MOLIKOTE A

It belongs to the family of products containing MOLYBDENUM, an anti friction additive.
Much has been said and written about it, since its introduction a long time ago.
On modern engines, it's a waste of money. Today's top quality synthetic oils have sufficient additives.

 

Recommended by whom? I've never heard of any oil additive that was not later determined to be largely "snake oil" and unnecessary.

 

I think someone said "snake oil" and I have to agree. Even Ferrari and others will succumb to good marketing which means nothing. Additional oil additives are a waste of money; don't be a sucker.

 

I would contact your local FNA dealer and ask if they believe this additive is still necessary. I am sure not. The modern synthetic oils of 2010 are much improved over the stuff made 35 years ago...I am sure Mobil 1 is all you need.

 

How ironic that in an era of reduced ZDDP and widespread fears that it's dangerous to flat tappet cams that everyone on here is saying "motor oil is motor oil".

 

Clearly these experts haven't had to replace, re-grind or hard weld any Ferrari cams...or replaced any hammered cam followers.

And the band played on....

 

Molykote A was basically Molybdenum Disulphide (MDS). I first encountered it in the late 1960's as an additive to the lubricating oil for a very expensive high-speed computer card punch (remember those old IBM cards?). This thing would punch 400 cards per minute. It looked like a motorcycle engine, had a crankshaft, an oil sump and an overhead cam that deployed the punches! It was called a Card Reader, Punch Interpreter (CRPI), but we always called it the Card Ripper, Pulverizer and Incinerator. A card jam was a sight to behold, and a PITA to fix.

Needless to say, I had what I thought was a lifetime supply of MDS, but I used it up long ago in my 30 years' ownership of my 308/GT4. I have always used Castrol Syntex, and was alerted several yeas ago to look for the German-manufactured variety (look for the ISO ratings on the back label) which I can usually find at Autozone. It has more of the anti-friction additives removed from modern American oil because of concerns of the American Car Manufacturers that they clogged up the Catalytic Converters. My 308 doesn't have CC so I don't care.

A couple of years ago I was alerted to the availability of another anti-friction additive called ZDDP Plus, which performs the same function as MDS. At a couple of bucks a bottle it's cheap insurance against the aforementioned camshaft and tappet problems in pre-1980 cars.

 

Moto Guzzi recommends a moly additive for the rear ends of its bikes. Moto International in Seattle sells this product to fill that need:
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If you are looking for a motor oil that has both ZDDP and moly already included look no further than your local Honda motorcycle dealer.

HP4M comes in 10W-40 and 20W-50 weights and is SJ rated semi-syn oil.

 

Well, every cam assembly lube I have ever seen and just about all high quality/high pressure/high temperature greases, contain MoS2. I guess the experts have all succumbed to the so called "snake oil" claims. Also...

http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all~content=a781097784

Effects of MoS2 on the Life of Heavily Loaded Rolling Element Bearings
Authors: B. T. Kuhnella; J. S. Steckia
Affiliation: a Monash University, Clayton, Australia
DOI: 10.1080/10402008808981830
Publication Frequency: 6 issues per year
Published in: journal Tribology Transactions, Volume 31, Issue 3 July 1988 , pages 325 - 328
First Published on: 01 July 1988
Subjects: Aerospace & Aviation Engineering; Automotive Technology & Engineering; Industrial Engineering & Manufacturing; MEMS; Nanoscience & Nanotechnology; Railway Technology & Engineering; Tribology;
Formats available: PDF (English)
Previously published as: ASLE Transactions (0569-8197) until 1988
Article Requests: Order Reprints : Request Permissions

Abstract
This paper presents the results of tests on heavily loaded self-aligning bearings carried out to assess the effect of molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) on bearing life. Two populations of bearings were tested each comprising more than 60 bearings. The same lubricating oil was used in tests of each population, but in the case of one population 1 percent of ultrapure MoS2 colloid was added to the oil. Under test conditions the test set of bearings lubricated by oil with MoS2 additive lasted longer than the control set of bearings lubricated by plain oil, with the confidence level of 98 percent supporting the results. The life of the test set of bearings was 60 percent greater than the control set of bearings, and the spread in distribution of bearing lives, was less than those in the control set.

