Technical Is it snake oil?

Speaking of oil I need to do 2 oil changes. Not sure I will add an additive, one is a daily the other a race car.

 

I have used LiquiMoly oil in my TDI VW because it was the 507 VW spec oil and it was fine, I also used their injector cleaner running straight from a jar to clean the injectors in the same car. They seem like they make a quality product.

I did use some "snake oil" back in the 90's called Tribo Tech which was similar to Slick 50 or STP as it was just an additive in the oil. This was in a 1989 Olds Toronado with a V6, it had a futuristic at the time display screen in the dash with all the controls being on the touch screen, radio, AC and such, also a mileage computer that seemed somewhat accurate. I changed the oil and added the bottle of Tribo Tech and almost instantly the car gained 2 mpg, I was driving the exact same as before the oil change just to work and back, not much else so the route was almost always the same. The next time I changed the oil, I didn't put the additive in and instantly the mileage went back down 2 mpg. At the time with gas prices what they were, it wasn't worth the money for the additive to get 2 mpg so I didn't use it again. Now it probably would be worth it as I am in Kalifornistan.

 

Alot tells, modern oils is better and so on, BUT many engines hasnt been open since they were new, and some of the previous 35 owners maybe no changed the oil and done their service, resulting in alot of sludge, and when putting modern better oils in it may result in blocking passages and causing more problems than before, THATS why I believie in some of the snake oils.
In clean nice engines i totally agree with modern oils, they work perfect, but i myself have used engines i practicly shoved dirt out of the area under the intake, and in those cases i totally believe in some of the snakeoils