The verdict is in...

[Spike555]

My wife and I went on a road trip this week. Just over 2,000 miles. We took her Volvo with a turbo. I bought a bottle of Lucas fuel treatment/upper cylinder lubricant/engine cleaner. It claims it improves mpg, engine power,etc. I poured it in the gas tank and then filled up with Shell Premium. It treats 25 gals, the car has a 18 gal tank. There was zero increase in mpg or anything else.

[echomike]

thanks for spending the money so i didn't have to!

[Spike555]

Youre welcome, I wouldnt not have tried it had it not been on sale.

[Chris-bob]

Originally Posted by Spike555

My wife and I went on a road trip this week.
Just over 2,000 miles.
We took her Volvo with a turbo.
I bought a bottle of Lucas fuel treatment/upper cylinder lubricant/engine cleaner.
It claims it improves mpg, engine power,etc.
I poured it in the gas tank and then filled up with Shell Premium.
It treats 25 gals, the car has a 18 gal tank.
There was zero increase in mpg or anything else.

I have to disagree with your test. I know the stuff will help a vehicle that has been running poorly. Seen it many times and swear by the stuff. But I also know that no matter what you pour into an already great running, clean machine, there will be negligible change, or, the engine will run poorer. Throwing additives designed for dirty fuel systems into a clean fuel system will do nothing for the car. I personally tell everyone that asks me to not waste their money unless they know they get bad fuel if want to go longer between fuel filter changes(I do not recommend this practice). If you need an additive in your fuel, it is because you have inadequate filtering or bad fuel.

The good news is that it appears your Volvo is running in tip-top shape!

[Spike555]

I agree with you Chris that fuel additives are a waste of money, as are oil additives, we use Shell 90% of the time in the wifes car and 98% of the time in my truck.
But I figured what the hell, if I could get another 50 miles out of the first tank of fuel it would be worth it.

I had reset the trip computer in the car before we left and we averaged 24mpg for the full 2100 miles and averaged 58 mph, that includes sitting in traffic and city driving and the mountains in TN and PA.
That car loves to cruise at 80+.

[Chris-bob]

Originally Posted by Spike555

I agree with you Chris that fuel additives are a waste of money, as are oil additives, we use Shell 90% of the time in the wifes car and 98% of the time in my truck.
But I figured what the hell, if I could get another 50 miles out of the first tank of fuel it would be worth it.

I had reset the trip computer in the car before we left and we averaged 24mpg for the full 2100 miles and averaged 58 mph, that includes sitting in traffic and city driving and the mountains in TN and PA.
That car loves to cruise at 80+.

When we were looking for a family car, we wanted either a Disco or a Volvo...the Disco was easier to find and a lot cheaper. Someday I want to get a Volvo wagon with the third row seating...

[Disco Mike]

Lucas GAS TREATMENT IS OK IF USED AS A MAINTANCE CLEANER BUT NOT AS A GOOD FUEL INJECTOR CLEANING PRODUCT. IF YOU REAL WANT TO CLEAN OUT THE FUEL SYSTEM AND CARBON, USE A CAN OF B&G'S 44K AND YOU WILL BE AMAZED.

[Spike555]

Originally Posted by Chris-bob

When we were looking for a family car, we wanted either a Disco or a Volvo...the Disco was easier to find and a lot cheaper. Someday I want to get a Volvo wagon with the third row seating...

We had the Disco and a Camry, but then my wife got pregnant and we needed to beable to fit 2 car seats and a third person in the back seat and the DI has the rear wheel well's protruding into the back seat so that wasnt going to work and the Camry was too narrow.
So I took a tape measure and figured out how much room we needed, started going to used car lots and measuring across the back seat, all the salesman were like "what the hell?"
And "you need to test drive it, I'll make you one heck of a deal"
I just laughed and said the back seat needs to measure "X" across and kept looking.
Once we figured out which cars met our criteria we started looking at only those cars.
Once we narrowed it down even more we took both car seats, the cooler, 2 suitcases, duffel bag, stroller, diaper bag and the pack-n-play to the car lot.
Pulled up to a Volvo sedan, had the salesman unlock it and he handed me the keys for a test drive, I put the car seats in.
Then opened the trunk and loaded all the gear in the trunk and it was full.
Found one on Craig's list 40 miles away with non working a/c, so I brought a can of R-134 and put it in on the test drive, it worked.
We paid cash and drove it home.
The only other cars with a large back seat and big trunk besides the Volvo sedan was a Impala, Crown Vic, Town Car, Avalon and Diamanti, but we really wanted a wagon and we really wanted a Volvo.
It is temperamental like the Rover, but we are used to that.

[Gator Ritt]

I swear by Lucas products, but I have no reason too! My first experience was with a ’68 Mustang transmission. It was slipping and not wanting to shift from 2nd to 3rd. Bottle of Lucas in the tranny made it shift great. I was sold right then. Problem is, after that I have always put it in very well maintained good running engines. I think they have been getting a lot of my money based on one good experience.
I will be trying the B&G 44K based on DiscoMikes recommendation. Thanks Mike.