[Vwdiesel] Slick 50...scam'97?

[James Hansen]

Scam.
The "test" they use doesn't really apply to the conditions they are implying
your oil has to withstand.  There are very low shear loads on engine oil.
The weighted stationary rolling element rubbing on shaft test is a standard
oil test for shear strength.  This is very important in things like
gearboxes, especially hypoid cut gears in diffs.  It however does not apply
to your engine really, and you would obtain similar results to the
demonstration they usually do by putting a couple drops of some hypoid gear
oil on the test pieces in place of their snake pee.  So, adding some snake
oil to your engine to improve shear characteristics may not be the worst
thing you could do, it is expensive, and adds negligible longevity.  The
demo is designed to make you BELIEVE, rather than prove anything in a
scientific manner using methodology reflecting the duty cycle of engine oil.
I don't think slick nifty had any teflon in it, it was just viscosity
improver, and shear strength additives.

That said, there has been a big cafuffle over teflon products in general...
they can and may clog oil galleries, and passages where the bearings can
wipe excess teflon onto a stationary surface, like a journal hole, which can
restrict flow, actually DECREASING engine life.  In a gearbox, it can't
really hurt, much like the molybdenum based additives.  In an engine, it can
or may do damage eventually.  In a worn out engine, it might temporarily
improve things, but rebuilds in a can don't last too long.  Best thing is to
put the money you would have otherwise spent on oil additives in a jar.
When it's time to rebuild, the jar pays for the rebuild. Do the math
sometime.  Had some guys out to the farm trying to convince me that a
product called Prolong, another snake oil additive, would save me moneey.  I
figured out that if I used as directed, over the useful service life
expectancy of the engine, I would have paid more for the additive than I
would rebuilding the 325hp cat that was in the tractor 30% sooner.  (they
were claiming a 30% increase in engine life)
So, to answer the question, it's a scam designed to relieve you somewhat of
the burden of financial independance... by fooling you into believing you
need this for your engine's health.

-James

> -----Original Message-----
> From: vwdiesel-admin at vwfans.com [mailto:vwdiesel-admin at vwfans.com]On
> Behalf Of Mark Shepherd
> Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2003 5:37 PM
> To: vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> Subject: [Vwdiesel] Slick 50...scam'97?
>
>
> [ Converted text/html to text/plain ]
>
> Does anyone over in the Americas still use Slick 50?
>
> I've not seen it over here in the UK for years...was it all a
> Teflon coated
> scam?
>
> Mark(the Miser)UK "If I can bend it or stick it together, I will!"
>
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