Slick 50 grease

[Eric_Phillips]

I have inherited a couple tubes of Slick 50 grease. I normally use a Moly-lithium grease. Will the slick 50 grease be compatible? I have a 27HP compact utility tractor.

 

[Oldtink]

According to the MSDS, it is a lithium soap. You'll find this compatible thickener chart helpful, I think.
The Skinny on Grease Compatibility
Molybdenum disulfide would be a superior high pressure lubricant over PTFE.

 

[Eric_Phillips]

Thanks for the information. Maybe I will just use the slick 50 in the mower and Moly on the tractor and loader. Don't want to turn down a couple free tubes of grease if I don't have to.

 

[roadhunter]

I havened heard "slick 50" in years. Seems like they used to make engine oil additives if I remember correctly.

 

[/pine]

I havened heard "slick 50" in years. Seems like they used to make engine oil additives if I remember correctly.

I think it was used originally in WWII...supposedly it could keep an aircraft flying even if the crankcase had been shot through and loss of oil pressure...not sure about this...but WWII vets I know is where I first heard about it...seems like it was something like $50 Qt....

 

[swines]

I think it was used originally in WWII...supposedly it could keep an aircraft flying even if the crankcase had been shot through and loss of oil pressure...not sure about this...but WWII vets I know is where I first heard about it...seems like it was something like $50 Qt....

Quaint story - not even close to possibly being true.

Slick 50's claim to fame was that it had PTFE (Teflon) in it "The slickest substance known to man." Although PTFE was accidently created in 1938 as part of another experiment, DuPont didn't trademark "Teflon" until 1945, and the first products using Teflon didn't appear until 1946.

Slick 50 was first marketed in 1978 - obviously, that's long after WW II ended.

 

[/pine]

Quaint story - not even close to possibly being true.

Slick 50's claim to fame was that it had PTFE (Teflon) in it "The slickest substance known to man." Although PTFE was accidently created in 1938 as part of another experiment, DuPont didn't trademark "Teflon" until 1945, and the first products using Teflon didn't appear until 1946.

Slick 50 was first marketed in 1978 - obviously, that's long after WW II ended.

I thought about "googling" the term before I posted the myth...

 

[murphy1244]

I thought about "googling" the term before I posted the myth...

I liked the War story better, lets use it.

 

[JKR]

I use slick 50 on my tractor and snow blower. So far in no problem.3 years

 

[sleepybozo]

One of Slik 50's "sales aids" when I first heard of them was a small engine (5 hp Briggs?) that they would run with oil and Slik 50 in it, then drain the oil and run it dry for 10 or 15 minutes. Impressed a lot of my friends. They tried it and claimed decent gas mileage increases.

 

[Mace Canute]

I remember way back in the seventies there was a guy at work who's neighbour was a Slick 50 salesman. He convinced him to use one of their products on his boat, it was supposed to be some sort of wax or finish that was suppose to protect the gel coat but when he applied it, it absolutely ruined the surface. IIRC it cost around $2500 to fix it . Since then I've stayed away from any "Slick 50" product.

 

[k0ua]

I liked the War story better, lets use it.

It was a nice story..

 

[Scooby074]

I didnt think they were still in business. Another "miracle in a bottle" snakeoil.

 

[ultrarunner]

Both my vehicles were Slicked at 50k miles by previous owners... both are pushing 200k and so far so good.

My best guess is it didn't do any harm.

 

[swines]

I remember way back in the seventies there was a guy at work who's neighbour was a Slick 50 salesman. He convinced him to use one of their products on his boat, it was supposed to be some sort of wax or finish that was suppose to protect the gel coat but when he applied it, it absolutely ruined the surface. IIRC it cost around $2500 to fix it . Since then I've stayed away from any "Slick 50" product.

I don't believe Slick 50 ever made waxes. Their products have been oil additives, fuel additives and transmission additives. Can you provide additional information or a link on a Slick 50 wax that contains verifiable data instead of just, "I remember"? Many people's memories - including mine - aren't really that good...especially 40+ years later.

