Anyone have any opinion about using MMO in the gas and oil to help eliminate sticking valves?  (Read the posts folloing Unibodyguy's previous question.)   Joe

When 100LL fuel first came out for airplane engines we had a problem with sticking valves in a Lycoming 360 engine in our helicopters. Our mechanic was a huge fan of MMO and used it a lot. It seemed to fix that problem. I have also seen engines that would barely or not at all pass a compression test and if the cylinder was filled with MMO and let sit a period of time and checked it would normally raise the compression enough to pass the test.

Doing Fords for 45 years. '56 Customline Victoria

E.J. in Havana FL

I don’t believe Marvel Mystery Oil is going to be cure all for sticking valves for engines that have been sitting.  It does potentially help for those engines that are already up and running though.  When the engines are set up for a period of time, then what little residual oil is remaining on the valves is wiped out by time, gravity, and any condensation forces that are at work.  For equipment that’s being set up for the winter, it’s typically recommended to pour a lite weight oil down the intake or carburetor while it’s running and let the engine die with this flood of oil in it.  There are also some aerosol foggers on the market for doing this.  The following spring, simply pull the plugs, put a light spin on the engine, then replace the plugs and restart the engine.  Many of the older farm engines have a port on the intake that can be removed specifically for pouring oil into for just this purpose.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

I add 2 oz of MMO to every 5 gallons of gas for both of my 55's.  I also use it in my Indian Chief.  I can't say it prevents problems but I've never had a valve related issue yet.  Then again, I could just be plain lucky!  To me it's inexpesive "peace of mind!"

AJ 

A.J.

South Jersey

SMSgt USAF Retired 
1955 Ford Ranch Wagon & a couple of old guitars...Life's Good!

I've used it on stiking valves with success. I run it through the carb, then add to the fuel. Like Ted says it's not a cure all but it will help.

John F

Ballwin, MO

I've said it before that I like the stuff (MMO) I've used it in the oil and in the fuel. I don't know if the MMO is to be given credit, but I had a '88 Ford Ranger that had 365,000 mile on it when I sold it and I still see it around town. Also my dad used it and he had over 400,000 on a '75 Courier. It's great for air tools also.

Tim

   God Bless.   Tim                           http://yblockguy.com/

350ci Y-Block FED "Elwood", 301ci Y-Block Unibody LSR "Jake", 312ci Y-Block '58 F-100, 338ci Y-Block powered Model A Tudor

tim@yblockguy.com  Visalia, California    Just west of the Sequoias

This is one of those "Old Wives Tails" where some think MMO does something.......well.....because it's a "mystery"!

My dad used it and thought it did something because.......well, "I used it for 30 years and never had a problem"

I don't know why some think that an oil based liquid poured into gasoline helps the engine but there's a lot of people doing it.

I have owned a 1947 Stinson for 27 years that has a Franklin engine in it and have heard from many Stinson owners that MMO is akin to "Magic" stuff!! (I have NEVER put MMO in the oil or gas.....EVER......and NEVER will!)

Fact is, it's just a light mineral oil mixed with a (Stoddard) solvent.

I don't want to step on anyone's toes but it's pretty risky to put it in any FAA certified engine and then admit to running it because the FAA WILL absolutely take action against ANYONE who they catch using it in fuel intentionally.

I found this in an NTSB report: http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief2.asp?ev_id=20020916X01610&ntsbno=NYC02LA181&akey=1



In a high compression air-cooled aircraft engine detonation is more prevalent at high cyl head temps and low octane. ANY mineral oils added to high octane fuel will lower the octane......That includes solvents, diesel fuel, and kerosene. (This is a VERY common occurrence when a piston engine aircraft is mistakenly fueled with jet fuel......the engine fails due to SEVERE detonation as the kerosene hits the combustion chamber in higher concentrations usually during take off.)

Liquid cooled engines are less susceptible detonation because the combustion chamber temps are lower.



Snake oils like MMO and others are great for the people who sell them....I am skeptical of their benefits to people who use them.


Regards,






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1955 F-600/272/E4OD// Disclaimer: No animals were injured while test driving my F-600 except the ones I ran over intentionally!

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This post was created using OpenSuSE Linux x64 and Firefox

Well Rick,

You make a very strong argument, I ran MMO in a Cont. A-65 (a very low comp. engine) for a number of years and never had a problem.  But you give me something to ponder.

Tim

   God Bless.   Tim                           http://yblockguy.com/

350ci Y-Block FED "Elwood", 301ci Y-Block Unibody LSR "Jake", 312ci Y-Block '58 F-100, 338ci Y-Block powered Model A Tudor

tim@yblockguy.com  Visalia, California    Just west of the Sequoias

Hi Tim,

I have talked to MANY Stinson and Bellanca owners and a LOT of them said they've run it in Franklins for MANY years......"with no problems"

I suppose that you could get away with it in a low compression engine. The A-65 was something like 7:1 compression ratio I think.........

By the way here's another article that also talks about valve sticking (and they also suggest to NOT use MMO)
http://www.sacskyranch.com/eng176.htm

I don't see the advantage of putting a Naptha/oil/lard/red-dye mixture in a gasoline engine...... and the FAA doesn't either. Not only do you run the risk of detonation but you also run the risk of plug fouling from the oil.

Alcor TCP is FAA approved and is (was) used to prevent lead fouling in low compression engines running leaded fuel. Notice from the MSDS below that they don't put oil in the additive.....it's just used to prevent the lead components from collecting on the plugs, valves etc, inside the combustion chamber (it doesn't claim to remove the lead deposits already there)

http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/stylespilotshop/TCP-MSDS.pdf

There is a HUGE amount of testimonial-evidence out there. For some reason a LOT of people think they need to put things in their engines that is not recommended by industry but are recommended by the people that sell them to "fix" a perceived problem.

The problem with testimonial "evidence" is that it is not really evidence at all......AND usually, folks don't consider the (much larger number of) people that don't use those "snake oils" and "never have a problem". (Excluding zddp additives of course)


Maybe all this stuff is not that relevant to our Y-block engines, but for fogging an engine for winter layup they DO have products that are specifically for that purpose and are used in marine and other engines every year. If I was going to do a winter layup I would probably use one of those instead of MMO.



Cheers,








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1955 F-600/272/E4OD// Disclaimer: No animals were injured while test driving my F-600 except the ones I ran over intentionally!

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This post was created using OpenSuSE Linux x64 and Firefox

OK, I'am convinced, next trip to the drag strip, I recommend MMO to the scrub drivers..

Remember Henry Ford never drove a chevbie, But Louis Cheverolet drove Fords..

Brother and I own/operate 1957 Ford Fairlane 312/4x2 and two 1963 Falcons 302 rollers carburated 600cfm, FE427 sitting in shed..