Slick 50 or other additive?

I'm glad you asked that, 'cause now I can finally contribute something here!

I was wondering the same thing a while ago and called the manufacturer of Slick 50. They recommended that Slick 50 NOT be used because the ICE would not get hot enough to initially distribute the teflon particles after putting in the Slick 50.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(icharry @ Dec 20 2006, 06:59 PM) [snapback]364847[/snapback]</div>

I've used Slick50 in some other cars with generally good effect (they all lasted more than 150,000 miles with no engine problems. The one difficulty I had was a tendency for the teflon to clog the hydraulic lifters after a while, which required yet another additive (CD2) to clear up.

On my Prius I am sticking to Mobil 1 (a synthetic oil) which should protect the engine without any extra additives. I suggest that you consider also using a synthetic oil even though the cost is noticeably higher than so-called "Dino" oil.

JeffD

 

I would STRONGLY suggest not using Slick50 or similar additives. At best, it won't help. At worst, it could do real damage to your engine. Here's why.

Teflon (PTFE) is a solid, not a liquid. In Slick 50, the PTFE is a solid held in suspension by the carrier oil, almost like chocolate powder mixed in a glass of milk. You may be thinking that tiny particles held in suspension in your oil is just what an oil filter is designed to remove...and you'd be right. So its debatable how much PTFE will actually circulate in your engine.

Next, Teflon must be applied at over 700 degrees for it to bond to metal surfaces. Very few parts of your engine will reach those temperatures, so virtually no bonding will actually occur as described in the advertising. And the parts which might actually have deposits would, by definition, change the incredibly tight tolerances. Which is probably not a good thing.

Finally, the particles tend to clump together and can plug small oil passages.

If a Teflon coating would help, Toyota would do it themselves.

There are quite a few sites on the Internet on this topic, but a good one is: http://skepdic.com/slick50.html

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jdenenberg @ Dec 20 2006, 04:59 PM) [snapback]364864[/snapback]</div>

On the flip side of this, while I considered Slick50 in my younger years, I never used it. I have yet to sell a car with fewer than 300k miles on it, and not one of them required any significant engine work. Slick50 is a sham as far as I can tell. If it worked, it likely would be in every quart of engine oil sold. Think of the royalties that they could be swimming in!

If you want to go crazy, use synthetic oil and stay away from the snake oil.

 

Slick won't help, and neither will synthetic oil.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jamarimutt @ Dec 22 2006, 06:27 AM) [snapback]365597[/snapback]</div>

I'll have to disagree with that.

I wouldn't put Slick 50 in any motor, but I put Mobil 1 in every motor, including my Briggs & Stratton lawnmower.

Mobil 1 used to have an advertising ploy, the "oilpan test." The chintzy oilpan on my Ford Taurus wagon started leaking due to a minor scrape, which together with some rusting caused a small leak.

I had a local garage replace the oilpan. When I picked the car up the mechanic asked me if I had changed the oil that morning, it was in such good condition. I had changed it three weeks earlier. Before I left the garage, I wandered over to where the old oil pan was. It was sparkling clean, not even a hint of sludge. Mobil 1 was right, and I wound up doing my own "oil pan test."

Mobil 1 will not sludge up, ever, and will keep oil passages clean. It will also get where it needs to go quickly, under adverse conditions like below-zero temperatures, when conventional oil acts like molasses.

Synthetic oil is superior, it's just a question of whether you will pay extra for it.

Harry

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Dec 21 2006, 02:27 AM) [snapback]364955[/snapback]</div>

I think I caught him!! OK, it technically wasn't a "car," but didn't darelldd sell a Ford Ranger EV a little while ago? I know it didn't have 300k miles on it. In fact wasn't it in order to purchase a Prius? (Gasp)

So are we going to have to schedule a deposition? Will he be a bit less "smug?" (See the backlash from regular drivers thread.)

OK, OK, I admit, I'm so jealous of his great achievements I can barely drive my Prius in gasoline mode. I've been staying up nights trying to fit the solar panels on the roof of anything I own. He's said he doesn't even care about the property tax issue!!! And to think I suggested that he could be President.

 

I can attest that Slick 50 is NO SHAM. I was driving to Myrtle Beach SC from DC (8 hour drive) and When I went to the Gas Station I checked oil and filled the Gas Tank. I added 1 quart of Oil. I forgot to put the Oil Cap back on and when I got to MB we stopped for lunch. I say some dripping fro the bottom of my dodge and when I open the hood I, my hear sank and was saying to myself, I will need to buy a new car, or engine at a minimum. Well I can tell you thanks to Slick 50, the Engine, which had NO oil left in it ran great. I added oil and had the car checked out. No damage they could tell and I drove it for another 75K at least after that. Now I am not saying that you should use it in the Prius for the reason above (Not hot enought) but don't bad mouth the product, It does have it's pros, and cons.

 

I can attest that Slick 50 is NO SHAM. I was driving to Myrtle Beach SC from DC (8 hour drive) and When I went to the Gas Station I checked oil and filled the Gas Tank. I added 1 quart of Oil. I forgot to put the Oil Cap back on and when I got to MB we stopped for lunch. I saw some dripping from the bottom of my dodge and when I open the hood, I felt my hear sink, and was saying to myself, I will need to buy a new car, or engine at a minimum. Well I can tell you thanks to Slick 50, the Engine, which had NO oil left in it ran great. I added oil and had the car checked out. No damage they could tell and I drove it for another 75K at least after that. Now I am not saying that you should use it in the Prius for the reason above (Not hot enough) but don't bad mouth the product, It does have it's pros, and cons.

 

Hi Larry. I'm not here to pour cold water over your Slick50 story or to comment on whether or not its either effective or safe (honestly). However the fact that you "stopped for lunch" rather than stopping to attend to the oil warning light tells me that you probably didn't run out of oil.

Yes it may have been very low, it may even have been off the bottom of the dipstick, but if the oil light didn't come on then you still had oil pressure and therefore it may well have survived relatively unscathed without any additives.

 

If it's too good to be true, then .....

If putting a can of goo in the engine increased mileage even 1/10 th of MPG, every car manf would be buying the stuff by the truckload. They spend millions to gain any incremental increase in mileage

 

Save your money and just buy the correct rated oil and use a good brand, preferably a synthetic version. Change the oil at the correct times and you can't go wrong.

I have heard many a horror story of people who have used Slick 50. I also know of some taxi drivers who never change their oil, ever, other than topping up when required and they have run their engines to massive miles in taxi use. I wouldn't recommend that but I personally wouldn't waste my heard earned money on oil additives either.