Leaks often occour with the switch to synth oil.  The reason is the superior cleaning and lube abilities.  It cleans the crud out of the seals and gaskets.  Then they leak.  Switching back to regular oil won't stop the leak.  The only option is to repair it.  After that, the synth will be fine.  If your seals and gaskets are in good shape, and the inside of the engine is very clean, there will be no problem.  But keep in mind, the age of the seals plays into this as well.  Over 50,000 miles would make me think first.  Or at least do a best guess inspection before switching.

Having said all that, the synth oil is a much better product.  But the major failure factor of any oil is contamination.  So depending on engine condtiton and type of driving, you may still have the contamination problem, and it may not help much.  Very short trips, long periods of idle, etc or worn valve seals and worn piston rings all cause this contamination.  In poorly operating PCV also produces contamination buildup.  But in a good, clean motor the synth will provide  better wear and longer oil life.  You can also use the Slick 50 with synth oil.  Great combination.

Well I too decided to do a little research on Slick 50,
and there certainly is no shortage of information on the
net - both for and against. Sorta makes it hard to come
to a decision. But Ken sold me... I have a lot of respect
for someone who expresses an opinion only AFTER they have
conducted their own comprehensive tests. So thank you
Ken, your contribution was excellent, and once I read it
I didn't hesistate to add Slick 50 to the oil change on
my Vette which I did yesterday.

I thought I would share with you my experience to date
following the oil change. All of 24 hours later ! I did
the oil change using Castrol GTX Protec 15W-40, threw in
the Slick 50 with it, ran the car for around 20 mins,
parked it and then got consumed with family stuff (as
you do.)

This morning I put all new Spark Plugs in (isn't that
just a ball of fun !!), and started her up. Immediately
I couldn't help but notice two things...

1) Cold start had changed from
RrrrrrrrrrrrrrRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrRrrrrrrrrrrrr to
RrrrrRrrrrRrrrrRrrrrRrrrrRrrrrRrrrrRrrrr
(sorry for the techno jargon here.) ie the cranking revs
had increased notably. You just couldn't miss it.

2) The dead cold idle RPM (before you touch the gas
pedal) had increased by around 200 rpm.

Well. What can you say. It was either the new plugs or
the Slick 50! I'm picking it wasn't the plugs...

So there you go from me, my independent report on the
initial Slick 50 difference so far for my Vette. Watch
this space! If I have any more to add down the track I
will.

Kiwi Chris

CeeDee2007-01-13 22:09:08

    As a mechanic for over 40 years, I have not believed in "bandaides" I can remember the STP in the trannys and rear ends to quite the noise to sell the thing to someone else. So I have never been a fan of "bandaides" as I call them. Repair was better. Through my years, I have somewhat changed my mind. Did testing on synthic products and the like. (I still don't like STP). A salesman can to the place I was working at the time pushing Slick 50. Did the no oil engine run thing with a 5 hp Briggs engine and I was impressed - skeptical but impressed. After the guy left, my boss dicided to try it. We took a brand new engine off the shelf, out of the box and treated it with Slick50, drained the oil asnd ran the engine for about 60 hrs with no oil at all and it never seized up. Tore the engine down and found the engine to still be in factory specs. Put it back together, filled her with oil and put it on one of our mowers. Sold it to a country club that used it for about 10 yrs after that. Damnest thing. Found out later that Slick 50 is the only additive that is certified for use in aircraft by the FAA and the DOD. You gotta be good to do that. The only reason that I am against additives  is that people over use them. They think that they don't have to do regular maintenance because they use these products. Thatts wrrong. You still have to meet regular maintenance requirements of the manufacterer. Most of us know the drill. I, personnally, don't use additives. I do use synthtinc oils in all my vehicles. Had a 82 F100 that I ran for 318,000 miles till it rusted so bad I couldn't drive it or I still would be. My 06 F150 only has 5000 miles and it's next oil change will get switched to Mobil 1. I don't know a lot about synthtic gears oils, but I'm gonna try royal Purple in my 02 Civic auto trans. Have used Bio and syn hydraulic oils for years and I swear by them. The only additive in them is veg grade dyies. Bios do die if they are overheated.

Another update... I have just come back from a 400 mile round trip (took the vette). I've been tracking my MPG since I bought the vette 2 years ago. Up until now I have managed a low of 11MPG and a high of 16MPG (must have been downhill!) Well this trip TO my destination was cruising at 70mph and not trying to be gentle at all and I got 17.5 MPG! The return trip I did nice and
gentle at 60, with no lead foot. Haven't refueled yet so I can't tell you the "nice" MPG yet but watch this space!! Something has sure made a difference...

Kiwi Chris.

I years gone by I used Slick 50 in everything I owned. I even put it in the Vette when I first bought it back in 1993. My 1985 pickup lasted me 14 years and over 180,000 miles, and I must say that I wasn't to good with making sure the oil got changed very often. My 1988 Suburban made it past that before it finally bit the dust, same for this one but it was using about 3 quarts of oil a week before that happened. Now that I am older and wiser I change the oil in my vehicles often. I buy them, Drive them until they die, fix em and drive them some more so I try to take care of them.

Well I'm sold.I've used it before but never didn't any actual tests so I never knew if it worked or not.I guess because it didn't give me another 100hp I figured it didn't work.I'll put some in my next oil change.One ? though.do you fill up with the regular amount of oil or do you leave it 1/2 qt low.I haven't looked at slick 50 in quite sometime but I don't think it's a quart can is it?

I like to test things 1st so like Al (Jim)I ran it in a mower engine 1st. There was a notable difference in the engine temp. (hand "ouch" test)
Then for kicks and gigles I mowed the yard with it no oil in crankcase. That is something ya don't do cause some small engines don't pump oil they sling it (like my test B&S). I would have bet it would have seized up. It didn't! Ok done I'm sold.
I'm as skeptical as they come an maybe it was purely coincedental. Sure can't claim the stuff is too pricey. Either way I couldn't find a reason not to use it.
I have run it in every vehicle I own since (including Tux). But note irregardless I still change oil at 3,000 mi. or every 6 mos whichever comes 1st. Bottom line is if ya wannna run it go for it. Its gonna come down ta your decision...
Tuxblacray2007-01-17 18:20:56

[QUOTE=zgator]... One ? though.  do you fill up with the regular amount of oil or do you leave it 1/2 qt low.  I haven't looked at slick 50 in quite sometime but I don't think it's a quart can is it?[/QUOTE]

The Oil was in a 4 litre container, the Slick 50 is a quart (almost a litre). I just put half the oil in, followed by all of the Slick 50, and then most of the remainder of the oil until it the dip stick showed
close to full. Ran it for 20 mins, then topped up.
The book says the 350 takes 4.5 litres.

*** MPG UPDATE ***
My "be nice" run of 200 miles at no greater than 100km/hr (ahhh that's about 60MPH for you foreign types came in at 17.9 MPG. Remember also that we don't have long straight highways here, these trips are over mild winding roads and up and down hills along with a couple of fairly major ranges. (For anyone who wants to look at a map it was from New Plymouth to Tauranga and return. (That's from one coast (west) to the other (east) in the North Island of New Zealand.)

Kiwi Chris

I'm glad this string came back up.  I'm sold.  My '97 Dodge Truck just turned over 225,000 miles yesterday and is due for an oil change, so I guess I'll be adding a quart of Slick 50 and then one to the Vette with the first oil change in the spring.  The truck's gotta last until the Vette's paid for, so I need to keep it going!!