XADO review
May 17th, 2011
Xado is one of those products that polarizes people.
Many people are sceptical of oil additives – and rightly so – as there are many that make big claims but simply don’t deliver. They don’t appear to build on top of the benefits of a good quality oil, and certainly don’t appear to justify their often high price.
So in my travels over the Interweb, I stumbled on one I hadn’t seen before: Xado (pronounced hardo).
After some research and reading some interesting posts about results on various websites, I found the following background:
- In the Ukraine in years past, oil drilling was occurring in Siberia, and in one small region, the drillers noticed that their drill bits didn’t break. In fact when they pulled them out of the bore hole, the drill bits looked better than new. They also found that not only did the drill bits not break as often, but they re-used them in other areas and found they lasted up to ten times longer before they did break.
- Cue the Russian Government hearing about it. They sent in a team of scientists to look into it.
- The scientists concluded that in that small region, a unique combination of compounds in the area, when combined with the heat generated by drilling and the metal content of the drillbit, formed a very thin carbon-ceramic layer on the metal. The layer was very very strong, and had a very low co-efficient of friction.
- After much research the scientists isolated the relevant compounds and were able to make a product that did the same. The Russian Government is believed to have classified the work, and utilised it in military and similar Government applications.
- Come August 1991, the Ukraine gained impendence. Part of the deal was certain assets being allocated to the Ukraine, one of which was the formula for Xado.
- To capitalise on the technology, a company called the Xado Chemical Concern was formed the same year and after some further research, Xado products for vehicles were sold.
Well, an interesting history, and enough to make me wonder…perhaps there is something to it.
So more research took place, including identifying that my local distributor was charging an incredibly high price for Xado. Around ten times the price of buying it from alternate reputable online sources. So a quick order was sent for three 9ml tubes – enough to do my vehicle. I got three tubes plus a freebie petrol system cleaner delivered from overseas for one third of the price of ONE tube from my local distributor! It pays to do your research…
And the tubes finally arrived today.
This review is about the experience, and will be updated as my car travels more miles if it appears there is benefit from using Xado.
Engine:
- GM L98 v8. Unmodified. 364.1 cu in (5.967 L). 362 bhp (270 kW)@5700rpm and 391 lb·ft (530 Nm)@4400rpm
- 767 miles on the odometer. Yes, not really run-in fully and I know some may say friction modifiers at this stage will impact running in, but those miles have been hard miles for sure, and Im not too worried – engines get quickly bedded in the way I use them.
- The engine is still a bit tight, especially on over-run when letting the engine slow itself down from 4000rpm – some noticeable hesitation around 3000rpm as the revs drop.
Product notes:
-
Product Used: 2 x small 9ml tubes Xado Revitalizant Gel for Gasoline Engines.
Product observations: red colored, pleasant smelling, thickish goo. Pierce the metal foil with the pointy part of the cap and pull the cap away and the goo trails behind – its very stretchy indeed. On the hands its quite slippery.
Product claim:
– Reduced idle speed fuel consumption (up to 30%). Reduced overall fuel consumption (not to same extent).
– Lower metal wear.
– Better compression, especially on more worn engines.
– Engine will become more free revving.
- Only bonds to metal parts – no reaction to or impact on non metallic gaskets, rubber hoses etc. They say it even will work on wet clutches (read: motorbikes!) as it wont impact relevant clutch surfaces as they are non-metallic.
– Benefits normally noticed around 100-150 km (100 miles). Oil can be changed after 1500km (900 miles) as Xado will have bonded as much as it will.
– Benefits last for 100,000 km (62,000 miles) typically.
Process:
1) As my car is new, the normal add a tube every xxx many miles does not apply. The recommended method is for 2 x 9ml tubes to be added at once. I bought three, so maintain one spare.
2) Warm up the car. Stop the engine. Open the oil cap and squeeze two tubes in. Put the oil cap back on.
3) Idle the car for 5-10 mins.
4) Drive as normal.
Observations:
First 15 miles after adding Xado:
- Nothing immediately noted.
- After about 7-10 miles, the engine felt like it had some lowered internal resistance/friction. This was particularly obvious in 4th gear at a steady 30 miles an hour – some lower use of the accelerator was needed to maintain speed as the engine didn’t appear to slow down from internal friction as readily as it normaly does.
Well its very early days as I only managed half an hour’s drive this evening, but I’m pleasantly surprised by my first observation. That being said, I will need further observations to say its a pattern, and whether there are any other benefits.
This article will be updated as the miles are clocked up.
Update Number One 3 June 2011:
1180 miles (1900km): 413 miles after adding Xado
Well the engine is certainly revving well, but Im not yet ready to make any judgements.
BUT, there is one thing I noticed – there is no doubt that when sitting still at idle, the engine is idling more smoothly.
In fact its so smooth, that you literally cant feel the engine at all. You cant even tell that its turned on.
Now remember, we are talking a 364ci (5967cc) engine here. It has a ton of moving parts with weight behind them. The normal idle isnt lumpy, but you certainly know its idling.
But now you dont. From inside the car you can’t feel it. Twice now I have had to check the taco to be sure the engine is running.
Interesting…
