BG Fluids

[BlackSnake99]

OK all you lube gurus, what do you think of BG fluids? I am having all my fluids changed and the Viper tech suggested using them because you qualify for this protection deal.

BG Findashop

I am leaning toward staying OE. Would still use M1 for engine oil.

Thoughts?

 

[eucharistos]

good question, i've been wondering the same thing

i did the bg service in my suburban (injectors, trans, diff) but sold it with only 122000 mi on it so don't know if it was worth it or not

 

[V10SpeedLuvr]

I've done the BG induction service twice on mine and a couple times on my DD as well. Before 1 of the times on the Viper, I was getting horrible gas mileage and the service straightened out whatever the problem was.

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

BG is similar to STP and Prestone brand products; the difference is STP and Prestone sells to retail and BG sells to installed market, specifically dealerships. Dealers are independent businesses and so often the perception of finding BG products at the local Ford, Chrysler, or Chevy dealer is that BG carries a higher level of performance, more credibility, more value or something. None of that is true.

BG purchases performance chemicals from the same additive suppliers that STP, Wynns, and Prestone do. They do not have any association with the car companies so there is no endorsement. In fact, the service manager (and Viper Tech?) is likely to have a compensation plan based on how many BG products he/she can sell. I have stood in front of a service manager on the phone telling a potential tune-up customer that a $80 BG service was practically a necessity - how strange is it to suggest a bottle of something from other than the OEM you represent to a customer before you have even seen the car? Anyway, that bit of ugly salesmanship aside, if you think a "BG service" is something your car needs, you are just as likely to improve the performance or maintain high levels of cleanliness by using a "complete fuel system treatment" from another reputable brand like Chevron Techron or STP. One of the big bottles before every oil change will be fine. You are just as likely to improve the performance or maintain high levels of cleanliness by making sure you get regular oil changes with reputable brands like Mobil, Shell, Castrol, etc. You can do better than average by using oils that also carry US diesel or ACEA European oil performance claims. Transmission fluid and diff fluid changes - the OEM products are very highly formulated already and although they are supposed to be changed, they are evaluated as if they are fill for life. Adding something to them may upset things more than help.

Generally Viper owners are so -dare I say this- anal about their car that oil changes and other maintenance is done well before needed rather than after waiting too long. The only thing I would suggest routinely is the fuel treatment use once per oil change. All gasolines (including premiums) have the minimum legal amount of additives, but it isn't surprising when valves or injectors accumulate deposits anyway.

 

[V10SpeedLuvr]

In fact, the service manager (and Viper Tech?) is likely to have a compensation plan based on how many BG products he/she can sell.

Tom's deadon about this. As a past parts manager for an automotive dealership, BG does offer "bonuses" each time you sell 1 of their services. Its been a while since I worked at a dealership that sold BG products, but I know the tech, service mgr. and parts mgr. all received these bonuses. I can't remember exactly, but I think it was around $0.50-$2 per service depending on which one you sold. The only ones we sold were the induction and transmission (for autos only) kits. They were part of our 30k maintenance packages, but they were also sold separately if someone came in complaining of a specific problem (gas mileage, hard tranny shifting, etc). As I said earlier, I did have a problem with my gas mileage several years ago and a BG service did solve it, so I do like the product(s), FWIW.

 

[Steve-Indy]

Tom, you are indeed a scholar, a gentleman, and a great diplomat!!!

What follows is my own personal opinion, based on my impressions of a variety of operations observed over some 50 years of blissful automotive ownership:

I must admit, that in spite of any inherent beneficial properties contained within the various "flush" product containers, the whole "business" of service writers making recommendations concerning the "need to flush" what seems to me to be nearly EVERY fliud filled system in cars that roll through the front door deemed "due" for a fluid change, certainly could give the casual observer (at least in my opinion) the impression of blatant "retailing" on the part of said service writers (who are, of course, getting a percentage of the service bills written!!!). I am sure that with a given amount of abuse, neglect, misuse, or contamination some systems may need a flush as determined on a case-by-case basis...but not to the extent and frequency that I have observed...especially when the recommendation is being made upon arrival as opposed to after examination.

And, to top it all off, just seeing the "flush" company representative collecting container lids (proof of product usage) from the techs and trading them for cash tends to make me feel more than just a little uncomfortable about the whole precess...again, just my opinion based on my own personal observations.

Of course, when an extra step is added to any process, the labor time may possibly increase, and therefore the bill increases, as does the compensation to all those individuals directly involved.

There are parallels in many other areas of life!!!

Having most of the Service Manuals for all years of Vipers...I have yet to find specific recommendations supporting this commonly encountered situation.

Hopefully, some knowledgeable person here can shed more scientific light on this issue, and correct my own impressions if they are indeed wrong. A large series with statistically significant data, the results of which have preferably been confirmed by more than one independent team, and published in a mainstream, peer reviewed scientific journal would be helpful.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[BlackSnake99]

Yeah, thats what I thought.... that there was a 'bonus' (ie a kickback) on the BG stuff. My Viper has 5300 miles on it so I doubt it needs anything flushed. I just want the 10 year old stuff out. I will stick with OE I think. Thanks guys, I figured you would come up with the answer!

 

[Jerome Sparich]

When I was a Tech for American Honda we used BG products.

A can of BG oil treatment was used at every "X" mile service that the Honda was in for. (forgot the actaul mileage, may have been every 6k?)

In the bottom of the can was a round plastic disc. We were told (all Techs) to keep this disc as at the end of the month we could turn it in for cash from the BG Rep who came around.

It added up, and was used to help the under privileged, pole dancers we called them.
Hey, they have to eat too!