[trucheli]

I would be interested in the technical reason why BMW does not recommends the use of any oil additives on their engines. Even voiding the warranty if any issues come up on the engine and traces of any additives are found.

[eelnoraa]

Let me ask another way, is there any technical reason why additive helps tho? If not why add another layer of uncertainty

[trucheli]

Originally Posted by eelnoraa

Let me ask another way, is there any technical reason why additive helps tho? If not why add another layer of uncertainty

Additives have a place in fuel and oils. Ask She’ll, Chevron and Petronas why their fuels have additives. Ask Mobile 1 or Motul why they add additives to their motor oils.

[eelnoraa]

Originally Posted by trucheli

Additives have a place in fuel and oils. Ask She’ll, Chevron and Petronas why their fuels have additives. Ask Mobile 1 or Motul why they add additives to their motor oils.

Then if you use mobile1 oil and top tier gas, you have the additive engine needs, right? Bmw didn’t say don’t use those.

I would say instead of adding more stuff into oil, just change oil more often.

[trucheli]

Originally Posted by eelnoraa

Then if you use mobile1 oil and top tier gas, you have the additive engine needs, right? Bmw didn’t say don’t use those.

I would say instead of adding more stuff into oil, just change oil more often.

That has nothing to do with my question. Read the question again.

[crabman]

Because they cant test them all, and they don't want to be responsible for additives that may not play well with others, and may not even have been available for testing, at the time they built the car and published their recommended fuel and oil guidelines.

Usually I'm going to come down against the corporate boy wonders, but in this case, I don't blame them; they have to warranty the car. I know I wouldn't want to take on the liability of saying yes to random additives.

[eelnoraa]

Originally Posted by trucheli

That has nothing to do with my question. Read the question again.

Personally I am not sure oil additives help in a sense it extends the life of the car or the engine. Most if not all bmw failed engines I have seen personally, no additives would have prevented them from failing. My question is why. As for 3rd party claims additive does wonder, I want to see an independent party test to prove result.

[trucheli]

Plenty of empirical evidence that additives have a positive effect on the life of an engine and fuel systems.

[weinerbarn]

They aren’t saying additives are bad. All of the approved fluids have additives already that meet a specific spec. If you add more additives, you no longer meet the spec and can cause problems. The drivetrain has various metals and certain additives or the wrong amounts can cause corrosion or failure. Adding more of something such as cleansers to existing “built in” additives can cause stacking or out of spec. Too much calcium can cause LSPI and destroy your engine. More of something isn’t necessarily better with additives.

[Tejas1836]

Don't use oil additives, just don't
TL/DR/DW- Don't use oil additives

[trucheli]

Originally Posted by Tejas1836

Don't use oil additives, just don't
TL/DR/DW- Don't use oil additives

Nice Find!

[Sevn86]

I know we are talking about oil additives but along the lines does BMW have anything against one using fuel additives from time to time? Which brands do y’all use or recommend?

[Tejas1836]

Originally Posted by Sevn86

I know we are talking about oil additives but along the lines does BMW have anything against one using fuel additives from time to time? Which brands do y’all use or recommend?

PEA is what you seek
Redline SI-1 or Techron are what I use, 1º Redline, I think it has some corrosion inhibitors
Scroll to 6:30 for fuel additives: