Do anti-friction metal conditioners really work?

We’ve all read the anti-friction metal conditioner claims that they save energy, reduce operational costs, increase power and torque, lower operating temperatures, decrease wear and downtime, and provide easier cold-weather operation. In short a miracle in a bottle.

These anti-friction metal conditioners must not be confused with other oil additive packages normally used in the formulation
of a lubricant.

Why are anti-friction metal conditioners not recommended?

The reason these products are not recommended is because most of these types of products are derived from a chlorinated compound.

The chlorine is very reactive with a metal surface and will immediately corrode it. The corrosion by-products and oxides then become a sacrificial friction barrier. This barrier does have a lubricating property, as it is sacrificed to expose fresh material.

Over time, as this cycle is repeated and the freshly exposed material reacts with the additive suspended in the oil, there can be substantial wear (both chemical and mechanical) to the components. The long-term effects of the corrosive chlorine far outweigh any short-term benefit from this sacrificial barrier.

The effects of anti-friction metal conditioners on the lubricant.

Not only does the chlorine attack the metal surfaces within the machine, but it also wreaks havoc on the lubricant. One of the greatest dangers in using a chlorinated compound in a lubricant stems from its acid-forming ability when moisture is introduced.

When formulating a balanced lubricant, you can balance this with formulations that contain detergents, antioxidants and acid neutralizers; but when you are just adding it from a bottle off the shelf, that balance is not possible.

The result will be formation of hydrochloric acid that corrodes metallic mechanical components very quickly.

How to negate the use of anti-friction metal conditioners.

Despite many anti-friction metal conditioners claims to the contrary, you would be much better off using a good quality, properly formulated and balanced lubricant from the start.

One of the first steps in accomplishing this is to make sure the lubricant has the proper viscosity and load-carrying capabilities. Remember, it is better to have your equipment operating under a full hydrodynamic fluid film than having to rely on a friction barrier under boundary conditions.

The synthetic lubricants formulated by Habot Synthetic Lubricants, require no anti-friction metal conditioners to achieve optimum performance. Call us now, for a professional consultation.