Paul,
Hope that you do not mind, but I am going to capitalize on your offer
to use your site for advertising.
Acknowledging that the chrome and nitriding treatments used by Mazda
to coat rotary engines date back to the 60s, I set out to investigate
the use of ceramic coatings. Found that they were expensive, and that
the major company applying ceramic coatings was not doing well in the
reputation department. My search lead me to a firm called CerMet
Labs. They have patented and recently started selling a technology
that was developed by the Soviets during the Cold War. (Wonder if
Ted has used this or is aware of its use in Russia?)
CerMet is nano-sized particles of ceramic in a paraffin carrier.
While it is not an oil additive, per sae, it is added to the oil. The
ceramic particles are drawn to the friction points of a running
engine, or mechanism. The advantages are reduction of friction, thus
increased fuel efficiency, (8% is guaranteed, however the average runs
closer to 11 or 12%); more power; and reduction of emissions. Another
great benefit is that parts subject to friction last longer, thus
there is more engine time between overhauls. One benefit not
emphasized by the company, but will become more of an issue as
hydrogen technology becomes popular, is the reduction of hydrogen
embrittlement. While no coating is impervious to hydrogen, ceramic
does seem to resist impregnation.
For details on how the technology was discovered (a great story with
tidbits such as the coating was applied to the hulls of submarines),
technical reports, testing data, etc. please visit the CerMet website.
<www.CerMetLabs.com>
CerMet is dispensed from a preloaded syringe. If one is using a 5
quart oil system. The retail cost of an application is $199.00. For
a semi, the cost is $1K. If anyone associated with this group wishes
to order from me, please identify yourself as a member of the group
and I will extend a 25% discount. Shipping is $5.75 and anyone living
in Ca, will have the opportunity to support the State at 8.25% sales
tax.
For those who are running 2 Cycle oil and adding it to their gas,
please indicate as such and I will provide you with the dilution
ratio. Also, please note that it takes about 2,000 miles in a
standard engine to see the full benefit of CerMet. If you are adding
CerMet to two cycle oil, that will increase proportionately to the
hours the engine is run. Those who use synthetic oil will need to put
4,000 miles on the engine before they see full benefit, and for an
engine that is run on an hourly basis, a proportionate increase in
time.
If you have some reservation about staking your life on this and
putting it in your plane, you may wish to apply it to your personal
vehicle first. CerMet also makes greases, and applications for high
wear mechanisms.
Just got back from the SEMA Convention in Las Vegas. Am working to
become a manufacturer's representative for some of the new items that
were introduced. Stay tuned, if it works out, will have more items
that will be of interest to the Rotary Group. If the firms do not
wish to link up with me, I will pass the information on to the group.
Regards,
Gordon Brown
I'd be interested in an MSDS, more info on the carrier for these magic
beads, and independent testing performed by someone like Southwest Research.
As a lube tech and amateur tribologist, I am very hesitant to use any
additives of any type in any oil or grease. The ceramic nano-beads should
be inert, but the carrier isn't.
Lube oil and grease are highly engineered products designed to do a specific
job in a specific environment. No lube will protect as well or for as long
as designed when contaminated.
Looking at warranty - hardware manufacturers are responsible for their
equipment but not lubricants. Oil companies are responsible if their oil
fails. No oil company, and thus no hardware company, will warrantee any
failures if oil additives are used, because no oil company with which I'm
aware supports using any additives in their oils. The only exception I've
seen is limited slip friction modifiers for differentials.
Here's how prior additives stack up...or don't:
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1999/09/prolong.shtm
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1997/07/slick.htm
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2001/02/zmax1.htm
http://www.ftc.gov/os/1999/05/duralubecmp.pdf
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1999/09/shellcastrol.htm
http://www.ftc.gov/os/1997/10/ashland.htm
Best,
Andy Hecker
San Antonio
Andy,
Agreed. No doubt there are numerous coatings that are applied to new
parts to enhance oil retention, but about additives that fill in the
pits and grooves afterwards I am skeptical. We have all seen the guys
at Oshkosh running the engine without oil on what appears to be a
miracle liquid coating. Is this the same company Gordon? Waiting for
2000 miles to see an improvement is very suspect. Claiming one additive
can be used with a multitude of different company oils is also suspect.
Quite a few petro based oils already contain some paraffin. Synthetics
presumably do not. This product is combining a gee whiz nano technology
with an old and known technique, namely 'wax on wax off.'
These types of products are rampant over here and still on the shelves
and selling presumably as Japan doesn't have real consumer protection
laws. This item falls into the want-to-believe category of products and
shouldn't be promoted on this or any other site without verifiable test
data.
Since most wear, as correctly stated by Quaker State, happens when an
engine is cold started dry, it makes a lot of sense to have an
additional electric oil pump on the engine. I plan to have this on my
power plant to be used for a few minutes as a pre oiler and post oiler
to save engine wear and cool the hot turbine bearings when heat soak
creeps in. If the engine is left un run for an extended period of time
and not pickled then perhaps having the electric oil pump connected to a
power source and interfaced to a weekly timer is another desirable
option.
Selling these types of systems to the aviation market would be a REAL
business and create goodwill and save energy at the same time. Sorry
about my two yen worth:)
Other techniques to decrease friction when running are to lighten up
moving parts, thus friction bearing loads and change the oil well before
it starts to degrade. Oil changes are cheap compared to other part
changes.
Doug in Japan
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