Slick 50 and other additives

[dutch-van-driver]

Hi All,

I was considering adding Slick 50 to the next oil change. The engine is using oil (1 ltr every 800-1000km or so). My hope is that the additive should reduce a little of the wear and tear (the engine was used for a lot of small trips before I bought it, 700L van diesel). I'm not considering a overhaul of the engine at this moment because it is otherwise running fine.

Anybody any experiences with additives to the oil?

Marc

[E_T_V]

Don't add Slick 50 or any other oil additive to your oil, it won't help and may even damage your engine.

If you change the oil and filter regularly you'll be fine.

For more info look here (http://www.maestro.org.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=600&highlight=additive)

[dutch-van-driver]

Hi,

I will reconsider slick 50. However I want to reduce the oil consumption and I read somewhere that you could use brake fluid to free up the piston rings. I'm however a little unsure on how I could do this and if I should.

Marc

[hornmeister2000]

I would never use an oil additive. What oil are you using? If it's heavy on oil, I'd go for a higher viscosity quality oil. I used to use Magnatec 15W40 in my MG before I had my engine reconditioned. A litre lasted about 800 miles so had to check it regularly. I now use 0W40 with no trouble at all!

If you're using 15W40 and still using a lot you could perhaps go up to 20W50 but don't use a recycled one - get a decent one. That's what I put in my Morris Minor (A series engine) and I have no trouble with it.

I've heard stories about Slick50 causing more problems than it cures by clogging up the engine. If you really want to use something, you could try a Wynn's additive (can't remember what it's called) which thickens the oil up a bit but I'd stick to oil if you can. Remember, if these additives were really any good, the oil manufacturers would be adding them to the oil already...

[E_T_V]

Hi,

I will reconsider slick 50. However I want to reduce the oil consumption and I read somewhere that you could use brake fluid to free up the piston rings. I'm however a little unsure on how I could do this and if I should.

Marc

The old trick of using diesel oil in a petrol car to flush out all the debris doesn't apply to the diesel engine as it should already have diesel oil in it. I wouldn't put brake fluid anywhere near my engine as it may attack various oil seals around the engine. I'd flush it with flushing oil if you are worried and change the oil and filter regularly for a while to see if this improves things. If you still have no luck changing to 15-40 or even 20-50 might help things.

[e692wtt]

[QUOTE=hornmeister2000]
If you're using 15W40 and still using a lot you could perhaps go up to 20W50 but don't use a recycled one - get a decent one. That's what I put in my Morris Minor (A series engine) and I have no trouble with it.
QUOTE]

I use a 20w/50 oil in my Monty 1.6L with 138,000 miles on the clock, and there is a bit of blue smoke when the engine is idling and the weather is hot, but it doesn't use much oil - it leaks more than it burns! Oil gets changed once a year (with filter) that's about 6,000 miles, and it 'loses' (burns or leaks) about 2 litres in that time. On a fast driving 750 mile holiday (London and the South Coast) in July 2002 it used barely a drop, which shows how much it leaks!

I normally use Duckhams Q oil. but was offered Comma oil this time (£7 for 5 litres) and am very happy with it :) .

I used to use Castrol GTX (15w/50, it was), and the car smoked a lot more and ran less well... and when I used a 10w/40 (my mechanic did an oil change for me) it smoked like a Steamer! :nonono: Not good!

I would say, use a different quality oil with a higher viscosity, as suggested above, and if the engine is otherwise healthy then do not worry. :)