VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 Restore Oil Additive

So, a week ago Click and Clack (PBS radio car guys) advised a caller to try “Restore”. Said it had worked for them on cars that had been parked without running for several years and began burning some oil when put back in service. In particular they said Restore worked to loosen rings that were stuck from lack of use. The Restore is added to oil when changed, and could take two or three oil changes for a complete / maximum fix. I have had little to no luck with additives, but Click and Clack are a favorite of mine, and many of their answers are spot on. So I have to ask, have any members had experience with Restore?

Ah yes, the Magliozzi brothers...Tom & Ray, love those guys...Thought they were "done" with their great/funny/informative radio hour...Retired is what I meant...Lord, I can remember listening to them back in the '80's...Anyway...

What's wrong with a little Marvel's Mystery Oil...Added to the fuel for for just about anything sticking...? I'll google "Restore"...See what I get...! Kevin

I tried restore in two of my well worn driver vehicles. I found no change in performance. A cheap can of STP would do as well as it thickens the oil.

I know of someone who used a similar product for the problem you described and he said it worked very well. His engine had sat unused for several years and when started smoked excessively. His product was applied thru the plug opening and allowed to sit for several days during which time the engine was turned over by hand a couple times a day. When restarting it smoked for twenty minutes and then slowly stopped and has been fine since. Needless to say a couple of oil changes were necessary after application. I think the Restore may be ok for that same problem, however using it to try and cure a worn out engine will be a waste of time.

Your story sounds a bit like mine...Car sat for 14 years...But instead of "Restore" I used Marvel Mystery Oil...1 ounce per cylinder/changed the oil/only smoked for 20 seconds...Now runs good as used...!

I used the Marvel Mystery oil also..turned the engine by hand ..let sit a day and it was ready to go

I've also used MMO in '28 Chevy. The engine sat for 40 years since it was last turned over.

A friend of mine say the MMO in the cylinder would do two things: 1. Lube the cylinder walls and 2. unstick the rings.

I let the MMO sit in the cylinders for a month, while I fixed other things. Then turned the engine over by hand. All was well.

When I started it a few months later, it smoked for a couple of minutes and then had a clear exhaust.

Cheers, Dean

Sounds like MMO is the stuff to use.

We here in New York are stuck with Ethanol Blend Gasoline. Therefore, my 1997 454 Chevgy powered boat, 67 Corvette, all small engines and the 31 Chevy get MMO treatment. I add it to the crankcase oil and the fuel to lubricate the valve stems and combustion chamber. Ethanol is Alcohol and we all know what Alcohol does to oil. Damn politicians!

An alternative to MMO is ATF (automatic transmission fluid). Much less expensive, available nearly everywhere and does the same as MMO.