KML
Gold Member
The problem with talking to a tribologist is who pays them. The report that mwb linked to in post 15 is the result of a group of folks getting tired of the information they were getting from tribologists who all had conflicting opinions that conveniently coincided with what their employers sold. The answer was to get a pile of money to pay for an independent lab to test the lubricity of various fuels and additives resulting in what was posted.
The results were interesting as a number of commercial products sold specifically for the purpose actually lowered the lubricity of fuels despite what their tribologists said!
When the government sets new fuel standards the longevity of your engine barely even makes the list of criteria. The same holds true for engine oils. The new SM service classification oils are so poor that they will wipe the lobes of off a flat tappet cam during engine break in. Flat tappet cams don't come in new cars anymore so it's just old hot rodders that worry about it but it what does it say about the lubrication property of today's "most advanced" oil? Emissions reductions drive the new oil standards, not how well they protect your engine.
It's not a conspiracy, no one's out to get us, it's just progress. The environment is a much bigger focus now. Unfortunately scientists who speak their minds often find themselves unemployed and unemployable. Again, I'm not saying it's because there trying to hoodwink anyone but would you pay an employee that was happy to air your dirty laundry every time they were asked a question?
The above reports were what helped me decide that adding a little lubrication to my fuel was cheaper than an injector pump and that data was paid for by a group of ordinary folks like us who just wanted straight answers. They don't sell anything and aren't asking for your money to learn their "secret". They had a question, got to the bottom of it, and shared it anyone who cared.
The results were interesting as a number of commercial products sold specifically for the purpose actually lowered the lubricity of fuels despite what their tribologists said!
When the government sets new fuel standards the longevity of your engine barely even makes the list of criteria. The same holds true for engine oils. The new SM service classification oils are so poor that they will wipe the lobes of off a flat tappet cam during engine break in. Flat tappet cams don't come in new cars anymore so it's just old hot rodders that worry about it but it what does it say about the lubrication property of today's "most advanced" oil? Emissions reductions drive the new oil standards, not how well they protect your engine.
It's not a conspiracy, no one's out to get us, it's just progress. The environment is a much bigger focus now. Unfortunately scientists who speak their minds often find themselves unemployed and unemployable. Again, I'm not saying it's because there trying to hoodwink anyone but would you pay an employee that was happy to air your dirty laundry every time they were asked a question?
The above reports were what helped me decide that adding a little lubrication to my fuel was cheaper than an injector pump and that data was paid for by a group of ordinary folks like us who just wanted straight answers. They don't sell anything and aren't asking for your money to learn their "secret". They had a question, got to the bottom of it, and shared it anyone who cared.
