Scotty, I spent much of my errant youth near the falls and Lewiston. My youth was concurrent with yours (1953 born). I have just purchased (circumstances required so please forgive me) a 2010 Mercedes ML350 Base Model with 144k+. There are many questions but first:
1. The ATS oil treatment...yes or no?
2. My friend in Alaska (who showed my your stuff) runs a lot of older cars and has been using NanoTune by Luxestone to success. He went, on his older vehicles, from 17 MPH to 25 MPH using the product. Do you have any experience with it?
I am about to change all the fluids. I am glad I found you before I did any flushes. I now know better. I will just drop the pans and change the fluids without disturbing what may be lurking in the tranny and other systems.
It would be great if you have a video (you probably do) that says what to do when you get a high mileage older car, just to make sure everything that should be done is done.
That's enough for now. I wish I was in your neck of the woods, still! Be Well.
Jeff
<personal info removed. You shouldn't be posting that on the internet. -mod>
25 MPH
that's not very fast
I usually go faster speedwalking AND I get 30mpg. Can't say what the fuel is, proprietary mix patent pending & so forth.
Are you giving out free samples of this engine slaying concoction?
Getting good third-party data is tough. Nobody who isn’t selling the stuff is going to do a proper test (like get 10 matching cars, run the additive in half of them, then tear down the motors and take fine measurements). So usually all you have to go on is the manufacturers own testing and anecdotes/testimonials.
Its not that oil additives don’t help so much as there’s no way to know. And keep in mind that as with everything, if it can help it can also hurt.
So what to do? The consensus around here is that the best thing for an old car (or a new one for that matter) is just to use the right oil and change it frequently.
DO NOT I repeat DO NOT USE ANY OIL ADDITIVES in a Mercedes. Only use approved oil and that's it. Mercedes engines are designed to run on specific viscosity oil. Any changes to that can result is serious damage to the engine, especially the head . Just change your oil on time and use a top shelf product. The only time you can use a additive like that is if Mercedes approves it and I don't think there is any at all. Back in 2020 I worked on a 2006 e500 the guy just changed his oil and added STP high mileage oil additive. In 300 miles or so he developed a valve tap. A short time later the car would not start. I tore apart the engine and found all the cam lobs where seriously gouged, 15 valve where bent and 4 lifters cracked. It noticed the engine had very little oil in the head. Then I found out he used that additive. Because the additive made the oil thicker it wasn't able to flow properly and it destroyed the engine. So be extremely careful what you use in a Mercedes engine, it can cost you thousands.
