Opti-Lube XPD

Gale Hawkins · Jun 1, 2010

mrutkaus said:
ok i'm not joking here, although i do sometimes. i am just a click away form getting a gallon of optilube xpd, but i'm looking at the #1, biodiesel. Why am I thinking adding some canola/olive/crisco oil from Walmart will be just as good as $60 worth of optilube?

Mike

The US government may be against using food grade oils for vehicle use.

I do not have a serious answer for your serious question but I hope someone does.

In the mean time why you are at Wal-Mart pick up a $1.97 bottle of the WM Super Tech TC-W3 Outboard 2 Cycle engine oil and give your ears a break. Over on the diesel forums 1:128 is the typical ratio so that will treat 16 gallons or 32 if you go 1:256.

Here is what turned me onto Super Tech TC-W3 outboard oil instead of Opt-Lube XPD. i use it in the gas vehicles for fuel pump lube from time to time but at like 1:500 (1oz per 4 gallons).

Lubricity Additive Study Results - Diesel Place

As you can see soy oil came in #1 over #2 Opti-Lube XPD. I think Spencer was the one that headed up the research. Super Tech was #7 but so much better than some of the ones so many use which some caused negative test results even.

lilranch2001 · Jun 1, 2010

Gale Hawkins said:
Here is what turned me onto Super Tech TC-W3 outboard oil instead of Opt-Lube XPD. i use it in the gas vehicles for fuel pump lube from time to time but at like 1:500 (1oz per 4 gallons).

Lubricity Additive Study Results - Diesel Place

As you can see soy oil came in #1 over #2 Opti-Lube XPD. I think Spencer was the one that headed up the research. Super Tech was #7 but so much better than some of the ones so many use which some caused negative test results even.

Gale, yes the soy oil came in first, but if you read the whole report it has its net negatives.
As far as the Super Tech, not knowing what you are using it in, I would be leary using it. Read the whole statement from the report on Super Tech that I pasted in below.

7)Super Tech Outboard 2-cycle TC-W3 engine oil
Unconventional (Not ULSD compliant, may damage 2007 or newer systems)
HFRR 474, 162 micron improvement
200:1 ratio
16.64 oz/tank
$1.09/tank

I spent $50 bucks on a gallon of Opti-Lube, and figure it will last me 2 years, that is like 50 cent a week, I figure spending that much on a 17k tractor is doable for my wallet if it is what I consider the best fuel treatment

EDIT: I should have said read other parts of this thread and other threads when I refered to bio deisel, being a net negative, not the report itself

Gale Hawkins · Jun 1, 2010

The Super Tech TC-W3 seems to be one of the most common additives used by diesel owners and was included as noted because of that reason and the reseacher is not about to recommend it as an approved diesel lube.

All of our gas and diesel engines are older than 2007 anyway, much older.

Since by sound the Wal-Mart 7)Super Tech Outboard 2-cycle TC-W3 engine oil seems to be equal to 2)Opti-Lube XPD and I know is approved for gas engines too so it works out OK for our use. I agree on paper Opti-Lube XPD came out a little better than the Wal-Mart option and should work well for you.

Wal-Mart does so much for our community I try to support her as much as possible.:thumbsup:

dodge man · Jun 4, 2010

I'm running bio-diesel in my tractor, which as I recall has great lubricity. I dump a little power service in it for the heck of it, but I'm proabably wasting my money. In the winter I dump in some Howes for gelling issues. I wish I could get pure diesel for the winter, but they don't sell it in pumps around here. The farm diesel suppliers have pure diesel fuel, but they won't fill up my 5 gallon cans.

ray66v · Jun 4, 2010

I have been running Opti-Lube XPD for almost two years, in two different 4 cyl. engines. One is low time, one is high time.

It has never made any difference what so ever, in either engine.

lilranch2001 · Jun 4, 2010

ray66v said:
I have been running Opti-Lube XPD for almost two years, in two different 4 cyl. engines. One is low time, one is high time.

is it even rated for gasoline engines?

Stradbash · Jun 30, 2010

lilranch2001 said:
is it even rated for gasoline engines?

It is (I'm reasonably sure without looking at the label) designed and intended for diesel engines only.

ray66v said:
I have been running Opti-Lube XPD for almost two years, in two different 4 cyl. engines. One is low time, one is high time.

It has never made any difference what so ever, in either engine.

How can you know?
Have you also been running identical engines with identical fuel doing similar tasks/hours without Opti-Lube and torn all 4 down for inspection and comparison?

ray66v · Sep 13, 2012

Just noticed these two old posts addressed to me. It is now 2 years later, I found this thread when I went to order more Optilube.

I was trying to say before, Optilube has not made a noticeable difference. Today, I still can't tell if it makes any difference. But, since it's cheap insurance, I am still going to use it.

lilranch2001 said:
is it even rated for gasoline engines?

Never said they were gasoline engines?

Stradbash said:
How can you know? Have you also been running identical engines with identical fuel doing similar tasks/hours without Opti-Lube and torn all 4 down for inspection and comparison?

Sorry I didn't explain that thoroughly enough. I was referring to the earlier claim in this thread, that an engine will ran quieter after using Optilube XPD. The fact that it was not realistically possible for me to know if there was any real difference in engine wear, as you illustrated, could actually have been a clue that I meant something else.

