6 Best Oil Additives For Addressing Engine Issues.
Reprint without permission
6 Best Oil Additives: Complete Guide
August 01, 2025
Request a Quote CALL NOWALL PRODUCTS
Request a Quote Call auto-tune-up-and-repair-options.com 512 665 3388
Key Takeaways:
Additives help improve the performance of key automotive fluids, from engine oils to fuel. Yet selecting from the countless oil additives available can feel overwhelming, especially if you don’t know how to differentiate one from the next.
The comprehensive guide below explores the benefits and different types of oil additives before delving into six of the best oil additive products you can use to improve your engine oil’s performance and protect your engine for thousands more miles.
What Are Oil Additives?
What Benefits Do Oil Additives Offer?
What Are the Different Types of Oil Additives?
Anti-Wear Additives
Detergent Additives
Antifoamants
Dispersant Additives
Viscosity Improver Additives
Friction Modifier Additives
6 Best Oil Additives
1. Valvoline Engine Oil Treatment
2. Lucas Oil Heavy Duty Oil Stabilizer
3. Shell X-100 Zinc Additive
4. Liqui Moly MoS2 Anti-Friction Engine Treatment
5. Amsoil Engine and Transmission Flush
High-Quality Products Make Better Performance Possible
The motor oil you put in your car contains additives formulated to enhance its performance and service life.
These automotive oil additives offer benefits similar to those of industrial additives, which are custom-tailored to particular applications.
Additional notes in the following paragraph have been added to the article.
"More specifically, some oil additives end specific operating issues, to help maintain engine health by reducing friction, which may be promoted for stopping engine valve tapping, controlling oil burning, decreasing compression blowby, and helping promote extended durability. " End of additional notes.
Treating your car’s engine oil with oil additives can offer numerous benefits, including the following:
Before we compare the six best oil additives on the market today, let’s explore the various types of oil additives. Knowing how to differentiate the oil additive products you encounter can help you make a more informed purchase.
Oil additives come in several different formulations, similar to conventional, synthetic blend, and synthetic motor oils. Many of the best oil additive products listed below incorporate one or more of these properties.
Oil additives designed to reduce wear typically contain zinc, phosphorus, or molybdenum to form a protective barrier between metal parts. Some anti-wear additives also slow oxidation and prevent corrosion.
Designed to clean the engine’s internals and remove build-up, detergents keep the engine running smoothly. Most detergents target acids and help prevent the formation of sludge.
Meant to prevent foaming, antifoamants decrease the surface tension between air bubbles and the engine oil they sit upon. Antifoamants can also help prevent corrosion.
Designed to suspend solid contaminant particles in the oil and remove them during an oil change, dispersant additives help prevent the formation of sludge and varnish. They can also contribute to viscosity regulation.
Also known as viscosity index improvers, these oil additives help maintain the oil’s thickness and flow, especially in colder temperatures. Without the right viscosity, your engine’s oil may fail to lubricate key internal components, which could otherwise fail catastrophically.
Aimed at reducing friction between metal components, friction modifiers improve engine efficiency and performance to increase longevity. Friction modifiers can also be added to fuel to enhance efficiency.
Many of the brands below are well-known for producing various aftermarket treatments that keep vehicles on the road longer. As you explore these six best oil additives for your car’s engine, consider which best suits your engine’s specific needs.
Valvoline Engine Oil Treatment is a one-time treatment that offers long-term results. After an oil change, add Valvoline Engine Oil Treatment to the clean engine oil. This friction- and wear-reducing oil additive also boosts oxidation resistance, improves viscosity, and protects the engine against cold starts.
Lucas Oil Heavy Duty Oil Stabilizer is a multi-functional oil additive that thickens engine oil, reducing oil consumption and noise, especially in older engines that often burn oil. Lucas Oil’s formula includes detergents and lubricants designed to protect against engine wear and increase both performance and longevity.
While Lucas Oil Heavy Duty Oil Stabilizer is compatible with most engines, it’s not ideal for those with tighter tolerances due to its capacity to thicken the oil.
Introducing Shell X-100 Zinc Additive into your older engine can help protect the camshaft and valve train from wear. This product coats metal surfaces with a protective film to prevent premature wear. It’s also compatible with most modern engine oils.
Complete with a Molybdenum disulfide friction-reducing formula, Liqui Moly’s oil additive improves wear protection, increases efficiency, and helps with cold starts.
Liqui Moly MoS2 Anti-Friction Engine Treatment is compatible with synthetic and conventional oils, and can be used every 20,000 miles on older engines and European cars. However, it can darken the oil and shouldn’t be used with diesel or motorcycle engines.
If you’re looking to improve oil circulation and reduce engine wear, check out Amsoil’s Engine and Transmission Flush. Although it is not a long-term oil additive, this solvent-free detergent is ideal for use before filling your vehicle with synthetic motor oil.
Amsoil Engine and Transmission Flush is safe for removing sludge and varnish build-up in gas and diesel engines.
Oil additives make improving engine performance possible, even more so when you start with superior lubricants specifically formulated to enhance engine health and increase longevity. Cadence stocks only the best lubricants from trusted brands to ensure our customers always receive high-quality products.
Call us at 336-629-2061 to learn more about the lubricants we carry and our commitment to delivering value at every turn.
Visit auto-tune-up-and-repair-options.com for your automotive issue solution.