Marvel mystery oil instead of lead additive

Lubrication System (oil feed pump and scavenger pump, reservoir, filter, and lines)
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Diesel 68MC
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Marvel mystery oil instead of lead additive

#1

Post by Diesel 68MC »

So i had a oldtimer who owns a small independent bike shop that mainly specializes in pans and shovels tell me that marvel mystery oil works just like lead additive for your fuel. i understand yhe concept of lead being a upper end lube for valve guides etc but has anyone else heard or use this at all? he said just add a cap full to each tank at fill up and your good to go. myth or fact??? Thought id share this and ask some of you seasoned vets before i go ahead and try this cause lead is hard to find in my area. thanks all. Diesel
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Re: Marvel mystery oil instead of lead additive

#2

Post by Hog54 »

[just add a cap full to each tank at fill up and your good to go]
I think its in the directions on the side of the can.Its called mystery oil because its a mystery what it does.Ive used it and seen no difference from when I stopped using it.
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Re: Marvel mystery oil instead of lead additive

#3

Post by john HD »

i use it when i remember to put it in.

john
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Re: Marvel mystery oil instead of lead additive

#4

Post by BART »

I used it in my aircraft radial engines. I don't know there was any diffrerence. I have used it on occasion in my bikes. Some people swear by it, but I don't notice any difference in the bikes one way or another.

BART
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Re: Marvel mystery oil instead of lead additive

#5

Post by Cotten »

Diesel 68MC!

Tetraethyl lead was added to gasoline for one reason, and one reason only:
to increase octane rating.

Adding any oil lowers the octane rating.

....Cotten
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Re: Marvel mystery oil instead of lead additive

#6

Post by Diesel 68MC »

Ok cotten then him saying the lead additive is for lubrication propertys is a crock? if so this makes me doubt his credibility of things he is telling me.
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Re: Marvel mystery oil instead of lead additive

#7

Post by Cotten »

Diesel 68MC wrote:Ok cotten then him saying the lead additive is for lubrication propertys is a crock? if so this makes me doubt his credibility of things he is telling me.
Diesel 68MC!

The valvestem lubrication qualities of tetraethyl lead is minimal at best: Basically a modern barroom legend.

It was never the reason for its inclusion in motor fuels.

....Cotten
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Re: Marvel mystery oil instead of lead additive

#8

Post by Hog54 »

I think marvel mystery oil is like the medicine cure all that the guy sold you off the chuck wagon back in the 1800s.But it might be good for sewing machines.:)
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Re: Marvel mystery oil instead of lead additive

#9

Post by Scrap »

Had a buddy (it wasn't me, really) whose sportster acted like it had a sticking valve. We filled a pump oiler with Mystery Oil ( I think it was my idea) and sprayed it into the intake while he revved it up. Man did it lay down a smoke screen! Didn't do a thing for the valve, but the can is so cool it reminds you of time worn greasy repair shops. I need to believe its good for something. I really like the smell, It would make a fair after shave fragrance, I bet it would attract a very special kind of gal.
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Re: Marvel mystery oil instead of lead additive

#10

Post by Diesel 68MC »

Well thank you cotten for the input. im obviously not gonna try it. makes me wonder about some of the other stuff he has told me! :shock: like i said figured idd ask before trying it out. just gonna stick to the lead additive. thanks to all who posted Diesel
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Re: Marvel mystery oil instead of lead additive

#11

Post by Cotten »

Diesel MC68!

I didn't say don't use MMO!
I use it for soaking air filters. It looks better when it drips.

.....Cotten
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Re: Marvel mystery oil instead of lead additive

#12

Post by Diesel 68MC »

I meant im not gonna put it in my fuel. i use it for random stuff around the shop like rubbing down my punches and chisels when they get wet.
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Re: Marvel mystery oil instead of lead additive

#13

Post by Wrong Road »

Hi Cotten,

Besides octane boost, was there any other reason for lead added to fuel? Is there a reason for no-lead valve seats?

Thanks for all your informative posts.
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Re: Marvel mystery oil instead of lead additive

#14

Post by awander »

Tetraethyl lead was added to gasoline to boost octane rating, as Cotten said.

Many people thought that it also cushioned the valves by coating the valve seats. That is the reason that when unleaded fuels became the norm, there were lots of recommendations to replace bronze and other valve seats with harder steel seats.

From what I can tell, the whole issue has been determined to be a "non-issue". But you still hear the recommendations.
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Re: Marvel mystery oil instead of lead additive

#15

Post by 58flh »

I have used MMO faithfully since I built my first bike!--I add 2oz. to 5-gallons!--As COTTON mentioned it does not raise octane!----But I can tell tell you im using it for 24yrs. FAITHFULLY!--IT WORKS!--(no mystery nothing or voodoo)--I pull heads off every 2yrs. needed or not!--& I can tell you upper cyl. are very,vsry-CLEAN!--NO carbon-ridge-just a wipe of the finger & CLEAN!--I have logged ALOT of MILES!-I use my pan Everyday!,Now a guy I ride with has a pan-shovel & he stopped using it fir a year!--Same deal uses bike everyday!--When I pulled the heads there was CARBON -RIDGE thick enuff for a ridgereamer to remove!--Also alot of guys use it, I will continue to use it as I know it works!--JUST some food for thought!----Richie 8)
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