I was curious if anyone here has used an oil supplement containing PTFE. A fair number of years ago, there was a company QMI. I have used their gear treatment in the vintage car four speed trans and the '04 C5 six speed trans and I actually felt the product made a difference. The company is now Solid Start, located in FL and their products are marketed under the True Brand logo. I have read both pros and cons about adding PTFE to an engine but was looking for real life experience from someone here. I currently use Schaeffer oil in everything I own.
Thanks for any information.
Regards,
Chas

 

I would never, ever use an oil additive. Oil chemistry is far too complicated to play home chemist. GM specifies an API SL 5W-30 oil that meets, or exceeds GM specification GM4718M. This is a pretty stringent requirement and not all modern synthetic oils can meet it.

Alternatively, some of the newer API SP oils meet GM4718M. API SP oils are specifically formulated for newer direct injection engines and they do a better job of controlling sludge, varnish and engine deposits, all while dealing with the extra heat from turbochargers. Pennzoil Platinum is an example of such an API SP oil that meets GM specs, but there are others. Additionally, Pennzoil Ultra Platinum not only meets GM's spec, but has additional friction modifiers not found in the regular Pennzoil Platinum oil. Perhaps something like this may be of interest to you?

I only mention Pennzoil because I recently saw this vid about this option: Obviously there are Castrol Edge, Mobil1 and other options that meet both API SP and GM4718M specifications, so you will have to do some homework on what best suits your requirements.

Long story short, I'd suggest that you make an informed decision about engine oil, rather than pouring random stuff into your crankcase. Engine oil additive packages must be properly balanced, for all of the individual ingredients to do their job as expected.

 

Slick 50 crowed at one time about the benefits of PTFE. AFAIK, they still make Slick 50, but I don't see PTFE spec'd in its composition anywhere. I tried it once years ago in a SBC. I noted no differences in mileage or power. I don't see what it could hurt, but it didn't help me any, either. I've heard about Prolong engine oil additive, but no personal experience.

 

Generally most additives are just a band aid for an engine with issues.

One additive I have found that is legit and will help some things is Marvel Mystery oil. It can be used in oil or gas. It can clean up issues in the engine like injectors and lifter issues. I had some old times teach me about it and I used it to fix issues on engines.

About once a year I put some in the gas to clean the injectors and I wonder if it may help the sending unit issue in the Corvette.

I am not a snake oil guy and Mystery Oil is not snake oil.

I saved a 8,000 mile Corvair engine that had sticking valves. The engine has sat from 1968 to 1992 and once we put some in and then changed the oil again after running it no issues from then on.

Other wise just stick to good Synthetic oil.

 

Yes it is safe for new cars with converters and O2 sensors. This is one of those rare products that really is beneficial.

 

I'm far from an expert, but I know that zinc is a popular friction modifier found in engine oil. Valvoline Racing is probably the most popular brand of racing oil of all time and they used a lot of zinc in their oils in order to adequately lubricate flat tappet camshafts with high pressure valve springs. As I understand it, when they reformulated their oil to meet API SP requirements, they swapped their existing sodium and calcium detergent package out for a newer technology package and all of a sudden, they found that the zinc performed dramatically better. So presumably, the home chemist can put as much zinc (or perhaps other friction modifiers) into the crankcase as they like, but if the other components in the oil are not compatible and/or not properly balanced, you are just wizzin' your money away. Hence my previous comments.

As I understand it, Mobil-1 went through much the same discovery process. Getting rid of the sodium, dramatically reducing the calcium and going with a newer detergent package allowed the zinc to be much more effective.

 

The Zinc and Phosphates issue is only for flat tappet cams. It is being removed from modern oils as it degrades the Converters on the car. Since we have roller cams and Roller rockers it is not a factor.

It you have a flat tappet car Mobil One makes a 15 W 40 racing oil that has higher content zinc and phosphates that are enough to preserve the cam and rockers. Long term yes it could hurt a converter but that is nothing new.

Today it is more important to learn the content of the oil and you may need to adjust due to changes they are making.

 

FWIW, I recently was reading an STP bottle, and it specifically states that it contains ZDDP. I was interested, as I doubt that my lawn mowers have roller valvetrain, therefore they need the added zinc content.

 

‘Mowers don’t but the intent there is to ban them now. A number of states this year began banning sales of gas powered lawn equipment.

 

Imagine that, no more gas powered lawnmowers. Either these lawmakers have nothing better to do with their time, or the situation we're in is far more serious than Big Brother is letting on!

 

Zinc (which is a component of ZDDP) is but one possible friction modifier used by the oil companies. Boron, molybdenum, phosphorus and titanium are all common friction modifiers. So, while in many cases zinc is being significantly reduced, if not eliminated, there are alternatives that do just as good of a job. The bottom line is that all of the ingredients used in an oil blend must be compatible with each other and used in the correct proportions.

 

I have a 1/2 acre lot, of course part of it is taken up by the house, but there's no freaking way an "effing" electric mower is up to the task. of cutting the rest of the lot....

 

They also want to strap plastic bags to the *** of every cow, in order to catch their farts!
The time has come to put our collective feet down and punish the sick bastards that torture us with this crap!

Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. If would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.
- C.S. Lewis

 

What is the particle size of those forever chemicals you speak of?

 

PTFE has been near universally reviled by most engine builders and SAE engineers for decades.
In Porsches it's infamous for clogging the oil sprayers

The oil companies employee fantastic chemists and engineers, if any of this crap in a can worked, it would be part of the native additive package

 

But we're talking about ZDDP, here, not PTFE. Two different things.


IIRC, PTFE is basically Teflon.......

 

.05 microns

 

there has always been a war over oil between mfg and oil makers.

Dexos is an example of where the automakers are trying to leverage their will on what is in oil.