I'm neither a chemist nor geologist, but mineral oil is a petroleum by-product that comes in SO MANY different forms and a has as many names and uses depending on the "grade." Actually, almost anything derived from fossil crude oil can be considered as "mineral." Eaton transmissions once recommended only "mineral oil" as lubricant in their RoadRanger transmissions. Yep, it was called mineral oil, but you can bet it wasn't the same thing you put on a babys butt

I put something (don't remember now, maybe slick 50) in a 6 cylinder Dodge years ago. When I went to in-frame it I couldn't. Had to have it bored to get the coating off the cylinder walls - hone wouldn't touch it...

 

I googled it, Check out the info available on it.

http://www.google.com/search?q=slick...rlz=1I7ADBR_en

 

http://www.complaintsboard.com/compl...g-c270694.html

 

I have been using Prolong in all of my vehicles for ten years, including my lawn tractor and my Harleys. My old 84 Iron head Sporty ran much quieter and cooler with Prolong, and had greater acceleration. My lawn tractor went from bogging down in heavy grass, to going through it without even the governor opening. I love the stuff, and even run it through my model airplane engines. I run about 6oz. in my 99 Softail Custom when I change oil, and it also runs quieter and cooler. Actually, it does resemble baby oil, but it sure does not smell like it. LOL You can go to their MSDS and check out whats in it, but they do not give the proprietary stuff. All I know is what it does.

 

According to some research I found on the net today, it's chlorinated compounds that cause the extremely slick feel in many of these oil additives like Prolong. Other types of products like Slick 50 are different - they contain PTFE resins - basically teflon - that are supposed to bond to engine parts, but really don't because the bonding doesn't occur until a temperature of about 900 F - a temperature which would destroy your engine.

The FTC actions against several of the marketing claims made by the various additive makers are well-documented on the FTC website. The article I read said that a little bleach (3-6% solution of sodium hypochlorite) on your hands produces a similar very slick feel due to the chlorine. They even put Head and Shoulders shampoo on the company's demo machine, and it registered the same slickness level as their product. The demo machine operator was apparently pretty astounded and embarrassed when they told him what it was.

The article said that the company likely adds proprietary chlorine-containing compounds to the mineral oil base to achieve the slick feel of it. It went on to say that a major problem with these additives is that the chlorine-containing compounds break down under heat and react with oxygen and water vapor to form hydrochloric acid.

If they work for you and you like them, great... but frankly I don't want to take the chance in putting anything that might form hydrochloric acid in my machine... and if they are so great, why don't the oil manufacturers, who spend hundreds of millions of dollars on R&D, put these simple chemicals into their products?

Also, the smell of baby oil is simply a perfume that is added to the nearly odorless pure mineral oil base.

 

According to what I have read, that has always been the problem with chlorinating oil. It has been known for a long time that it will create a super lube, but with the acidic problem. The chemists at Prolong came up with a way to chlorinate the oil without the bad side effects. I would think after over 100,000 miles and 10 years I would have had some problems if it was harmful. My 99 Dodge minivan is a 4 cyl. 16 valve engine, and I started using Prolong in it after I put 1,000 miles on it. Before I started using Prolong in it, it used to pull the motor down every time the air conditioner kicked on. Afterwords, you could not even tell when the compressor kicked on. I do understand why people are skeptical though. There are a lot of additives out there making super claims. Some work, and some don't do much.

 

Yeah, you make a good point, Jim. how long have you been using Prolong in your '99 Softail? Have you ever had it apart to see the internal effects of using Prolong in it? Just curious... thanks.

 

I bought my Softail last may with 17,000 miles on it. It now has 21,500, so I really have not had it in there long enough to say, and I have not had it apart. My 84 Sportster had the crankpin flake off at 30,000 miles, and I completely rebuilt it. I had not had Prolong in it up to that time. After it was rebuilt I started using Prolong in it, and road it off and on for the next 20,000 miles and 10 years, at which time I sold it. It was never taken apart after running Prolong. I sold it to my grandaughter when I bought my Softail and has not been ridden much since. I will say it made an immediate difference in everything I have used it in. Your mileage may very.