

Well, what do you think?

[Splinter]

I personally refuse to buy any product that resorts to Xtre-ME namING for marketing.

[Soul Shinobi]

I cannot deny the validity of such a strategy. Perhaps there's something better that can be recommended?

[IronMonkeyL255]

First off, Sea Foam.

It's a top end cleaner that you run through the intake of the engine and it cleans out all kinds of deposits.

I've used it myself after seeing it recommended on here, and it did help alot. My uncle used it after I recommended it to him, and he immediately noticed a difference on his '01.

I like Lucas Oil's fuel additive, but I'm sure there are far more effective things out there. Anyone have any suggestions?

[Soul Shinobi]

This Seam Foam is interesting, but I'm having trouble trying to figure out from the site exactly how you use it. It appears it can be added to both the fuel and oil, is that right?

EDIT: This site seems to explain it a bit.

[IronMonkeyL255]

I have only really used it through a vacuum line (like is first described in the first link).

[thehookeup]

alright there has been so so much debate about products like the ones that you listed.

and the debate has been between everyday people and corperations.

i will say that sea foam is the best way to go. you can add it to your fuel, or you can disconnect a vacuumline and clean carbon deposits. jus to let you know it will smoke out a square block. and you car will smoke for 30 mins er so. but its definetly worth the 8 dollars er whatever it is. Do not add sea foam to your oil. there are oil treatments out there that will add to the oil that will not let the oil break down as easy.

once the damage has been done to a engine, its done. there is no addative that will repair anything.

here is a funny story about some of these "EXTREME" type of products.... a while back i was at a filming for one of those oil addatives that claims you could put this magic fluid in the oil and then drain the oil from the engine and it would still run and run just fine.

well the car that they happen to be doing this to was a dodge viper. so the guy added the magic potion and then he pulled the oil drain plug while it was running. he drained about 8 quarts of oil that seemed to come out pretty thick.

My friend and i were very perplexed. and then we thought to ourselves. the oil is thick. and the motor is still running. But oh yea doesnt that motor have hydraulic lifters? so my friend spoke up and asked the gentleman who was hosting this fabulous infomercial, and said, how does the engine stay running without shutting down, if it has hydrualic lifters?

the gentleman looks at my friend and is in shock. they were definetly not expecting such a complex question. he had no answer. he just said " it just works"

later on i saw the infomercial on tv and my friend's question was the only one that was not put on the commercial.

with the guy not answering the question and the oil coming out thick as thick out of a hot engine. it was a hoaks all of these "magic" are a bunch of bullshit.


sea foam is the best thing out there.

a good way of cleaning oil passages is to put a half a quart of atoumatic transmission fluid, about 500 miles before your next oil change. the detergants in the ATF are good and it wont screw up seals.

good luck

[Soul Shinobi]

Heh, I was given a link on another forum that has the product you're talking about in it. This link explains away the BS of oil additives, and the product you mentioned, prolong, is in here too. Apparently Consumer Reports tried to reproduce the experiment and the two engines they tried seized up in 13 seconds.

I am a bit confused though on how you use Sea Foam, could you give me a more in depth description of how you use it?

[IronMonkeyL255]

Generally, I pull a vacuum hose from the intake manifold and set it in a cup with the correct portion of seafoam already measured out into it. The vacuum from the engine pulls the seafoam into the engine and stalls it most of the time. If not, just turn it off once it's all in there.

Wait a few minutes (5 or so) and re-start the car. It'll be much harder to start, and once you get it started, it'll smoke like it blew something vital for a little while. Don't worry as it's just the carbon deposits burning off. It will do this for a while, getting much less fairly quickly. Once you feel it's to the point you won't endanger any other drivers, take it for a spin.

I used it twice inside of a week on my SS, and it smoked a WHOLE lot the first time (covered my street in smoke) and barely any the second. It did that good a job cleaning everything out the first time.