Shell Ensis Fluid SDC

[tvrbob]

Someone has just presented me with 5 ltrs of this stuff. Apparently it's a rust treatment similar to Waxoil. Does anyone know whether it's any good for cassis treatment. It looks and smells like a thin mineral oil.

[tvrbob]

So nobody knows what Ensis Fluid is then. Shell UK don't sell it but it is sold in the Far East as a metal treatment / preserver. I'll go play with some rusty stuff and see what happens.

[centurion07]

Was going to say something about them not needing a great rust treatment out there when I realised you said FAR East (as opposed to MIDDLE East!!).

[Bobbins]

tvrbob said:

So nobody knows what Ensis Fluid is then. Shell UK don't sell it but it is sold in the Far East as a metal treatment / preserver. I'll go play with some rusty stuff and see what happens.

Well it's for sale here:
www.btls.co.uk/LMetal.htm

I too was given a can of this stuff, maybe 25 yrs ago.
I googled and found this description at www.nmpproducts.com/sbnv3n3.htm:
The all time most flexible preservative I have found to date is sold in the UK as Shell Ensis fluid, it is best described as a paraffin based heavy oil or wax which evaporates to leave a fine golden film, which has very long lasting properties and can when the time comes be removed by applying paraffin or other suitable solvent. It can be brushed or sprayed as a liquid and is equally good at preserving items for storage or if applied thinly, protecting cleaned brightwork when the equipment is finally on display.

[motco]

I briefly worked in the press shop at the Hoover factory in Perivale, West London, waaaay back in the early 60s and the place was awash with Ensis fluid. It was used to inhibit rust on steel pressings in transit between the presses and the paint shop. The elapsed time varied according to demand in the shop at the time. It is a very mobile but low volatility light oil, it seems to me. Standard degreasing processes remove it completely.

[foxy99]

I'm a bit late to the party but here's what I know...

The Hillman Imp WSM advises that the cylinder-head bolts must be dipped in Shell Ensis 256.

I found a resource online which says 256 was renamed SDC

Anyway, on the Hillman Imp Facebook group I asked if ppl thought it was still necessary/advisable to use this stuff when replacing your head and a big debate broke out about torque-loading values for lubricated and dry threads. A lot of people said that used engine or gear oils instead.

It seems to me however that the stuff is there to prevent electrolytic corrosion rather than affect the torque figure and the posts above seem to confirm this