If you’ve had a yarn with any of us here at Grimmer Motors, you’ll know we go on plenty about keeping up with your oil changes. That’s not just us being picky – fresh oil is what keeps your engine humming happily up and down Te Rapa Straight, out to Ngaruawahia or dodging potholes on Peachgrove Road. But here’s the thing, sometimes even clean oil needs a wee boost, especially with the kind of stop-start driving we do around Hamilton and the surrounds. That’s where engine oil additives come in.
So, What’s an Engine Oil Additive Then?
Think of oil additives as a bit of extra help for your engine. They’re mixed into your engine oil to give it a hand, tackling stuff that regular oil might not handle so well – things like keeping parts cleaner, reducing banging and grinding when you’re stuck in Hillcrest traffic, or helping your oil work better on those icy Tamahere mornings or scorching summer days in Gordonton.
There’s a fair range of engine oil additives out there (you can check out some of the better-known ones here), and they’re definitely not all created equal. We see lots of different ones in the workshop, depending on what the customer’s driving, how old the car is, and what sort of trips they’re doing – like city runs to Chartwell, or cruising the back roads to Cambridge.
Types of Additives We Use in the Workshop
Stop Smoke Additives
Bit of smoke puffing out when you give that Subaru Forester a bit of a rev at lights? Could be early engine wear (see more causes here). Sometimes, before things get too rough, we’ll add what’s called a stop smoke additive. It cuts down those smoky exhaust clouds that’ll fail your WOF if you’re not careful. Handy little trick for helping you get through WOF Hamilton tests, especially if your engine’s starting to show its age.
Friction Modifiers
We get a lot of Toyotas and Mazdas coming in – even the odd Mercedes or Peugeot – and after years of bumbling around Dinsdale, things can get a bit noisy under the bonnet. That’s usually friction – metal rubbing metal. Friction modifiers get in there and smooth things out, so you’re not driving a mobile coffee grinder. Less wear and quieter too.
Antioxidation Additives
Ever seen oil turn into what looks like brown peanut butter in the engine? That’s oxidation – too much oxygen in the oil, the curse of short runs in winter. We’ll use an antioxidant additive to keep things from sludging up in those European cars people use for the school run out in Rototuna. More info about oxidation is here if you’re curious.
Detergents & Dispersants
Think laundry detergent, but for inside your engine. Detergent additives keep things clean and stop rust from Kiwi humidity. The dispersants? They make sure any grime doesn’t get a chance to stick to the metal. We see this help a lot on Honda Odyssey hybrids and the trusty old Nissan Tiidas.
Viscosity Modifiers
Winter mornings in Hamilton or summer jams out to Morrinsville, your oil needs to handle both. Viscosity modifiers help keep it the right thickness – not too runny when it’s hot, not too thick when it’s cold. Great for those Suzuki Swifts or VW Golfs that are used for everything from commutes to weekend rugby runs.
Antifoam Additives
If you’re doing a lot of city driving, sometimes you’ll get foamy oil (tiny bubbles that muck with the lubrication). We’ll chuck in antifoamants to burst those bubbles, protecting the internals of your engine on stop-start errands in Melville or trips across the river to Frankton.
Why Bother With Additives?
Honestly, with the wild swings in NZ weather and how much we’re all jumping between city traffic, country roads, and waiting at pedestrian crossings near The Base, your engine cops a good hiding. Engine oil additives help with stuff you can’t always see – keeping oil cleaner, fighting corrosion, reducing weird noises, and sometimes helping get that little extra life out of the engine before repairs. Even if your engine sounds sweet as, there could be grime or wear building up. Prevention’s cheaper than fix-ups, that’s for sure.
Need a Hand With Engine Oil Additives in Hamilton?
Keen to go the extra mile for your car? We’ve got you covered. Whether you drive a Kia, Isuzu truck, or a late-model Skoda, we see everything in here. At Grimmer Motors, we do standard oil and filter changes, plus we’ll talk you through the best additive options for your setup and driving style. Our techs know what actually works here in Hamilton conditions. Give us a bell or come in for a yarn, and we’ll get your engine sorted so it lasts the distance. Reliable, honest, and always happy to help – that’s us.