Marketers will often push a customer toward a blend because, while there may
or may not be any performance improvement, there's generally more profit on
the blend

Andy Hecker

***** Hi Andy,
Could you give us a rundown on 'friction modifiers' such as Slick 50?
What they are made from and if they are effective?
BR, Dave McC

For Slick 50 and other products, I'll let the US Federal Trade Commission
speak.  When confronted by the FTC, many of the aftermarket additive
companies couldn't prove their products did anything.

Slick 50: http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1997/07/slick.shtm
Blue Coral/Slick 50: http://www.ftc.gov/os/1997/07/bluecora.htm
Dura Lube/Motor Up: http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2000/03/motor.shtm
STP: http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1995/12/stp.shtm
ZMax: http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2001/02/zmax1.shtm

Source: Lubes-n-Greases, December 2006, "U.S. and Europe: Worlds Apart?"

ILSAC (International Lubricant Standardization and Approval Committee - US
'Big 3' plus Japan) reps inteviewed for the article:

Hannah Murray (Toyota)
Jim Linden (GM) (ILSAC Chairman)
Chris Engel (DaimlerChrysler)
Mike Riley (Ford)
Tracey King (DaimlerChrysler)
Bob Olree (GM)

Non-ILSAC Rep:
Karl Freund (VW)

LnG: What is your approach to aftermarket lubricant additives, which none of
your companies recommend and some condemn?

King: Highly skilled chemists develop engine oil formulations and they are
rigorously validated. We strongly recommend against putting anything into
these fully engineered products.

Freund: Dealers in Europe don't put aftermarket additives in a vehicle. And
when an oil costs $10 or more a quart, it's important to customers that the
manufacturer's recommendation is followed. Oils are formulated and branded
by oil companies to specifically meet the technical requirements of
individual companies, and that information is on the container.

Olree: It's illogical to put anything in a carefully formulated and highly
tested engine oil. But it happens. We are also aware that some dealers may
use aftermarket lubricant additives. All our member companies ask them not
to, but they are independently owned, it's a free country, and people are
able to do what they want, even stupid things.

Andy

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