Experience using ArchOil Nano-Borate oil additive?

[mrerick]

Does anyone have experience using ArchOil Nano-Borate oil additive in the PowerBoost 3.5L Hybrid V6 Ecoboost engine?

If so, which formulation of this product have you used and what is your experience?

A friend with background has mentioned that this can help stop engine deposits, especially with the synthetic oils now used in our engines.

https://images.carid.com/archoil/products/pdf/ar9100-16-tech-sheet.pdf

While the tech sheet specifically mentions diesel applications, other material indicates it's compatible with gasoline engines.

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[Eighthtry]

Well, I read the flyer and am struggling with what this stuff does. I did notice it cures stiction, but I have a business degree, so I shut down at Physics. Definition from OXFORDLanguages, which is what Google uses, is as follows:

stic·tion
/ˈstikSHən/

noun
Physics
noun: stiction

1. the friction which tends to prevent stationary surfaces from being set in motion.

The following comes from the sales brochure:

Enhanced lubricatian (sp)
AR9100 improves lubricity Ьу filling surface asperities creating а smooth low friction surface. Nanoborate has а lower shear strength than the metal it bonds to so friction between surfaces is reduced (CoF .037 @ 3750 lbs in falex test).

What is the Falex test method?

The Falex Four-Ball EP Test rotates a ½- inch diameter ball in contact with three similar balls held stationary in the test cup. The contact surfaces are covered with test lubricant, a load is applied and a timed test is performed. Normally, the wear scars on the three lower balls are measured and averaged.

The definition and sales brochure, combined with my business degree, tells me there is something to sell here. I suspect it may not be what you are wanting or thinking.

You say "A friend with background has mentioned that this can help stop engine deposits, especially with the synthetic oils now used in our engines." Any oil can leave deposits, but our synthetic oils today bear no resemblance to the dinosaur oils of yesterday when it comes to leaving deposits. They are generational improvements. That is why I can and have run synthetic oils in my cars, Suburbans, Yukon XL, and F150 200,000 to 300,000 miles with no problems, including injectors.

I can't respond to OTR diesels. Nor can I respond to Ford diesels. But I smell something unpleasant.

I HAVE used aftermarket products once in my 2010 CTS V. I had a very occasional situation that began at 40,000 miles. On a cold start, which could be outside temperature from freezing to 105 degrees, the car generated so much smoke that it looked like an 800,000 mile 40 year old diesel just awoke from a 10 year slumber. No rhyme, No reason. Just huge amounts of smoke. It happened about 6-8 times over a 10,000 mile period. I figured it had to be an injector or two sticking, and I wasn't about to go to the Cadillac dealer for their expert opinion when they could not replicate it anyway. So I bought a case of Techron, which went in at each fill, then at my next oil change I added a quart of Marvel Mystery Oil for a 5,000 mile run, then changed oil/filter. Never had another problem. I don't know what caused it. I do not know what fixed it. But I do know that I put 208,000 miles on the car with no injector changes and zero oil use.

Techron is a fuel system additive that Chevron developed. Chevron/Texaco both use Techron in as an additive. Techron is generally considered one of the best additives in the business.

So I had a problem, threw something against the wall, and it happened to fix it. Out of that, the only additive I would use continually is Techron, but I don't need to because the additive packages are so good in Top Tier gasoline.

I think you need to clearly state what your goal is here. How you intend to use it. It will help us all to understand what you are trying to do.

In the meantime:
1. Do NOT use it in your transmission. These 10 speeds are finicky enough as is. The aftermarket will learn soon how to build them and may have fluid recommendations. But let the experts do the hard work.
2. Do NOT extend drain intervals on anything in your truck.
3. If you must use it after all remaining warranties remaining on your truck have expired.
4. ALWAYS use Top Tier Gasoline. Most brand fuels are TopTier, but you may or may not see it on a pump. They have more detergent/additives. This was developed by a consortiom of auto manufacturers.
5. Always run the recommended fuel for the truck.

https://www.toptiergas.com

So I rambled. Give me your thoughts.

 

[Gros Ventre]

All surfaces have a microscopic terrain. There are peaks & valleys. Stiction occurs when the surfaces are at rest and the the peaks and valleys fill each other in. Once in motion the two surfaces peaks & valleys kind of bounce along not settling into each other. The friction to be overcome to place two surfaces at rest into motion can therefore be greater than the friction if those surfaces are in motion "bouncing along." Thus if this stuff actually works it might well reduce stiction and running friction.

 

[Eighthtry]

I agree with the practical definition of stiction and the benefits of dealing with it. I would suggest that it will make no difference in gas mileage and may introduce another problem unforeseen when used in a gas or diesel engine. Machine work is much more sophisticated than it was 40 years ago.

