The mysterious Marvel

[kevdog3019]

Ok, I'll preface this by saying I'm not a hocus pocus type but do like to keep an open mind.  I decided to try Marvel Mystery Oil for the first time in my fuel for kicks.  I've never heard it kills an engine, so...

Did my first application recently at just over half the recommended amount.  Did this in the super Lario with higher compression, etc. 
What I've noticed is a heightened idle and the bike runs well.  Not sure yet that it runs better than before, but it certainly runs at least as well.  More time will tell. 

This stuff consists of naptha, rubbing alcohol and a minor dash of some woop dee doo.  I've looked at the specs.  So... it appears that this would slightly raise the octane rating?  Is that correct?  Basically aren't you just adding a little more alcohol to the mix?  Just want to wrap my head around this.  I suspect higher octane with higher compression could lend a helpful hand. 

Anyone have their own findings?  Don't mean to start another oil thread, but since Sea Foam got it's due respect...

[JoeW]

I've only used it in my air tools, they work great with it in there!

[mach1mustang351]

I use it in the crank case on my older vehicles. It really cleans up the engine. We have a 2001 civic that was turning the fresh oil dirty every oil change. We started using the marvel and after a couple oil changes the oil was staying clean until the next service... why does it work?? Its a mystery

[fotoguzzi]

I always thought it was pure snake oil. then had a stuck lifter on the old Old's, poured some into the engine and it fixed it! really!

[menzies]

Mix it half and half with Acetone and it will free up a stuck engine and many other things.

[dilligaf]

Mix it half and half with Acetone and it will free up a stuck engine and many other things.

That and I also use it to lubricate cables back in the day when we lubricated cables.  :BEER:
Matt

[Chuck in Indiana]

Antique airplane guys use it all the time. It's a great upper cylinder lubricant, frees up gummed up rings and sticky valves caused by sitting for long periods. So, Kevin.. the Lario been sitting too much?  ~; ;D

[Sasquatch Jim]

  It's the whoop De Doo stuff in it that makes it work so well.

[kevdog3019]

Antique airplane guys use it all the time. It's a great upper cylinder lubricant, frees up gummed up rings and sticky valves caused by sitting for long periods. So, Kevin.. the Lario been sitting too much?  ~; ;D

Noooooooooooooooooo oo!!  It's getting its due respect this year.  Last year was sort/build and this year is ride.  I've got to run the damned thing in yet so it's not through developing.  ;)

[kirkemon]

This is the best use of it on a motorcycle:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJ-uf4YyeHI

[Spuddy]

Isn't MMO just ATF?

[charlie b]

It is famous among model airplane folks for storing model engines as well as 'unsticking' them.  The nitro 2 strokes will gum up if not cleaned out before storing.

[Gootsz]

data sheet

Naphthenic Hydrocarbons 64742-52-5 70 – 80
Mineral Spirits 08052-41-3 20 – 30
Chlorinated Hydrocarbons 00095-50-1 0 – 1

[garbln]

Ive been using it as gun oil for years!

[Two Checks]

Alcohol, while having a higher octane raing will REDUCE power unless the engine needs higher octane as alk has less BTUs available. And mileage will go down.

[kevdog3019]

Alcohol, while having a higher octane raing will REDUCE power unless the engine needs higher octane as alk has less BTUs available. And mileage will go down.

Mileage goes down with higher octane?  I've never heard of folks using premium gas that said "I like it because I get lower mileage". I've heard the contrary several times but never thought the reward was worth the extra price personally. Are these people dreaming thinking their mileage is better with higher octane?


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[oldbike54]

Mileage goes down with higher octane?  I've never heard of folks using premium gas that said "I like it because I get lower mileage". I've heard the contrary several times but never thought the reward was worth the extra price personally. Are these people dreaming thinking their mileage is better with higher octane?


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 Octane has no bearing on mileage . What TC is referring to is that alcohol only has about 65% as much energy per gallon as gasoline , thus , lower mileage .

  Dusty

[kevdog3019]

Octane has no bearing on mileage . What TC is referring to is that alcohol only has about 65% as much energy per gallon as gasoline , thus , lower mileage .

  Dusty

Alcohol dragsters should be using gasoline. What are they thinking?  I have lots to learn.


