I was reading about "restore" in car an driver. It is an additive that you add to your oil an it claims to restore an improve compression, etc.... to your car. I have a 88 subaru GL wagon an was wondering if anyone has used this product before? Any input appreciated, thanks :)

I would personaly go with thicker grade of oil (Synthetic preferebly) and a fuel system cleaner.

I don't like additives as they always have a side effect.

The other option is to go to a dealer or quick lube places and get the engine flushed with the Bilstein Engine Cleaning Machine. It works wonders.

Good Luck,
Leo

I have used the engine restorer... it did help. Mind you it helped a 1981 Firebird with a 3.8 V6 that the cylinder walls were so washed down and there was so much blow-by that the oil would be so diluted with gasoline after 1000 miles, it would not have any oil pressure at idle(it would go around 2000 miles after the restorer). I really wish I had taken a compression test or done a leakdown test before and after... it was bad. In this extreme case... it worked. In a normal, well maintained vehicle... I doubt it. I would advise you to stay away from synthetics if it is a higer milage vehicle... unless you like replacing all the seals that will begin leaking after the switch to synthetic(unless you have been using it all along... in which case you can disregard what I just said). Whatever you do... DON'T use any additive with teflon. Teflon is about the right size for your oil filter to pick it up... and clog it up. Think about this too. Ads claim teflon bonds to berings and wear areas... much like a superimproved extreme pressure additive that is in all oils. Teflon is sprayed on frying pans, the ones you can't use metal utensiles one because it scratches the teflon. If teflon is sprayed onto a clean pan in a manufacturing plant under strict conditions and still can't have metal touch it because it scratches off... how is it supposted to protect a dirty, oily bearing just by contact?

Do or have done a compression check, if it is within specs I would'nt bother with the "magic additives". If it's not within specs then you need to determine what the problem is. Blowby means your piston rings or cylinder walls are worn and usually shows up as blue smoke during cold starts. this would require either a rebuild or replacement of the engine. I did'nt catch your miles on your post, did you post that?
Are you having trouble with your engine? Or are you just asking?

To me, oil additive is just a bandage to the underlying problem and may cause even more problems. It is best if you get to the root of the problem instead of covering it up.

--
Richard
http://www.whitetyphoon.com/impreza/

Its a 1988 GL wagon with 175698 miles