Please Never Use These 5 Additives! Major Engine Damage!

Summary

In this video, the creator tests five different substances in new Predator engines to see which destroys an engine the fastest. Metal shavings, sand, valve grinding compound, aluminum anti-seize, and sugar are added to the oil, and engine performance is monitored. The valve grinding compound proves the most destructive, destroying an engine in just over two minutes, while metal shavings and sand cause severe damage over longer periods. Aluminum anti-seize and sugar result in minimal wear. The experiment highlights the critical importance of regular oil and air filter maintenance, demonstrating how contaminants in oil can drastically impact engine longevity.

Takeaways

• 🛠️ Small engines are highly sensitive to contaminants in the oil, and even minor debris can cause serious damage over time.
• ⚡ Valve grinding compound is the most destructive additive tested, destroying the engine in just over 2 minutes.
• 🔩 Steel shavings cause severe engine damage, including scored cylinder walls, damaged piston rings, and destroyed connecting rod caps.
• ⏳ Dirt and sand in the oil are highly abrasive but take longer to destroy the engine, lasting around 2 hours in the test.
• 🍬 Sugar added to engine oil had minimal immediate impact and caused significantly less damage than metallic or abrasive contaminants.
• 🛢️ Aluminum anti-seize lubricant was relatively safe, causing mild wear but no catastrophic engine failure, though it did not prevent valve grinding compound damage.
• 🔧 Regular oil and air filter maintenance is crucial to prevent contamination-related engine failures, as filters cannot catch 100% of particles.
• 🔥 Engines exposed to abrasive contaminants develop noise such as valve train knocking and rod knocks before catastrophic failure.
• 📏 Measuring compression and starting effort helps monitor engine health, with noticeable drops indicating internal damage.
• 💡 The video demonstrates that contamination, rather than oil type alone, is the primary threat to small engine longevity.

Q & A

What was the main objective of the video?

The main objective was to test five different additives or contaminants to see which one destroys a small Predator engine the fastest.

Which type of engines were used for the experiments?

Five new 212cc Harbor Freight Predator engines were used, chosen for their durability and popularity in small engine applications.

What type of oil was used in all the engines?

Shell Rotella T6 15W40 full synthetic oil was used consistently in all tests due to its reliable performance and additive package.

How did steel shavings affect the engine?

Steel shavings caused significant damage over ~100 minutes, including knocking, smoke, and severe wear to the piston, cylinder walls, camshaft, and connecting rod caps.

What was the impact of sand or dirt contamination?

Sand and dirt caused substantial engine wear over ~2 hours, leading to loud noises, smoke, piston and crankshaft wear, and some valve damage.

Which additive destroyed the engine the fastest?

Valve grinding compound destroyed the engine the fastest, shutting it down in just 2 minutes and 7 seconds due to piston-ring seizure and severe internal damage.

Did aluminum anti-seize prevent engine damage?

Aluminum anti-seize reduced some immediate wear but did not prevent severe damage when mixed with destructive additives like valve grinding compound.

How did sugar affect the engine?

Sugar had minimal impact; the engine ran normally for over an hour and started successfully after cooling, showing very little immediate damage.

What role does engine maintenance play according to the video?

Regular oil and air filter changes are crucial for preventing contamination-related engine damage and extending engine life, as contaminants are a major threat.

Why was the compression release feature important in the tests?

The compression release allowed the engines to spin over with minimal effort, making it easier to measure compression and assess engine performance during the tests.

What observations were made about engine noise and smoke?

Engines contaminated with steel shavings and sand became progressively louder and started smoking, while the valve grinding compound caused immediate severe knocking, and sugar or anti-seize engines remained quieter and smoother.

What was concluded about the relative destructiveness of the tested substances?

Valve grinding compound was the most destructive, followed by steel shavings and sand, while sugar and aluminum anti-seize were far less immediately harmful.