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[oldbike54]

Alcohol dragsters should be using gasoline. What are they thinking?  I have lots to learn.


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 Alcohol dragsters and other ethanol/methanol burning IC engines consume more fuel than gasoline engines . Ethanol/methanol has a higher octane rating than gasoline allowing for much higher CRs . Nothing to do with energy per gallon .

  Dusty

[rocker59]

Copied from another forum:

"From Brian Hampton's fuel page, methanol has 9,970 BTU/lb. and gasoline (petrol) has 19,000 BTU/lb.   But the stoichiometric ratio, at which these fuels burn almost completely, are 6.44:1 and 15.0:1 respectively. This means the amount of methanol burnt is 2.33 times greater than the amount of gasoline.

 This would eventually mean the same amount of oxygen, chemically combined with methanol, will produce 22% more BTUs, than when combined with gasoline.  The amount of air per cycle is the constant that limits power, in a naturally aspirated engine. Adding more fuel will just cause the engine to emit more unburnt hydrocarbons.

So, burning straight methanol will give you roughly 22% more HP than gasoline, while being consumed at over twice the rate."

http://home.wanadoo.nl/pereivers/fuels_1.htm

[oldbike54]

They run Methanol...

 Which oddly enough produces about half as many BTUs per gallon than gasoline . This octane thing is greatly misunderstood .

  Dusty

[sign216]

This is the best use of it on a motorcycle:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJ-uf4YyeHI

Interesting video.  I've never used Marvel Mystery Oil as an aluminum/chrome polish.  He demonstrates that it's great.

Any try it?

[charlie b]

Premium fuel does have less energy than regular fuel.  The difference is the engine that the fuel is used in.

If an engine requires premium it usually means it is running at a higher compression ratio, which normally means more power.  If you run such an engine on regular fuel it will detonate (ping) which lowers power and is damaging to the engine.  Hence premium fuel "makes more power".

If you have an engine that runs fine on regular fuel, if you put premium in it you will get less power/mileage, not more.  I used to have bookmarked some dyno tests that showed it, but, no more :(  FWIW, the difference is small.

In modern engines it is difficult to tell sometimes because the engines have knock sensors that will alter engine timing.  Best advice is to use the fuel the engine is designed for.

[oldbike54]

 Charlie , I think Premium fuel only has less energy than 87 octane if it uses ethanol to achieve the higher rating . My understanding is that gasoline produces 117,000 BTUs per gallon , and ethanol 67,000 BTUs . Other than that , yes , you are correct . One thing about lower octane fuels is that they will ignite easier , that is probably why in a low CR engine they make a bit more power .

  Dusty

[sign216]

Best advice is to use the fuel the engine is designed for.

Now that is crazy talk.

[Chuck in Indiana]

If you have an engine that runs fine on regular fuel, if you put premium in it you will get less power/mileage, not more.

that is my understanding also..

[oldbike54]

that is my understanding also..

  :D :D :D :D
 Yeah , but try explaining that to the believers  ;D We painted one of the big refineries in Tulsa , 1971 , Sunray DX . Every major , and some minor brands , had trucks hauling gasoline out of there everyday .

 Dusty

[Chuck in Indiana]

  :D :D :D :D
 Yeah , but try explaining that to the believers  ;D We painted one of the big refineries in Tulsa , 1971 , Sunray DX . Every major , and some minor brands , had trucks hauling gasoline out of there everyday .

 Dusty

Seriously, I got better mileage running 87 in the Centauro. No less than Will Creedon said using regular was fine on it, so I did. I've since read that there was more energy in "regular" than 'hi test". Whatever. Worked for me..
That said, I'd run "hi test" in the normal 2 valve motors.

[oldbike54]

Seriously, I got better mileage running 87 in the Centauro. No less than Will Creedon said using regular was fine on it, so I did. I've since read that there was more energy in "regular" than 'hi test". Whatever. Worked for me..
That said, I'd run "hi test" in the normal 2 valve motors.

 Energy is the same , burn characteristics are different . Why do you run premium in a 2 valve low compression ditch pump ?

  Dusty

[Chuck in Indiana]

Energy is the same , burn characteristics are different . Why do you run premium in a 2 valve low compression ditch pump ?

  Dusty

To avoid detonation on a less than optimum combustion chamber design?