Swepco 502 Oil?

[Flagstaff_911SC]

Has anyone ever tried Swepco 502 Oil additive for noisy lifters? I have some lifter noise in one of my vehicles and was wondering if this will help quiet it down.

Thanks

[donstevens]

Never tried it but common wisdom among oil experts is not to use any aftermarket additives.

I looked at the description on the website and there a couple of things about this product that are disturbing. Specifcially "Special solvent" and "friction modifiers". These components alter the chemistry of the oil in your crankcase and while they are designed to help, they usually make you base oil less effective at protecting the vital parts of your engine, like the rod bearings. There is also great debate in oil circles over the effectiveness of "Micronized Moly" as an antiwear agent. Some soluble moly components (as used by companies like Redline and Schaeffers) really can reduce wear and make the oil more slippery but there is a point of diminishing returns. Too much is not good. Plus, the term "micronized" may mean that the additive is a non-soluble powdered product which most oil experts agree is not good as an oil additive.

I don't know what this additive costs but it is probably $10-$20 per quart. Notice that the site says primary applications are
"High performance automotive repair shops
Mobile construction equipment
Over the road trucks
Fleet operations"
This is classic oil additive marketing that is designed to help shop operators "increase revenue per customer visit". I know that Swepco makes a great gear oil but this product pegs my BS meter. Anyone who recommends a product like this without asking questons about your specific application is not really offering you any favors.

The $10 or $20 that this product costs is probably wiser spent on a heavier weight true synthetic oil (Mobil-1 Royal Purple, Amsoil). This will likely help your symptoms and be better for the car over the long term. The synthetic oil will naturally clean any "sticking of hydraulic valve lifters" and the heavier weight oil will help to lessen the "clatter". Plus you can get the added benefits of less start up wear, better high temperature stability (important in your climate), and a longer drain interval to offset the cost of the oil.

If you would, tell us about your application. What kind of car? Miles on the clock? Symptoms? What kind of oil diet has it had? How is it used? How often has oil been changed? Leaks? How long do you intend to keep it? With that information, we might be able to make an inteligent recommendation.

Don