using slick50 or others

[maxg]

Just taken my car in for an mot. All good sailed though. BUT while I was there the technician commented on the engine being noisy... its always had that sound??. Any way he said to use slick50 on it. Have done some reading up and the majority of people say don't use it. So is there any other product that would do the job, ie. an oil strengthener to give better performance to the hydrochloric lifters to get rid of the noise.

 

[markjay]

Jury is out, always have been, and not coming back in any time soon...

Some people swear by it, others won't touch it.

Some say that PTFE based products (similar to DuPont's Teflon®) help reduce friction, other say that the PTFE particles are too large and will clog your oil filter.

No manufacturer I know of approves it - it will void your warranty. MB specifically say no oil additive whatsoever in their engines.

Make up your own mind. Years ago, I used to use Molykote which based on molybdenum disulfide, and was the precursor of PTFE products. Nowadays I add nothing to neither oil not fuel - I believe that the boffins at Mobil and Shell know what they are doing... as said it is a personal choice.

Just type Slick 50 or PTFE in Google and you can spend the rest of the weekend reading the debate...

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I have some new and unopened in the garage somewhere. If I can find it, you can have it.

 

[mattyg]

A car magazine did a test 10 yrs ago or more with the top 8 additives and a pressure plate. The one that won was so good that when they put it in their peaugeot 205 ( current at the time) the idle revs jump up from 1000 to 2000 so had to be lowered. They were amazed at the effect.

But thats all i remember.

 

[dinoy]

the problem if u need to rebuild the engine later the coat has to be stripped off and that may add to costs. i personally used that had the toothpaste for cracked head to repair it from clogging the spark plugs instead of engine rebuild and that also worked fine.

but i knew when it came to rebuild i would replace the whole engine from a good donor than rebuild the original.

u pay your money and take yr choice

 

[markjay]

A car magazine did a test 10 yrs ago or more with the top 8 additives and a pressure plate. The one that won was so good that when they put it in their peaugeot 205 ( current at the time) the idle revs jump up from 1000 to 2000 so had to be lowered. They were amazed at the effect.

But thats all i remember.

I don't think the issue was about friction reduction - which additive probably do - I think it was about the PTFE particles emulsified into the oil and clogging the oil filter thus causing low oil pressure and oil starvation. But while this sounds reasonably scientific it could still all be just an urban myth...

 

[Will]

I wouldn't bother with Slick 50, I would recommend an oil change and new oil filter.

Possibly a flushing additive used if it really needs it first, otherwise just stick to a decent fully synthetic oil and MB filter element.

Will

 

[mattyg]

Chances are oil tech has moved on in the last 10 yrs or so since the magazine article.

I'm also sure a company with the resources of MB could decide for themselves whats the best to go into their engines.

I think additives have their place. Probably as a last resort to hopefully get a few more miles out of an old and tired engine. Or like egg whites

 

[Dieselman]

Slick 50 is ground up PTFE particles.
If it blocks the filter then the bypass will allow unfiltered oil to circulate round the engine, if it doesn't block the filter you will have fine hard particles in the bearing surfaces causing heaps of damage.
Having see pictures of what Slick-50 does to bearing journals, I would never use any particle additive.

 

[maxg]

Thanks for the reply's.
But it does not answer the original question. Any other additive that any one knows of that could work to increase the hydrolic pressure to get the lifter working without the noise. BTW the oil has been changed only a few months ago (i don't do a lot of mileage in it)

 

[Dieselman]

Increased oil pressure won't make hydraulic tappets quieter, they work on a ratcheting system, so oil flows in but not back out.

Try an engine flush followed by more fresh oil. If that doesn't fix it fit new tappets or refurbish the ones you have.

 

[markjay]

'Wynn's Hydraulic Valve Lifter Treatment releases sticking valves & quietens noisy valve lifters.'.

Halfords | Wynn's Hydraulic Valve Lifter 350ml

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I don't think anyone who's read this thread will take that Slick50 off my hands now!!

 

[markjay]

I don't think anyone who's read this thread will take that Slick50 off my hands now!!

Depends how much you are offering to pay?

 

[Will]

A decent hot run will probably help things too.

As already said, take the car on a good run, stick in some flushing additive and then replace the oil and filter with decent stuff.

Will

 

[johnsco]

Best not to drive the car with flushing additive in.
Your bearing surfaces will not be adequately-protected.
Give it a good run.
Add a bottle of engine flush while hot and fast-idle for 15 minutes gently running the revs up and down.
Then drain as thoroughly as you can.

Refill with oil to the correct MB specification (A good quality synthetic oil should fulfil this).
Change the filter at the same time.
If this doesn't cure it, your lifters are on the way out.

Having said that ... Unless it's troubling you, it may run like this for a very long time.

Good oil and regular changes of oil and filter and your best friend.
I would not use Slick 50 at any price.