54regcab and everyone -

I don't know about these super oils. The infomercials are very empressive and they really make you want to believe. I have not used any of these products because I have never heard a good answer to 2 questions.
1. If these products are as good as advertised, why don't the manufacturers recommend and use them?
2. I find it really hard to believe those antics where the oil is drained from the pan. Think about it! Oil does more than lubricate an engine. What do you think happens to the valve adjustments when hydraulic lifters don't have oil in them to maintain the proper clearances. Even if the motor keeps running, it would have to run like Sh-- because the valves are not opening and closing as they should. When I see a car running without missing a beat - without oil, I just can't go that!

Have any of you ever had one hydraulic lifter tap and click like mad because the oil has drained out of it? I have, and even one lifter makes a lot of noise. How would it sound with 16 lifters clacking without oil?

Even if products like Slick 50 do stick to the metal parts, it can't keep the cushion needed in a lifter. Now if you happen to be running solid lifters, then maybe there's no problem. For those testimonials where folks say they use these additives and have driven their vehicles for hundreds of thousands of miles - I tell you this. I have a buddy whose drove his van 303,000 miles. He never used any super oils and he changed his oil every 5000 miles. He sold it to a kid who is still driving it!

Finally, I read an article in Popular Mechanics sometime back where they took 100 brand new New York city cabs and split them into two groups. Fifty cabs had the oil changed as per manufacturers specifications of 5000-7000 miles. The other 50 cabs had the oil changed every 3000 miles. A sub-group of 20 cabs on each side used super oils like slick 50. At 100,000 miles, all the engines were broken down and measured. There were NO measureable differences between the group with the short oil change intervals vs the longer intervals. The 'super oils' did NOTHING. Those engines showed the same amount of wear as all the other motors. Their conclusion, use a high quality oil and change your it as recommended by the manufacturer. Don't waste your money on Slick 50, Duralube, Zmax, or whatever.

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Black '97, SC with 4.6, 3.55 gears, automatic, 2-4 Belltech drop kit, SnugTop fiberglass lid, 3 chamber Flowmaster muffler, billet bumper grill, fog lights, American Racing 17x8 wheels with 275-60 Goodyear Eagle GT II tires.


[This message has been edited by Mr.Wizard (edited 10-21-1999).]

 

I would not use it either. I have read the pro's and con's. It comes down to one fact. There are thousands of chemist who test, formulate and retest oils and you don't see Mobil, Valvoline or any of the other big guys selling that crap. The key to engine life is to change the oil, whatever oil it is, every 3000 miles. Don't change brands, weights every time either. Find a quality oil and buy it by the case.

 

Mr Wizard-
As for your question number one, if that were the case, then we wouldn't need to change anything in our drivetrains. The first example that comes to mind of a superior product that doesn't come from the factory is the K&N air filter.
As for your second question, you have an excellent point. That is one of the reasons that we in my college class did not believe Slick 50's claim. The 2.3L Pinto motors we put to the test were overhead cam motors, but they still relied on a hydraulic, spring loaded valve adjuster. I also know that the bearings depend on the oil to provide a cushion to prevent contact with the crankshaft. I can not explain it, but I did witness it first hand. I was also present when the motors were disassembled, and I can honestly say that the main and rod bearings in the Slick 50 Pinto 2.3L motor showed no signs of galling or excessive wear. As for the driveability of the car without oil, we did not drive them, we just parked them, started them up and put them at WOT. They were loud, but I can not say whether or not there was a distinct valve train noise. I don't think anyone has said that driving without oil is a good idea, just that there was far less, if any, evidence of wear and tear in the Slick 50 motor(s)
Again, I am not recommending this product, I'm just sharing the main reason why I swear by it.
Take care,
-Chris

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'95 Eddie Bauer F-150 SC & '64 Falcon/Ranchero
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[This message has been edited by PKRWUD (edited 10-22-1999).]

[This message has been edited by PKRWUD (edited 10-22-1999).]

 

Consumer Reports recommends that you not waste your $$$ on slick 50. For what it's worth...

 

All junk, just use a good grade oil

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99 f150 s/c orp 5.4 soft tonnue rubber maid bed mat,mud from the dirt bike