Anyone use, recommend using, avoid using any type of engine wear "protector" like Slick 50 or the like? If so, engine only? If recommend against, why?

 

My answer is No, No, No. That stuff is crap. Invest your $$ in a quality oil instead. Between Amsoil, Redline and Mobil1 you have a lot of choices. This is all JMHO.

 

You're playing chemist when you start 'mixing' oil products. If you're qualified, go for it. 'bout the only thing I add is an upper cylinder lubricant to my fuel, and I only do that because of the ethynols drying effect. And I'll be the first to admit that those actions could be considered questionable.

 

No, No, No. That stuff is crap. Invest your $$ in a quality oil instead. It doesn't even have to be synthetic to do the job. This is all JMHO.

 

With reasonable care and maintenance the typical modern Harley engine will easily go 100,000 miles (& much more in some cases)using nothing but dino oil & H-D's spin-on filter. As far as I know none of those engine protector chemicals has ever been scientifically proven (outside of the manufacturer's lab) to work.
As mentioned- save your money and buy a quality oil. Your engine will thank you in the long run.

 

Slick 50 contains little teflon flakes that are supposed to coat the cyclinder walls, preventing wear. No one has ever been able to show it works, but one thing's for sure. If you use it, you're putting little chunks of teflon in your oil that could plug small oil passages, clog your filter, or who knows what else?

 

+1

 

about 10 years ago consumer reports did a test on synthetic oils ,and oil additives like stp, and slick 50. their findings were that the change intervals with oils did not make any measureable difference between 3k and 6k . also that there was no noticable improvement in engine condition by using slick 50. stp's only benefit was it caused the vicosity to go higher, which may help if you have a worn engine that uses oil.

 

The only thing Slick 50 is good for is for removing that "Hair In A Can" crap that Ron Popiel was marketing back in the 80's.

 

Only time I would use any of these additives is if I had an engine that had some serious issues, on it's "last leg" and I had nothing to lose by trying something. Who knows, it could plug some hole temporarily to buy me time.

Some say that mixing oil brands or adding additives could cause a chemical clash producing harmful acids as a byproduct.

Common sense causes me to ask, if an oil company wanted to make their oil better and more competitive, wouldn't one or more of these additives already be in it?