We’ve heard of bolt-on and go-faster goodies for our cars, but what about upgrades you simply pour into the car to make it better? From clearer windscreens to improved cooling, there are many additives you can mix with your car’s vital fluids, but which ones work and are worth spending money on?
Fuel additives
One of the most common additives you will come across is the sort that claims to clean your car’s engine as you drive along. This type of additive is poured into the fuel tank and mixes with the petrol or diesel so that it gets into the engine and touches all the parts that fuel reaches.
When using this kind of pro-duct you need to make sure you are buying the right type for your car, as they vary depending on the fuel your car’s engine uses. While some of these additives claim to boost engine power, the best ones work by helping to remove carbon deposits and sludge that builds up in an engine during normal use.
By using chemical cleansers, these deposits are softened and wash away as the car is used. You may notice some smoke from the exhaust pipe when using this type of product, but that should clear quickly and the engine should feel a little more lively. You might also find a small improvement in fuel economy.
Oil additives
Similar to these fuel treatments are oil additives that are poured directly into the engine’s oil filler. They claim to make the oil last longer by reducing how quickly the oil degrades in regular use.
While some no doubt do what they claim, it’s more advisable to simply use a high-quality engine oil and replace the oil and filter every year.
Screenwash additives
Another simple pour-and-use solution for your car is windscreen washer treatment. Again, this works by mixing with the washer fluid and squirting onto the windscreen when you use the washers.
A little like domestic shower spray, windscreen treatment works by making the glass more water-repellent, so rain and dirt do not adhere to the glass.
The good thing with windscreen additives is that you can see almost instantly if they work by the vision through the screen. When you find one that works well, carry on using it.
Coolant additives
Another additive that mixes with water is engine coolant aid, or ‘water wetter’ as they are often called. These additives work by blending with the water in the car’s coolant system to chemically increase the boiling point of the water.
By increasing the boiling point, it means the coolant fluid will carry on doing its job even at higher temperatures, such as in the summer or if the car is caught in a traffic jam.
As with all these products, you must read the instructions of any water wetter or waterless coolant very carefully to make sure it is suitable for use in your car.
If it is, you could make your car quicker, cleaner, leaner and fitter just by pouring in an additive, so maybe you really can get out more than you put in.