BurgerSteak · Oct 13, 2012

I have a newer Duramax that I started using XPD in. Initially I noticed quieter operation which concurs with others in this thread. I have taken the truck drag racing a couple times just for laughs, and despite Optilube's claims of improved power, the truck actually slowed down in the quarter mile just a touch with XPD added. Also, and more alarmingly, the frequency of regen cycles doubled. Beyond the aggravation of driving around with a constant fast idle, I had concerns about my emissions systems so I stopped using XPD. After another fill up or two the regens returned to their normal frequency of once per tank thankfully. Overall my opinion of Optilube is the same as the snake oil comments earlier.

BrianDT · Nov 27, 2012

If you guys are still looking, Gallons are on sale here

Diesel Fuel Lube - Sale on Gallons of Optilube

Seems everyone is proced the same for the product, but shipping is less that $5 here. Good deal compared to $20 that most places charge.

ray66v · Nov 27, 2012

Thanks Brian.

I just ordered a quart.

Even their regular price on a quart was a much better deal than others have sold it for.

Gale Hawkins · Nov 28, 2012

BurgerSteak said:
I have a newer Duramax that I started using XPD in. Initially I noticed quieter operation which concurs with others in this thread. I have taken the truck drag racing a couple times just for laughs, and despite Optilube's claims of improved power, the truck actually slowed down in the quarter mile just a touch with XPD added. Also, and more alarmingly, the frequency of regen cycles doubled. Beyond the aggravation of driving around with a constant fast idle, I had concerns about my emissions systems so I stopped using XPD. After another fill up or two the regens returned to their normal frequency of once per tank thankfully. Overall my opinion of Optilube is the same as the snake oil comments earlier.

That all makes sense to me. It is kind of like when I was trying to run 40:1 instead 50:1 mix in the Stihl saws. The power dropped a bit, smoked more and fowled the plug more.

Our diesels are an old 1976 MF 265 tractor and 1983 JD 310B backhoe and from time to time I use the WM TCW3 oil at 100:1 ratio. MF injector pump chatters less but can not hear a different in the JD. Both are 60 HP engines. Some run this class of oil at a 500:1 ratio in gas engines and do report both lower and higher MPG but I expect more are lower.

Additives do WORK but some times for your engine and sometimes against your engine it seems. :B

BrianDT · Dec 27, 2012

BurgerSteak said:
I have a newer Duramax that I started using XPD in. Initially I noticed quieter operation which concurs with others in this thread. I have taken the truck drag racing a couple times just for laughs, and despite Optilube's claims of improved power, the truck actually slowed down in the quarter mile just a touch with XPD added. Also, and more alarmingly, the frequency of regen cycles doubled. Beyond the aggravation of driving around with a constant fast idle, I had concerns about my emissions systems so I stopped using XPD. After another fill up or two the regens returned to their normal frequency of once per tank thankfully. Overall my opinion of Optilube is the same as the snake oil comments earlier.

First, You should not hear quester operation with an additive. I am sorry, but this is the placebo effect. The small amount of this stuff added simply cannot quiet an engine. Over time it could clean up the fuel system and the engine work more efficiently and become quieter, but you would not see this for some time.

Second, the chemicals in Optilube, or any of the lubricative additives, would not cause you to have a less efficient burn. Even a double does of the product should not do what you are saying it did or does. If that was the case, no drag racer would use any fuel additive and one must note that all fuel that comes from a refinery has an additive in it once it hits the fuel station. I am sorry, but I do not believe you.

The real issue we have in the US is that our fuel specs do not match the needs of the new diesels. Fuels in the US can have a scar number of up to 560. The HPFP manufacturers say you need 520 at a minimum to have a reasonable life from your HPFP and the lower the scar number the better. So running fuel with a 300 scar number will result in a HPFP that lasts longer. In the US, we need an additive that puts lubication back in our fuel. While some fuel might be OK, others might not.

That is why I posted the group buy in post 30 as it is important to protect you fuel system, even in your tractor.

ray66v · Dec 27, 2012

BrianDT said:
First, You should not hear quester operation with an additive. I am sorry, but this is the placebo effect. The small amount of this stuff added simply cannot quiet an engine.

I do agree with you here. And, this claim no doubt gives rise to the calls that the product is snake oil.

Clue: Even the folks at OptiLube who make lots of claims about XPD, do NOT claim their product will make an engine run quieter.

Gale Hawkins · Dec 27, 2012

As noted above it does cut the noise coming from the injector pump on the MF yet does not change the noise level at all on the JD per weak ears. That by the way with the WM TCW3. As ray66v points out noise reduction is NO a feature of diesel lubes. It is a side effect that may or may not occur.

BrianDT · Jan 5, 2013

Gale, I assume this is a low pressure pump on the MF?

BrianDT · Jan 18, 2013

Gale?

a1elcamino · Nov 17, 2013

Well I know that this is all hashed out but I am still using Opti-Lube XPD. and also use Stanadyne to boost the CET Last winter it started up with out any issues. The neighbor says the tractor seems more like a gas motor than a diesel. I swear by my mix, and do not over mix it. Tony D.

Gale Hawkins · Nov 17, 2013

The last couple years did not get many hours on either of ours and slacked off on using the WM 2 cycle oil and have had serious rusting in the filler neck on both. Going to put some grease there too. We had to use large pliers to get the fuel cap off the JD yesterday.