Oil additives to reduce friction: “Behind the Wheel” examination

Special additives added to the transmission oil during replacement help protect the manual transmission from noise, wear, and mechanical friction. One of these additives is LIQUI MOLY Getriebeoil Additiv, designed specifically to increase the reliability of the unit during increased operating loads and the quality of operation of the manual transmission.

The LIQUI MOLY brand has existed in the automotive market for a long time. It has managed to establish itself as a manufacturer of high-quality, reliable products, for which it has many positive reviews from its use.

How they checked

We carried out the work on a universal machine for testing friction and wear AI 5018 and a four-ball friction machine ChMT‑1. Their operating principle is similar: the samples are rubbed against each other in the presence of oil with the additive being tested.

The universal machine AI 5018 is designed for friction and wear testing. The machine drive is electromechanical, with smooth speed control. The friction torque meter on the rotating shaft of the lower sample is electromechanical, with non-contact current collection.

Both touching disks rotate, but one lags behind by 10%. Wear of discs by mass shows the effectiveness of the tested drugs lubricating the friction pair.

The first machine helped evaluate the wear of samples - in fact, increasing the anti-wear properties of the oil. The four-ball machine made it possible to determine the welding load, that is, the maximum lubrication capabilities with each of the tested preparations.

Additives were added to semi-synthetic gear oil Lukoil TM-4 75W-90 GL-4. Note that during operation, all preparations should be poured both into the operating oil and every time the oil is changed.

The four-ball friction machine ChMT‑1 is used for testing liquid and plastic lubricants. Its friction unit is a pyramid of four steel balls in contact with each other.

During the tests, the balls were welded into a non-separable pyramid. By the way, friction welding has long been used in engine production - for example, this is how a valve stem and valve plate are connected.

Properties

Liqui Moly 1988
After filling the manual crankcase, the Liqui Moly anti-friction additive has the following effects on the vehicle:

reduces friction in manual transmission;
prevents premature wear of the transmission;
shows high resistance to extreme loads;
reduces extraneous noise in the mechanical box;
responsible for smooth gear shifting;
optimizes the functioning of the manual transmission;
increases the durability of transmission units.

What happened

ER-8, USA. Anti-friction metal conditioner

Price
1200 ₽
Stated volume
237 ml
Recommended proportion
60 ml per 1 liter Promised to be a significant reduction in the coefficient of friction in units and mechanisms, an increase in the service life of units and mechanisms, an increase in the critical load and welding load, and the like. In fact, the wear rate fell overall by 3.5 times, friction losses decreased by 7%, and the critical load increased by 41%. However, the use of this additive may lead to a decrease in the load-bearing capacity of the oil at high loads, since the welding load is reduced. The drug is a consumable material because it works on the principle of a chemical reaction in the friction zone at high temperatures with the formation of chloride or fluoride films that separate the friction surfaces. Therefore, its resource is limited and depends on the intensity of operation of the unit or unit.

Liqui Moly, Germany. Anti-friction additive for transmission oil

Price
450 ₽
Stated volume
20 ml
Recommended proportion
20 ml per 1–2 l An additive based on molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) promised a significant reduction in wear and temperature in the friction zone, reduced heating, smooth operation, etc. Tests have confirmed a reduction in wear rate when “spreading” fine powders of molybdenum disulfide, but friction losses increased by 10%. The welding load increased by 12%. The layer does not have strong bonds with the base metal. Therefore, the resource of the drug is limited.

Resource T, Russia. Additive for VMPAUTO transmission oil

Price
500 ₽
Stated volume
50 g
Recommended proportion
50 g per 1–2 liters Promised to eliminate the noise of the mechanism, make its operation easier, and the like. A decrease in wear intensity was recorded when “spreading” fine powders of submicron particles of copper, lead, tin and other metals, as well as an increase in the welding load by 12%. However, friction losses increased by 10%. During operation, a layer is formed on the friction surface that does not have strong connections with the main friction surface. It is removed by the friction counterbody and immediately restored as long as there is a sufficient concentration of drug suspension in the oil. Over time, the concentration drops (elements settle on the walls of the unit) and the layer is not restored. The duration of work depends on the intensity of deposition of the additive on various surfaces and their area.

SMT 2514, USA. Synthetic metal conditioner, 2nd generation

Price
1500 ₽
Stated volume
250 ml
Recommended proportion
50 ml per 1 l The manufacturer promises a reduction in friction and wear of parts, as well as a significant increase in service life. Tests recorded a decrease in wear rate in general by 4.6 times, a decrease in friction losses by 2%, an increase in welding load by 12%, and an increase in critical load by 26%. During operation, a layer is formed on the friction surface, which consists of fluoride and chloride films (metal conditioner).

Suprotec, Russia. Tribological composition "Reducer"

Price
1300 ₽
Stated volume
80 ml
Recommended proportion
80 ml per 0.7–2.2 l Promised to restore the working surfaces of gears and bearings, extend service life, reduce noise and vibration. We recorded a decrease in wear rate in general by 4 times, a decrease in friction losses during the period of operation of the samples by 20%, and an increase in the critical load by 12%. The dynamics of the friction coefficient showed a strong decrease during the tests. The drug works on the principle of forming a new metal layer. The sample shows the smoothest surface, and the roughness indicators have minimal values. Therefore, oil in the pores can create a denser layer, which will lead to a shift in the operation of the friction unit towards hydrodynamic friction. And this should lead to a further reduction in friction losses and wear.