The auto parts stores are littered with things that increase longevity, gas mileage, and add horsepower.

I'm thinking with gas mileage standards increasing, as well as the demand for more powerful engines and SUVs, the manufacturers would go to the auto parts stores and purchase horsepower and increase gas mileage.

I feel certain there is still a 100 mpg carburetor that the oil companies purchased and hid from us.

Technology has come a long way. But, not in the snake oil aisle.

 

[tidefan1967]

Personally I’m not aware of any potential issues across the current engine lineup that would require anything beyond a reasonable oil change interval. Maybe look into Valvoline Restore and Protect, it appears to be pretty popular right now and of course if you really want to know you can have a used oil analysis done and it will really tell you about what’s going on inside your engine.

 

[Gros Ventre]

There has always been snake oil on the shelves... Yep, no sweat. Still there is research going on that will eventually bear fruit. Is this in that category? Time will tell. Don't forget that Synthetic oil was viewed as snake oil in the 70s by many. ...And it did need further development to get to where it is today along the way.

 

[towpro]

Stiction is something real you have to deal with in motorcycle suspensions. the seals and bushing cause stiction which makes the movement of the suspension harder to start moving as the suspension changes direction. Once the suspension is moving then the custom valving controls the oil flow through the system which controls the movement.

I feel certain there is still a 100 mpg carburetor that the oil companies purchased and hid from us.
Technology has come a long way. But, not in the snake oil aisle.

you mean like this.

 

[Calson]

Always someone selling snake oil to the gullible. Read the articles in the automotive press from 2014 to 2016 about the development of the new synthetic oils to meet the 2017 federal guidelines. The oil companies and the engine manufacturers invested many millions in the development to insure no reduction in engine life with the lower viscosity motor oils being mandated to improve fuel economy.

Does it make any sense that a couple of guys in their garage have created something better than what Exxon and Castrol and Ford engineers could produce?

The only testing I have seen that showed an appreciable difference was with diesel motor oils and then the motor oil from Amsoil was no better than the Wal-Mart house brand and a lot worse than any other motor oil on the market.

 

[Gros Ventre]

Always someone selling snake oil to the gullible. Read the articles in the automotive press from 2014 to 2016 about the development of the new synthetic oils to meet the 2017 federal guidelines. The oil companies and the engine manufacturers invested many millions in the development to insure no reduction in engine life with the lower viscosity motor oils being mandated to improve fuel economy.

Does it make any sense that a couple of guys in their garage have created something better than what Exxon and Castrol and Ford engineers could produce?

The only testing I have seen that showed an appreciable difference was with diesel motor oils and then the motor oil from Amsoil was no better than the Wal-Mart house brand and a lot worse than any other motor oil on the market.

Worth recalling that the Apple line of computers began in a garage...

 

[Eighthtry]

Stiction is something real you have to deal with in motorcycle suspensions. the seals and bushing cause stiction which makes the movement of the suspension harder to start moving as the suspension changes direction. Once the suspension is moving then the custom valving controls the oil flow through the system which controls the movement.



you mean like this.

Well, it is probably a B@S .05 cfm Terminator. I wonder how he gets enough air flow through a lawnmower carburetor.

 

[Eighthtry]

Stiction is something real you have to deal with in motorcycle suspensions. the seals and bushing cause stiction which makes the movement of the suspension harder to start moving as the suspension changes direction. Once the suspension is moving then the custom valving controls the oil flow through the system which controls the movement.



you mean like this.

Yep. He never took the air filters off to let us look at it. He had a lot of fun with this post.

 

[Eighthtry]

By the way, stiction between piston rings and bore will be insignificant. Now if there were no rings involved and that piston and bore were identically sized, then we have some real stiction.

 

[v8440]

Well, it is probably a B@S .05 cfm Terminator. I wonder how he gets enough air flow through a lawnmower carburetor.

Getting enough to drive around gently isn't hard. As for how he gets enough to make any power, he doesn't.

 

[HammaMan]

There's nothing you can add to a properly formulated oil to do anything other than harm its performance.

 

[Gros Ventre]

By the way, stiction between piston rings and bore will be insignificant. Now if there were no rings involved and that piston and bore were identically sized, then we have some real stiction.

Stiction likely doesn't apply given the short residence time of rings during a reversal of motion. But keep in mind that when the engine stops and later restarts, stiction will apply. You don't need a long residence time for the peaks to settle into valleys... Also consider that rings rotate around inside their ring groove. So the residence time is even shorter.

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