Marvel Mystery Oil ??

woodsltc

woodsltc

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After seeing several mentions of Marvel Mystery Oil in different threads about vehicle maintenance and care, I'm curious about what the consensus thought is about this stuff.

Is it really something that is useful to add to one's fuel? If so, how much should be added to a tank of fuel and how often?

Don
 
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Many farmers seem to like Lucas fuel additive in higher mileage engines. I tried a couple gallons but don't know if it helped the longevity or not but I did drive my Nissan Titan for 260K miles.
 
I don’t know about adding to fuel but my pistol bag has a small bottle of it and I use it often on auto pistols. I prefer something a bit thinner for revolvers.
 
MMO has a high cool factor. I still have a metal can sitting on a shelf. Nifty graphics and smells good too!
But... how does that old 20th century solvent and light oil technology help your motor, gun, etc.???
Seafoam is another product with mystique. It actually does help decarbonize engines.
But... so does just plain water.
Techron is in another category. Simplified down it is a modern detergent, I can vouch from multiple personal experiences, it is brilliant at dissolving gum and varnish in fuel systems.
 
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I surmise it is like the ancient joke about the beatnik discovered in a pool of light on a dark night beating a street lamp post with drumsticks.

Asked why, he says it keeps the tigers away. Told there aren't any tigers around he replies, "Told ya so."
 
I don't use any snake oil treatments in my vehicles and they work fine for a long time. However, the additives may do no harm. I doubt there is much scientific-type credible evidence one way or the other, so these discussions continue forever. Use them if you like them.

I always thought Marvel Mystery Oil was at its best as a penetrant. It smells good.
 
I started using Seafoam in the gas on my boats. I have a 1979 Eminrude that was given to me. Had to pick it up at the marine mechanic place as it had a new water pump put in. Other than 2 more WPs since it starts runs and needs so little maintenance...it seem's like the Energizer Bunny. Never use fuel with alcohol in my small engines chainsaws etc...little seafoam day before I take 'em out to cut in the splitters mowers Seafoam first. I used synthetic oil in a Datsun Pickup I had... it got terrible mileage Just the oil change and I had to reduce the 800 RPMs idle it picked up. Trans oil rear oil/grease and the truck picked up literally 8 MPG. just saying that sometimes things really do work. Don't know about MMO though. There's a guy on you tube that tests all these things. I watched his presentation on Seafoam a year or so ago
 
Once a product gains widespread acceptance it can coast on its name for generations.
E.g. WD-40, millions think it is a good penetrating oil or lubricant. It will do those jobs but rather poorly when compared to the real thing.
 
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I had a friend that swore by MMO... but he only used it on his machine guns... his Ma deuce ran beautifully with the stuff.... never used it in vehicles of any kind..
 
I use Seafoam MMO and StaBil for different things. Usually outboard motors. I run some Seafoam through my ATVs and UTVs yearly. MMO is nice to coat inside of a gas tank that will be empty for a while
 
I had a car a few years ago with a well known issue of the gas gauge not reading full even if you filled it to overflowing. Which is not a good thing.

A dose of MMO would solve the issue, for several fill ups anyway. Apparently the float or sensor that measured the fuel level would get sticky and the solvent or lubrication properties of the MMO would free it up. And before you blame the fuel, all I ever used in that car was 91 octane top tier fuel. So MMO does definitely have some beneficial applications.

I use Stabil in the fuel for my snowblower, I also only use top tier fuel in it and at the end of the season I add an ounce to the gas tank and then run it dry. I figure the MMO helps clean the carb jets and float. It is inexpensive and works but isn't a panacea for serious mechanical issues. It's just a mild solvent and lube.
 
Skeet 028 said:
I started using Seafoam in the gas on my boats. I have a 1979 Eminrude that was given to me. Had to pick it up at the marine mechanic place as it had a new water pump put in. Other than 2 more WPs since it starts runs and needs so little maintenance...it seem's like the Energizer Bunny. Never use fuel with alcohol in my small engines chainsaws etc...little seafoam day before I take 'em out to cut in the splitters mowers Seafoam first. I used synthetic oil in a Datsun Pickup I had... it got terrible mileage Just the oil change and I had to reduce the 800 RPMs idle it picked up. Trans oil rear oil/grease and the truck picked up literally 8 MPG. just saying that sometimes things really do work. Don't know about MMO though. There's a guy on you tube that tests all these things. I watched his presentation on Seafoam a year or so ago
Click to expand...

I collect old outboard motors. Seventy Three are hanging on the walls in my museum (the wife's terminology) as of this writing. I run E10 in everything. Fantastic stuff....keeps the internals clean. A little Stabil in the Fall in a full tank of gas. Nothing else.

My Classic Lyman sports a 1953 Evinrude Big Twin. The fuel lines have been replaced with alcohol compatible ones, and the lacquered cork float in the gas tank was replaced with a neoprene rubber stopper. Fresh water usage, so I can get 8-10 years on a water pump impeller.



I shoulda been a snakeoil salesman.....coulda made a lota money.
 

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The only additive I use is Mechanic in a Bottle, which goes in all my weed eaters, chainsaws, blowers and gator. Other than that, only ethanol-free gas in my vehicles. I overdo it on oil/filter changes but consider that a safe habit.
 
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