The use of all drugs led to a decrease in wear of friction samples, that is, an increase in the anti-wear properties of transmission oil

Specifications

Name	Meaning	Units
Color	gray-black
Quantity of solid lubricant	about 10	%
Viscosity at 20°C	380	mPa*s
Temperature range of application	depends only on the oil used, for MoS2: over 400	°C
Flash point	>200	°C
Pour point	-15	°C

Will they cook?

Tests on a four-ball friction machine TBI-1 were carried out in accordance with GOST 9490-75 - the so-called welding load was determined, at which the surfaces of the balls are literally welded at the point of contact. At the same time, we assessed the critical load, which indicates the service life of the oil. Test duration: to determine the welding load - 10 seconds, to determine the wear indicator - 60 minutes.

The average temperature of the oil in the chamber indicates the energy intensity of the processing process. There are no particular differences - except in the first and last stages of testing.

The higher the welding load, the lower the likelihood of scoring.

In theory, additives should increase the welding load and critical load. The higher the welding load, the greater the load the friction unit will withstand before scoring occurs.

These are the ultimate performance capabilities of a lubricant: more is better. The higher the critical load, the higher the load at which the friction unit will operate for a long time while maintaining a given resource.

The higher the critical load, the higher the load the friction unit can operate for a long time.

Contact patch diameter: the smaller the better.

The welding load or the load of maximum lubrication capabilities when using SMT 2514, Resurs T and Liqui Moly additives increased by 12%, when working with the ER‑8 additive it decreased by 6%, and with the Suprotec additive it did not change.

The critical load, which characterizes the limits of long-term performance of the oil, increased with the addition of all drugs. The most noticeable effect is when operating ER (by 41%) and SMT 2514 (by 26%).

Anti-wear characteristics determined on the TBI-1 friction machine improved only with ER-8 (by 18%).

Reviews

Kim, 23 years old Liqui Moly 1988 has become a lifesaver. The transmission crunched horribly, especially in second gear. There was no time to get to the service center; I bought an additive at a gas station. Now there is no need to go to the service center: literally the next day the crunching noise disappeared.

Oleg, 36 years old When changing the oil in the box, I added this product to my old Kia. There were no special problems, but I played it safe. They say you can really extend the life of the mechanics.

We tested five drugs - the “winners” of friction in the transmission.

Oil additives to reduce friction: “Behind the Wheel” expertise

Additive for manual transmission Liqui Moly

A product of the German auto chemical industry, the Liqui Moly manual transmission additive has received wide recognition among numerous car enthusiasts. Thanks to a unique chemical composition, the metal surfaces of the gearbox are covered with a protective film, which minimizes the friction forces between the mating elements.

Main components of Liqui Moly:

molybdenum disulfide;
copper;
zinc.

Under the influence of additives, the smallest defects on the surfaces of working parts (microcracks, chips, cavities, etc.) are eliminated.

As a result of using the Liqui Moly gearbox additive, the following positive changes have been noted:

Improved transmission performance.
Smooth transition to the selected gear.
Reducing the friction forces between parts and the operating temperature of the transmission fluid.

Recommendations for using Liqui Moly:

This product is best used for worn gearboxes that show clear signs of long-term use.
The additive must be poured into the crankcase during a partial or complete oil change.
After a long run of more than 100 thousand km.

Interesting: According to drivers, the additive from Liqui Moly has an immediate effect on the operation of a manual transmission without side effects. The transmission noise additive dramatically reduces the sound effects of the gearbox.

XADO additive for manual transmission

Gel-like antifriction additives, produced by the Kharkov company together with the Dutch engineering group, enjoy well-deserved trust among numerous buyers. Thanks to the beneficial effects of additives, the original configuration and dimensions of the working elements of manual transmissions are restored. The main difference between XADO additives and numerous analogues is the unique chemical composition of the active substance (they include: ceramics in a liquid state plus silicon molecules).

Microcracks that form on the metal surfaces of gearbox components and parts are quickly filled with a super-strong metal-ceramic substance (microhardness coefficient is 750 kg/mm2), and ideal alignment occurs in places where roughness appears. Even after long-term use of the vehicle, when many gearbox parts have lost their original appearance, XADO additive material is able to restore their shape and previous technical characteristics.

Interesting: The company has developed a modern product called revitalizant XADO 1Stage. This is a gel specially designed to restore and improve the functioning of internal combustion engines, regardless of the type of power unit: gasoline, diesel, gas-powered.

The main advantages when using XADO antifriction additives:

Effective elimination of irregularities, potholes, chips, deep scratches on the metal surfaces of transmission elements due to the formation of a unique metal-ceramic protective film.
Significant reduction in the level of noise effects of a working gearbox (more than ten times).
Optimal functioning of manual transmission synchronizing clutches.
Increased efficiency (low fuel consumption in all-wheel drive vehicles).
Neat, smooth manual transmission gear shifting.
Effective removal of elevated temperature from the area of increased friction.
A sharp reduction in vibrations and vibrations of the gearbox.
Further operation of the machine with obvious transmission fluid leaks.
Resistance of gearbox mechanisms against the harmful effects of corrosion.

Description of additive for manual transmission SUPROTEC

Suprotek Corporation defines its products as an “intelligent additive.” The active material includes complex modern components in certain combinations. The proprietary antifriction additive combines perfectly with lubricants of various compositions and promotes the formation of a polymer film on the metal surfaces of gearbox components and parts. The resulting film increases the area of the contact spot and reduces the friction forces between the mating surfaces of the working elements of the manual transmission.