Liqui Moly has created Cera Tec to help the motor oils fight against the wear and tear inside the engine. While Xado also does the same but with the bonus of revitalization as it can restore the damaged operating surface of the engine.
Cera Tec was developed with the goal to reduce wear which is achieved by its ceramic particles that form a boundary layer around metals parts, hence reducing friction. These particles are aided chemically by the friction modifiers. This dual-action of both physical and chemical characteristics helps in reducing friction a lot. This additive is thermally unstable as it cannot bear very high temperatures but is effective up to a decent mileage.
Xado is a multipurpose additive as it not only prevents wear but also repairs the worn metal inside the engine which can increase its power and acceleration. It aims at reducing fuel consumption since it increases the engine’s cylinder compression.
It decreases noise and vibrations and maintains the nominal oil pressure inside the engine. It protects the metal parts from overheating and overloading since it improves the lubrication properties of motor oil and tribological characteristics of engine parts.
This all in turn increases the engine life. It is effective for a long period of time and lastly, it is known for reducing exhaust emission toxicity.
Let’s have a quick look at their specs.
| Characteristics | Cera Tec | Xado Metal Conditioner Maximum with 1 Stage Revitalizant |
| Manufacturer | Liqui Moly | XADO Chemical Group |
| Country of origin | Germany | Ukraine |
| Additive Type | Anti-wear | Revitalizant and Anti-wear |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline and Diesel | Gasoline, Natural Gas and Diesel |
| Mode of Working | Both physically and chemically | Both physically and chemically |
| Area of Application | Cars and 4 stroke motorbikes | Cars, trucks, and 4 stroke motorbikes |
| Foam | Liquid | Liquid |
| Available Bottle Sizes (ml) | 300 | 225 |
Table of Contents
Compatibility
Cera Tec can be used with the 4 stroke engines of both diesel and gasoline fuel types along with the compressors and manuals transmission. It is compatible with turbochargers and catalytic converters.
It can be mixed with any commercially available motor oil and the ceramic particles present inside it are microscopic enough to pass through both the gasoline and diesel particulate filters.
It works well with the newly designed “Belt-in-Oil” belt lubrication system but is not compatible with the automatic transmission and wet differentials.
Xado is compatible with all the 4 stroke engines automotive whether bikes, cars, or trucks. It is completely miscible with both the mineral and synthetic motor oil available on the market. It can also be used with catalytic converters and particulate filters (both diesel and gasoline).
Composition
Cera Tec is a suspension since it contains tiny boron nitride ceramics suspended in a chemical friction modifier-containing solution. These particles are responsible for the additive suspension’s beige color and may be found in the foam of solid solvent that does not entirely dissolve in the friction modifier chemical solution.
Xado contains a total of three components: A metal conditioner, 1 Stage revitalizer, and a 2D sliding agent. It uses granules of ceramics as 1 Stage revitalizers while friction modifiers are used as metal conditioners and 2D sliding agents.
| Additives | Base |
| Cera Tec | BN (Boron nitride) micro ceramics |
| Xado Metal Conditioner Maximum with 1 Stage Revitalizant | Metal conditioner, ceramics |
Working
Cera Tec fills microscopic holes and imperfections on the surface of metal components within the engine with micro-ceramic boron nitrate particles. The friction modifiers contribute by producing an additional chemical layer at top of the ceramic layer, flattening down the outer surface.
Because the surfaces are smoother, this minimizes metal-to-metal contact and reduces the odds of friction formation, which reduces wear and tear inside the engine.
Xado has three types of protection to offer against the wear to the metal engine parts. Firstly, its 2d sliding agents make the surface of metal smoother which in turn allows them to slide over one another easily. The ceramics act as Revitalizant as they can fill up the damaged metal parts, making the engine efficient. Whereas the metal conditioner chemically aids the wear reduction process by forming a thin layer on the metal part which reduces the friction.
Xado is better at preventing friction production, leading to lesser wear.
Fuel Efficiency
Fuel consumption is proportional to the rate of vaporization and the capacity to reduce wear. Cera Tec has a faster vaporization rate owing to a lower flash point temperature and is less efficient in preventing wear, therefore it will require more fuel.
Xado, on the other hand, has a lower vaporization rate due to a higher flashpoint temperature and a superior ability to prevent wear, making it extremely fuel-efficient.
Because friction creates wear, less wear means less friction is produced. This implies that less power from the engine is required to overcome friction, which increases the vehicle’s fuel efficiency.
| Additives | Flash Point Temperature (°F) |
| Cera Tec | > 100 |
| Xado Metal Conditioner Maximum with 1 Stage Revitalizant | 248 |
Durability Comparison
The manufacturer recommended that the additives be used up to a specific point beyond which they become ineffective.
Cera Tec is only effective for a limited time and is suggested by the manufacturer to be replaced after 50000 km.
Xado, on the other hand, maybe used for a longer period of time because of its efficient metal conditioners, which safeguard the engine from wear and tear for up to 95,000 km.
| Additives | Effective Up to (kilometer) |
| Cera Tec | 50,000 |
| Xado Metal Conditioner Maximum with 1 Stage Revitalizant | 95,000 |
Recommended Quantity
The additives makers prescribe an amount, much like mileage, for the most efficient use of their products.
To improve anti-wear efficiency, 1 liter of Cera Tec might be blended with 9 to 12 liters of motor oil.
The 1 liter of Xado, on the other hand, can sustain a larger amount of motor oil because it can be used for 20 liters.
Using additives outside of the prescribed limits may become ineffective since most additives will not be utilized below the limit, and a smaller amount of them will not be able to keep the same efficiency for a larger volume of motor oil.
| Additives (1 Liter) | The volume of Motor oil catered (liters) |
| Cera Tec | 9 to 12 |
| Xado Metal Conditioner Maximum with 1 Stage Revitalizant | 20 |
Quick Summary
- Both are anti-wear additives while Xado is also a revitalizer.
- Both of these additives are suitable for all sorts of engines (diesel and gasoline) as well as their add-ons.
- Cera Tec’s base is BN micro ceramics, whereas Xado’s base is a combination of metal conditioners and ceramics.
- Both Cera Tec and Xado have physical and chemical operating.
- Cera Tec doesn’t perform as well in terms of vaporization loss as its counterpart does.
- Xado is more durable than its competitor.
- Cera Tec can handle a smaller amount of engine oil.
- Cera Tec is cheaper but less effective.