damora@h-sc1.UUCP (jesarielle damora) (01/15/86)
["I'm gonna mix it up right here in the sink."] PetroLon advertises SLICK 50, a polytetraflouroethylene (TPE) additive that *permanently* bonds to your engine, providing extra lubrication for longer life, better mileage and performance, and all that good stuff. "This slippery chemical" is purportedly certified by "Consumers Digest" magazine (who?), the Space Shuttle Columbia, the 1981 Guiness book of World Records (slipperiest substance known to man), and the F.A.A. It's suspended in motor oil, so therefore doesn't violate warranties (I'm just citing the ad), and costs $44 for your once-in-a-lifetime application. Anybody know anything about this stuff? I'm almost tempted. I'll be happy to summarize replies, Dan Scherlis TELCO: 617-489-1838 ARPA: damora%h-sc4@harvard.ARPA (or .EDU)
grr@cbm.UUCP (George Robbins) (01/15/86)
["I'm gonna mix it up right here in the sink."] > PetroLon advertises SLICK 50, a polytetraflouroethylene (TPE) additive that > *permanently* bonds to your engine, providing extra lubrication for longer > life, better mileage and performance, and all that good stuff. > > "This slippery chemical" is purportedly certified by "Consumers Digest" > magazine (who?), the Space Shuttle Columbia, the 1981 Guiness book of World > Records (slipperiest substance known to man), and the F.A.A. It's suspended > in motor oil, so therefore doesn't violate warranties (I'm just citing the > ad), and costs $44 for your once-in-a-lifetime application. > > Dan Scherlis This magic glop (PTFE) is more often known as TEFLON (TM Dupont). All the claims listed are probably true for the generic substance, but you feed it into you engine at you own risk. While the Teflon particles may lodge in useful places and provide increased lubrication when your oil pressure is not what it should be, like when starting your engine, or when you neglect to put any in, it is also possible that the particles may clog your oil filter or accumulate in internal passages and cause more problems than they solve. Much they same is true for Arco Graphite. The people who designed the motors in the first place designed for oil and take a dim view of the these products. I have read in Aviation magazines that the FAA stance on these products is that they are not proven to cause harm to certificated engines in tests of 150 hour duration. The engine manufactureres do not recommend use of the products and using them may be grounds for voiding the warranty. I'm sure there are some applications where this sort of lubricant is ideal, perhaps on the Columbia, but the products were probably carefully evaluated for the task, and not just poured in by some technician. -- George Robbins - now working with, uucp: {ihnp4|seismo|caip}!cbm!grr but no way officially representing arpa: cbm!grr@seismo.css.GOV Commodore, Engineering Department fone: 215-431-9255 (only by moonlite)