Hi Scotty, I only recently heard anything about this product called Marvel Mystery Oil. It came about because I am a private pilot, and other pilots were telling me that they add it to the fuel to help prevent sticky valves especially on Lycoming engines. But also that it works for any type of engine such a for cars or lawn mowers or snow blowers or pressure washers etc.
Have you heard of this product? Are you familiar with it? Does it work? Do you recommend it? I don't want to waste money on "snake oil".
This stuff has been around since 1923. Some think it's the Second Coming and some think it's bunk. Depends who you talk to. I have never seen or been able to find any empirical evidence showing any benefits from using it.
What kind of LAMEs have you been hanging around with?!
In all of my initial training, not once have I ever seen any kind of oil being put into the fuel tanks of piston aeroplanes, during the aeroplane’s regular usage.
Please think twice..
PS. The others have already explained why it’s not a good idea to put any kind of oil into your car’s fuel tank.
Definitely, never pour it in your car's gas tank. Sticking valves aren't an issue on a properly maintained engine, and oil will just foul things up.
At my flying school, we never put oil in the fuel tanks either. We had both Lycoming and Continentals. The engines were maintained religiously by the mechanics.
I would not use it in a modern automotive engine. In cars about the only thing I've ever used it for is to free up and lubricate pistons in an engine that's been sitting for a long time.