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=54&Itemid=62

"... Moly exists as microscopic hexagonal crystal platelets Several molecules make up one of these platelets. A single molecule of Moly contains two sulfur atoms and one molybdenum atom. Moly platelets are attracted to metal surfaces. This attraction and the force of moving engine parts rubbing across one another provide the necessary thermochemical reaction necessary for Moly to form an overlapping protective coating like armor on all of your engine parts. This protective armor coating has a number of properties that are very beneficial for your engine.

The Moly platelets that make up the protective layers on your engine surfaces slide across one another very easily. Instead of metal rubbing against metal, you have Moly platelets moving across one another protecting and lubricating the metal engine parts.

This coating effectively fills in the microscopic pores that cover the surface of all engine parts, making them smoother. This feature is important in providing an effective seal on the combustion chamber. By filling in the craters and pores Moly improves this seal allowing for more efficient combustion and engine performance.
This overlapping coating of Moly also gives protection against loading (perpendicular) forces. These forces occur on the bearings, and lifters. The high pressures that occur between these moving parts tend to squeeze normal lubricants out."

There is also another high quality metal based lubrication additive, Tungsten Di-Sulfide, which has even higher loading pressure capacity than MoS2.

Not "snake oil," true oil magic.

Find yourself a sticky hinge, bearing or bushing around the shop or house, put a little MoS2 on it, dry or suspended in oil, see for yourself what it does.

These are not like other oil components or additives. Teflon is similar, but with nowhere near the loading characteristics, temp resistance or longevity and DuPont themselves does not recommend PTFE use in internal combustion engines.

Regards,
Bill

 

well, I am a little reluctant to weigh in on this but for the good of the cause, I will. Moly seems to polarize opinions as if it were a Holy War.

I have used the product now for 30+ years. I consider it to be old fashioned by synthetic oil standards, but I also consider it to be complimentary.

A german physicist friend uses it in his lab all the time. He explained to me that the product was developed during the war. It was used as an additive that would allow a fighter to take a bullet in the oil cooler. The moly would allow the engine to run for a minute or so with no oil so that the pilot could maneuver the aircraft into a position that would be safe for bail out.

Old Porsche mechanics use it, and swear by it. I have used it in old english tractor engined cars, Porsches, bmw's old trucks, and my current cars. Both of my Ferrari's, the 365 gt 2+2 and the 550 are running it, so is my 997 Porsche. It works with hydraulic lifters, it works in transmissions. However, it will ruin a limited slip differential. I add it to modern synthetic oil, no problem.

In summary, my experience has been that it seems to reduce wear. I have not been able to discern any negative effects, however, I would like to hear if there are any.

Cheers

 

Take a look at the VOAs on BITOG and elsewhere. Redline has plenty of moly.

 

Just a side note...

It had to be 10 or 15 years ago, but I remember reading in "The Journal of Applied Physics" about someone magnetizing MoS2 by stripping the loosely held S2 atoms and replacing them with Fe or Ni (IIRC) before putting it in oil suspension. Had the effect of making it draw to the ferrous metal parts and not the babbeted bearing surfaces. Seemed to have had a strong positive effect on lubrosity. The downside was at least one of the sufaces had to be a ferrous metal, but that is usually not a problem in an internal combustion engine - Not many (successful) aluminum cranks out there.

Rick

 

Here is another moly additive that you might want to look into.

http://www.kalgard.com/products/products.asp?cat=15

 

Has anyone here ever had engine problems directly attributed to conventional motor oil changed on a regular basis?

Remember STP oil additive promoted in the 70s? As I recall, tests showed it did nothing to extend engine life. Or, remember the as Seen on TV ads for I think Slick 50. Showed an engine drained of oil but had been treated with Slick 50. The ad showed the valve cover off and water and sand was being sprayed on the valve train, but the engine kept running and running. Give me a break!

In my 50 some years of car ownership, I've never had an engine go bad....and I've never added oil additives. Just used high quality oil and did regular changes.

 

Billiam,

Do you add an oil additive to the oil when you change it on your 365?

Skippity

 

Yes Skip,

Tungsten DiSulphide.

Regards,
Bill

 

Never used that one, but Liqui Moly (aka Lubro Moly) make very high quality products. I occasionally use their Jectron fuel injector/fuel system cleaner and Ventil Sauber, intake valve cleaner on my cars. I usually buy them from World Impex.