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Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: Ben Lessani on 12 January 2009, 22:03

Title: Anyone had first hand experience of "Lucas oil stabiliser" ?
Post by: Ben Lessani on 12 January 2009, 22:03
Hello troops,

My mechy friend was listening to my brum brum and it the tappets have been making hella noise. Its got a genuine VAG filter and clean oil as of a few days ago. They've always been noisy, its nothing new. It also burns a little bit of oil.

He said he had a few old cars and after using a bottle of Lucas oil stabiliser, the tappets shut up and it stopped consuming as much oil.

I'm always weary of additives, but I was wondering if anyone has tried it?
Title: Re: Anyone had first hand experience of "Lucas oil stabiliser" ?
Post by: DarnPB on 12 January 2009, 22:12
Sounds like STP to me. An additive that increases the viscocity of oil. It pours like treacle and is usually used on worn engines to quieten them down or on high performance hot running engines.
Title: Re: Anyone had first hand experience of "Lucas oil stabiliser" ?
Post by: Ben Lessani on 12 January 2009, 22:20
Yeah, its an oil thickener. What do you make of stuff like that?
Title: Re: Anyone had first hand experience of "Lucas oil stabiliser" ?
Post by: Benrevs on 12 January 2009, 22:46
I have used a few, but if I had to would always buy ZX1 over anything else.
Title: Re: Anyone had first hand experience of "Lucas oil stabiliser" ?
Post by: OakeyDoak16v on 13 January 2009, 01:19
Sounds good to me but would you not be better using a thicker oil maybe, or do you think the tappets just need a once only treatment?
Title: Re: Anyone had first hand experience of "Lucas oil stabiliser" ?
Post by: danny_p on 13 January 2009, 05:05
if planning on another engine at some point  fill it up with treacle like addatives or 20/50 oil

if want to keep, change the tappets
Title: Re: Anyone had first hand experience of "Lucas oil stabiliser" ?
Post by: sidecarphil on 13 January 2009, 07:29
when i was building my 2.1 ZVH for my RS Turbo i used an additive and when the fools at the dyno in norwich blew it up cos of there sh1te mapping that saved most of the H section rod's and forged piston's , only had to replace 2 pistons

i alway's add STP :) (till i moved to holland ) :huh:
Title: Re: Anyone had first hand experience of "Lucas oil stabiliser" ?
Post by: VeeDubGTI16v on 13 January 2009, 10:24
sounds like the tappets need changing
Title: Re: Anyone had first hand experience of "Lucas oil stabiliser" ?
Post by: Ben Lessani on 13 January 2009, 10:31
Oh, the tappets are boned. I just wanted a one shot fix to cure my oil burning and tappet woes, guess it ain't as easy as that,
Title: Re: Anyone had first hand experience of "Lucas oil stabiliser" ?
Post by: VeeDubGTI16v on 13 January 2009, 10:33
at least you only have 8 to change!
Title: Re: Anyone had first hand experience of "Lucas oil stabiliser" ?
Post by: Ben Lessani on 13 January 2009, 10:40
True that! I was thinking of taking them out and cleaning them as per the guide on here and seeing if that helps.

What actually makes them noisy, insufficient oil flow?
Title: Re: Anyone had first hand experience of "Lucas oil stabiliser" ?
Post by: paultownsend on 13 January 2009, 11:28
surely thicker oil will make the tappets worse? will be harder for the oil to get in and pump up?
mine are tit sometimes. tried all sorts, change oil (synta) every 3k and i still get 2 sticky ones :(
does anyone know the price of genuine items from vag?
Title: Re: Anyone had first hand experience of "Lucas oil stabiliser" ?
Post by: VeeDubGTI16v on 13 January 2009, 13:15
they were £6+vat each when i changed some 3 years ago, so probably more now! i went for the ecp ones which were much cheaper
Title: Re: Anyone had first hand experience of "Lucas oil stabiliser" ?
Post by: dirtydub on 13 January 2009, 13:53
to be honest mate i wouldnt bother with treatments etc as far as the tappet noise goes. By all means take the tappets out and clean em up and see if it helps or better still get some new ones in there. I tried a few things to quieten mine thicker oil, oil treatments and an engine flush but nothing helped infact the flush just destroyed my already half knackered stem seals so i was bellowing blue smoke everywhere.

the treatments are great if you lose compression or fook ur engine as previously said but i think the
best way to go is new tappets and stem seals not too pricey just takes a little time
Title: Re: Anyone had first hand experience of "Lucas oil stabiliser" ?
Post by: Ben Lessani on 13 January 2009, 14:57
ECP

FEBI     n/a     311440030     HYDRAULIC CAM FOLLOWER PO/GO/JE/VE/PA/L.T./A80/A100
Hydro follower       £8.70    
RUVILLE    n/a    311440031    HYDRAULIC CAM FOLLOWER PO/GO/JE/VE/PA/L.T./A80/A100
Hydro follower       £8.50
Title: Re: Anyone had first hand experience of "Lucas oil stabiliser" ?
Post by: VeeDubGTI16v on 13 January 2009, 15:18
just checked gsf and they are 4.90 there, they have got more expensive thats for sure!
Title: Re: Anyone had first hand experience of "Lucas oil stabiliser" ?
Post by: Ben Lessani on 13 January 2009, 15:19
That's weird, I just checked GSF ...

14537           CAM FOLLOWER-HYDRAULIC           G2 8/85 >            7.25
Title: Re: Anyone had first hand experience of "Lucas oil stabiliser" ?
Post by: VeeDubGTI16v on 13 January 2009, 15:46
i didnt realise the old 8v had different followers

the list for these seems to show they are all the same! and they are nice and cheap

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VOLKSWAGEN-POLO-GOLF-PASSAT-HYDRAULIC-LIFTERS-x-8_W0QQitemZ380096631790QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item380096631790&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318
Title: Re: Anyone had first hand experience of "Lucas oil stabiliser" ?
Post by: Ben Lessani on 13 January 2009, 16:04
Oooh, might invest in those, only a touch dearer than that oil!

But if I do that, it means it makes sense to do the valve stem seals too, which is a long ass process.
Title: Re: Anyone had first hand experience of "Lucas oil stabiliser" ?
Post by: dirtydub on 13 January 2009, 16:42
yeah it can be a bit of a ball ache. Since ive had my head reconditioned no more irritating tapping on those cold mornings and doesnt use a drop of oil its a pain but its well worth it believe me will save you money in oil if nothing else.

i have some stem seals spare from my gsf head gasket kit if you would like them
Title: Re: Anyone had first hand experience of "Lucas oil stabiliser" ?
Post by: Mr Blue on 13 January 2009, 20:57
Deffo do the valve stems while you have the chance.

There is a guide in the maintainence section on the valve stem replacement (without removing cylinder head)
Title: Re: Anyone had first hand experience of "Lucas oil stabiliser" ?
Post by: Ben Lessani on 13 January 2009, 21:00
Yeah I've read through it a few times. Looks like a weekend job.