2018 test3 productsFuel & Additives

Which Fuel/engine Additive Brand Wins?

A head-to-head test of 3 fuel/engine additive options with the measured results for each. See how they ranked and watch the full test video.

The verdict
Ranked first

Techron

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The measured results

Every number below is read straight from the test. Scroll sideways to see all measurements. Products are listed in the order they finished.

ProductInitial single-product test (dirty carburetor/badly worn engine, one tank per label directions)Three-way carbon-prevention comparison, cylinder head areaCompression testThree-way carbon-prevention comparison, piston and valve areaThree-way carbon-prevention comparison, overall
1Techronsome cleaning was visible but a lot more cleaning was left to be done; narrator believes it probably takes more than the one tank the product claims is sufficientnarrator says Techron seemed to excel in this location of the engine101 PSI (figure from meta chapter title only, not spoken anywhere in the transcript)not testednot tested
2Seafoamnot testednot testednot testedwhen asked which of the three products did the best overall, narrator says Seafoam did the best in this areanot tested
3Marvel Mystery Oilnot testednot testednot testednot testednarrator says it seemed to finish somewhere in the middle of the other two

How it was tested

  • single-product cleaning test: Techron run through a badly worn, dirty engine and carburetor for one tank per label directions
  • three-way carbon buildup prevention comparison: Techron, Seafoam, and Marvel Mystery Oil each run individually through the same cleaned engine for one tank, then torn down and visually inspected for carbon buildup by engine region
  • compression test in PSI (chapter-only data, not narrated)

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