oil additive to restore compression

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NHbalerman

Member

• Nov 26, 2014

• #1

I have a diesel engine that want start I think it is compression,is there any kind of oil additive out there that I can put with the oil and increase the compression enough to get it to start this is a power stroke and a rebuild is not in the budget right now. Thanks

 

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rrlund

Well-known Member

• Nov 26, 2014

• #1

Like the guys on Car Talk used to say,walk in to an auto parts store and look for anything that says "Miracle" on the can. lol

 

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Dean

Well-known Member

• Nov 26, 2014

• #1

There is no magic elixer.

Heavier oil might make a (very) small improvement but engine work will be required to restore compression.

Dean

 

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buickanddeere

Well-known Member

• Nov 26, 2014

• #1

(quoted from post at 19:56:53 11/26/14) I have a diesel engine that want start I think it is compression,is there any kind of oil additive out there that I can put with the oil and increase the compression enough to get it to start this is a power stroke and a rebuild is not in the budget right now. Thanks

Click to expand...

Better chance of success to take the $$$ for the snake oil and purchase a lottery ticket.

 

M

mite-help

Member

• Nov 26, 2014

• #1

if it is a DI powerstroke, unlikely that compression is the problem. takes high pressure oil to fire injectors, plus electronics, plus min. crank speed, etc etc. get it diagnosed

 

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Gene Dotson

Well-known Member

• Nov 26, 2014

• #1

You don't say if trouble is cold start or when engine is warm.
First thing is to make certain the batteries and starter are turning the engine fast enough to create enough pressure to ignite the fuel.
Second thing, especially if trouble is on cold start is to check the preheat plugs, or as some call them glow plugs. Bosch makes a good replacement for them and reasonably priced. May be the preheat relay is not providing energy to glow plugs.
Proper oil viscosity is important as heavier oil will result in harder turning cold engine. Use a 15-w-40 of your choice.

Gene

 

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ditchwitch

Well-known Member

• Nov 26, 2014

• #1

There is a product called slick 50 that has that claim that it helps you just add it to the oil. Actually i have used it and oddly enough it seemed to help. Now i dont rely on these type of products but i have used it. Just read up on it and see if its something you would be interested in.

 

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Chris(WA)

Well-known Member

• Nov 26, 2014

• #1

Slick 50 is great stuff but will not increase compression. It is purported to deposit Teflon onto friction surfaces to reduce drag and wear. Works surprisingly well for that...

 

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RMinVa

Member

• Nov 26, 2014

• #1

Try a can of engine restore. They package it for 4,6 and 8 cylinder. I used it on three engines and had good results with 2 of them. One is a diesel 6.9 it worked good on it. Just depends on what's causing the problem. A can for a 8 cylinder is about $12. The engines I used it on I wasn't going to spend any money on. It help enough to keep running them.

 

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westga

Member

• Nov 26, 2014

• #1

What I learned on my powerstroke, 2002 7.3 is find out what the fuel pressure is at the filter housing. I would check that first. You can make up a test hose with a gauge for about 20 dollars. Should have about 45 to 50 psi with just the key turned on. Fuel pressure info starts you in one of several direction you could head in.

 

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vscummins

Well-known Member

• Nov 26, 2014

• #1

If it has the high pressure oil pump for the injectors you don't want to make tgr oil thicker or it will be even harder to start .

 

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robgIN

Member

• Nov 26, 2014

• #1

If you are having the problem in cold temperatures , thicker oil will make it worse, your manual probably recommends lighter oil for cold temps , 15w40 for summer, probably 10w30 diesel oil , maybe even lighter .

 

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01gentdc

Well-known Member

• Nov 27, 2014

• #1

o riellys has that ,, archived posts say it worx good ,,.before I figured out turbo was stikin , I tried it in the perkins 354 massey combine ,,.didn't hurt nuthin,,bound to help

 

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Ian Beale

Member

• Nov 27, 2014

• #1

Like a lot of "How to - - -" books seem to be based on the model of

"How to do it and not get it"

Written by

"One who did it, got it and can't get rid of it"

 

M

MSM

Well-known Member

• Nov 27, 2014

• #1

Get a shop with a good scanner to check the engine oil pressure, hpop pressure and fuel pressures.Both cold and at operating temp. Also have them test the glow plugs and controller. Sounds like the hpop pump is bleeding off pressure after it sits. Could be the oil pressure regulator, or the o rings under the hpop pump or the fuel pump on the frame rail or even fuel filters if the haven't been changed recently.

 

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jimg.allentown

Well-known Member

• Nov 27, 2014

• #1

Just like b&d said. The whole "mechanic in a can" or "engine overhaul in a can" is just so much snake oil.
I suggest first that you verify what the problem REALLY is before jumping on the snake oil bandwagon. Check compression. Check glow plugs and associated circuitry. Check fuel pressure.

Diagnosis is by far the LEAST expensive way to solve/repair a problem.

Keep in mind that a diesel is strictly a compression ignition engine. If it is only hard starting but runs OK once started, compression is NOT your problem. If compression is so low as to prevent starting, there is NOTHING in a can that will fix it. Warming the intake air and the air in the combustion area should help to start it.

BTW, if the engine has glow plugs, NEVER USE ETHER OR ANY KIND OF STARTING FLUID. Increased combustion pressures will turn glow plugs into the equivalent of high powered rifle projectiles.

 

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Mark-Ia

Well-known Member

• Nov 27, 2014

• #1

Check the glow plug wiring harness and relay. Probably need new glowplugs also.

 

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buickanddeere

Well-known Member

• Nov 27, 2014

• #1

can you give us a hint on what kind of engine.

 

guido

Well-known Member

• Nov 27, 2014

• #1

Hello,

He said it was a power stroke,

Guido.