There is a wax that has been marketed called Slick Ez and another company, Slick Products, which makes waxes - including one for fiberglass. Neither company has anything to do with the Slick 50 company.

 

[/pine]

I remember way back in the seventies there was a guy at work who's neighbour was a Slick 50 salesman. He convinced him to use one of their products on his boat, it was supposed to be some sort of wax or finish that was suppose to protect the gel coat but when he applied it, it absolutely ruined the surface. IIRC it cost around $2500 to fix it . Since then I've stayed away from any "Slick 50" product.

Humm...protect the GelCoat from what? UV...? (some salesmen will say anything)

GelCoat is paramount to protecting fiberglass (glass+polystyrene/epoxy etc. even if it's clear GelCoat etc...)...even in the 70's it was UV tolerant...but it's like any other finish exposed to the elements...it's going to wear...A lot of folks use acetone to clean up GelCoat...bad idea...they should use styrene...

Back to the original topic of Slick 50 and the myth I cited...I think the old vets that I had heard the "myth" from probably believed it but because everybody loved the tale but nobody could afford it (the claim and the price was the key)...so the myth grew...can't explain the time frame between WWII and the products availability...

 

[Mace Canute]

I don't believe Slick 50 ever made waxes. Their products have been oil additives, fuel additives and transmission additives. Can you provide additional information or a link on a Slick 50 wax that contains verifiable data instead of just, "I remember"? Many people's memories - including mine - aren't really that good...especially 40+ years later.

There is a wax that has been marketed called Slick Ez and another company, Slick Products, which makes waxes - including one for fiberglass. Neither company has anything to do with the Slick 50 company.

It was a Slick 50 product that was applied to a fiberglass boat's hull. It absolutely ruined the finish. Of that there is no question of my memory.

 

[Mace Canute]

Humm...protect the GelCoat from what? UV...? (some salesmen will say anything)

GelCoat is paramount to protecting fiberglass (glass+polystyrene/epoxy etc. even if it's clear GelCoat etc...)...even in the 70's it was UV tolerant...but it's like any other finish exposed to the elements...it's going to wear...A lot of folks use acetone to clean up GelCoat...bad idea...they should use styrene...

Back to the original topic of Slick 50 and the myth I cited...I think the old vets that I had heard the "myth" from probably believed it but because everybody loved the tale but nobody could afford it (the claim and the price was the key)...so the myth grew...can't explain the time frame between WWII and the products availability...

Yeah, we had the same position back then and questioned why he even bothered using the stuff but you know how gullible some people are when it comes to the "new and improved" hype snake oils get from the people selling it...the bigger and more improbable the claims the more they are willing to believe them.

 

[Gem99ultra]

I think it was used originally in WWII...supposedly it could keep an aircraft flying even if the crankcase had been shot through and loss of oil pressure...not sure about this...but WWII vets I know is where I first heard about it...seems like it was something like $50 Qt....

You're exactly right about the $50/quart for Slick 50. 'Back in the day', i.e. before most of us ever actually knew what was a good product and what wasn't.. not that we do now, Slick 50 was the Cat's Meow. I was doing a little drag racing back then and wouldn't even THINK about going racing without having a dose of Slick 50 and STP Oil Treatment in my motor. Without those two magic additives, I'd feel pretty much handicapped.

I do still have a bottle of both sitting on a shelf in the shop. Why? I don't know. I suppose I just can't come around to thrown $50+ of snake-oil away I do know one area that they worked very well, and that is filtering a lot of dollars from my pocket and making some astute marketer's rich.

 

[crashz]

There was some other engine treatments that had really good info-mercials. One I remember hand an engine that was run with a big hole in the oil pan and no valve covers. Then a hapless fool pouring sand and gravel over the engine as it ran! Motor Up or Superlube or something. I can't remember now.

Yep - I bought it. Put that in my F150.

I think I used Slick 50 on another rig too.