yes, don't expect anything good. instead, expect the worst, and hope for the best if you just start adding crap in there. if it's something you are sure you need, i would still recommend researching it well before you get it. just because pep boys sells something doesn't mean it won't **** your car over.badAzLava3 said:so buyer beware....
OTOH it's your money, do what makes you feel good, but don't expect anything...
Don't use them they cause more harm then good. Most of these additives use a teflon base which is great for preventing friction however it gets stuck in the oil filter and eventually clogs it.MetsBuff said:I'm sure there are millions of differing opinions on this, but does anyone have any hard facts on oil additives like Slick 50? There are so many things on the market like Z-Max and Dura Lube. Does anyone know if these really work?
GimmeA3S said:I know this is an old thread, but I was a good boy and did a search before I posted. I found this particuarly funny...I'm still laughing
What if They Have a Test To Show How Their Additive Works?
At a recent trade show we were at, one of these miracle oil additive companies was there with a machine that demonstrated how their additive reduced friction. It was a motor with rotating solid steel disc secured to the motor shaft and a torque meter with a flat piece of steel mounted on the torque arm.
They put every type of oil on the market, one by one, on the machine & pressed hard on the torque meter and at about 20-40 lb-ft torque the torque arm would stall the motor....that is until they cleaned it off & tried their (chlorinated) additive "IXL" on the bearing & ran the test.
People were amazed as the meter peaked out at 140 lb-ft. torque and still didn't stall the motor! We knew what was happening but many unsuspecting consumers were eating it up and standing in line to buy the additive!
The next day we showed up with some Head & Shoulders Shampoo disguised in an oil bottle & had the IXL additive people try it on their test machine. The operator was amazed as the motor just barely stalled at 140 lb-ft!
The operator says that's pretty good stuff, what is it? We said Head & Shoulders. He was quite embarrassed to say the least. Head & Shoulders has high levels of high potency Zinc in it that attaches itself to ferrous metals. Coke soft drink will do exactly the same thing. ZINC reduces friction and provides anti-wear protection and is present in most motor oils at a much reduced level. Now, would you put Head & Shoulders in your engine?
TomH said:Regular old cholrine bleach will work in those kinds of test even better than the Head & Shoulders will. Bleach is a lot slicker than most people think it is.
GimmeA3S said:Yeah, that was mentioned in another writeup I read...I hate getting that s*** on my hands...it's slimy and really stinks. It's really bad for the metals in your engine too. They warned of clorinated additives and how they corrode bearings.
I have to admit, when I first learned of Slick 50 and the like, I thought it was such a great idea until the bad press started coming back from it. It does make a lot of sense now that I've seen both the pros (all from the manufacturers of these miracle products) and the cons (from techs who know better). I'm sure the makers of Teflon frying pans don't just pour Teflon on the pan, let it dry, and there it is....that stuff has to be baked onto a perfectly clean surface, under specific conditions. Having particles of it floating around in your oil does absolutely nothing but clog passages, and your oil filter. They also noted that oil-coated steel or aluminum is actually SLICKER than PTFE, so in some cases you're actually increasing the friction in your engine by using it (until all the PTFE particles get lodged in your filter). It's Mobil 1 for me, and nothin' else.
GimmeA3S said:The operator says that's pretty good stuff, what is it? We said Head & Shoulders. He was quite embarrassed to say the least. Head & Shoulders has high levels of high potency Zinc in it that attaches itself to ferrous metals. Coke soft drink will do exactly the same thing. ZINC reduces friction and provides anti-wear protection and is present in most motor oils at a much reduced level. Now, would you put Head & Shoulders in your engine?