How Ceramic Coatings Work in Engine Treatments (A Technical Breakdown)
How Ceramic Coatings Work in
Engine Treatments
A complete technical breakdown — what Nano Silicon Carbide actually is, how it bonds to metal, and why it provides protection that oil film alone can never achieve.
⚡ Quick Answer
Ceramic engine treatments work by permanently bonding Nano Silicon Carbide (SiC) particles into the metal sub-surfaces of your engine — cylinder walls, valve stems, camshaft lobes, and bearings. Unlike oil additives that dissolve in oil and flush out at every oil change, SiC integrates INTO the metal itself, creating a harder, smoother surface that reduces friction by up to 90%* permanently. The ceramic matrix survives every oil change, every cold start, and every high-temperature event — for the life of the engine. One application. No reapplication ever.
⚗️ What Is Nano Silicon Carbide (SiC)?
Silicon Carbide is a compound of silicon and carbon (SiC) that has been used in industrial applications for over a century — from abrasives and cutting tools to semiconductor components and high-performance ceramics. At the nanoscale, SiC particles take on unique properties that make them ideal for engine protection applications.
Silicon Carbide — Material Properties
The "Nano" designation refers to particle size. Cerma STM-3® uses Silicon Carbide particles engineered to nanometer dimensions — small enough to enter and bond within the micro-surface irregularities of engine metal that oil molecules cannot reach or permanently fill.
Key Distinction: The Cerma STM-3® formulation is 100% active ingredient — pure Nano Silicon Carbide with no fillers, no carrier chemicals, and no petroleum solvents. What goes into your engine oil is entirely the ceramic compound that bonds to metal. This is fundamentally different from "ceramic-enhanced" oil additives that contain only trace amounts of ceramic suspended in a conventional additive carrier.
🛢️ Why Engine Oil Alone Isn't Enough
Engine oil is an engineering marvel — but it has fundamental physical limitations that no amount of formulation improvement can overcome.
What Oil Does Well
Modern multi-grade synthetic oils create a hydrodynamic film between moving surfaces under normal operating conditions. This film — measured in microns — keeps metal surfaces separated and reduces friction dramatically during normal engine operation at operating temperature.
Where Oil Falls Short
❌ Oil Cannot Do This
- Cold start protection — oil drains from vertical surfaces overnight; cylinder walls run dry for 5–30 seconds at every cold start
- Permanent surface improvement — oil cannot fill or smooth micro-surface roughness; it only bridges the gap
- Survive oil changes — every oil change flushes out all dissolved additives
- Maintain viscosity at extremes — oil thins at high temperature, reducing film strength at the worst possible moment
- Protect during oil film breakdown — under extreme load, oil film collapses and metal-to-metal contact resumes
✅ Ceramic Treatment Fills These Gaps
- Cold start — ceramic matrix is IN the metal; present at first crank regardless of oil presence
- Permanent surface change — SiC bonds into metal sub-surface, reducing roughness at the source
- Oil-change proof — bonded to metal, not dissolved in oil; cannot be flushed out
- Temperature stable — SiC melting point 2,730°C; does not change with engine temperature
- Load resistant — SiC hardness 9.5 Mohs; does not compress or deform under extreme pressure
🔑 Core Principle
Oil protects the space between metal surfaces. Ceramic treatment protects the metal surfaces themselves. These are not competing approaches — they are complementary. The best-protected engine has both: excellent oil AND ceramic-treated surfaces. But oil alone leaves gaps that ceramic fills permanently.
🔬 How Ceramic Bonds to Engine Metal — Step by Step
The bonding process of Cerma STM-3® is not instantaneous — it occurs progressively over the first 3,000–5,000 miles of operation. Here is exactly what happens:
Treatment Added to Engine Oil
Pour Cerma STM-3® directly into engine oil at your next oil change. The Nano SiC particles mix with the oil and are immediately carried throughout the engine by normal oil circulation. The treatment requires no engine disassembly, no special preparation, and no downtime.
SiC Particles Reach All Friction Surfaces
Oil circulation carries the Nano SiC particles to every lubricated surface in the engine — cylinder walls, piston rings, crankshaft bearings, camshaft lobes, valve stems, timing chain, and all gear contact surfaces. The nanoscale size is critical: SiC particles are small enough to penetrate the micro-cavities in metal surfaces that oil molecules cannot permanently occupy.
Heat and Pressure Activate Bonding
Under the heat and contact pressure generated by normal engine operation, the SiC particles are pressed into the micro-surface irregularities of the engine metal. The combination of temperature and mechanical pressure activates the bonding mechanism — SiC particles begin integrating into the metal sub-surface rather than simply sitting on top of it.
Ceramic Matrix Forms in the Metal
Over 3,000–5,000 miles, the SiC particles progressively fill and bond within the surface micro-structure of all treated engine components. The result is a ceramic matrix that is literally part of the metal — not a coating on its surface, but an integrated modification of the surface itself. Surface roughness decreases measurably as the matrix fills irregularities.
Permanent Protection — No Reapplication Ever
Once the ceramic matrix is complete, it is permanent. The SiC is bonded to metal with a strength that exceeds the adhesion of any surface coating. Oil changes do not remove it — because it is not in the oil. High temperatures do not degrade it — SiC melts at 2,730°C. High loads do not compress it — SiC is harder than any engine metal. The protection is complete and permanent for the engine's lifetime.
📐 The Three-Layer Protection Model
Understanding ceramic engine protection is clearest when visualized as three distinct layers, each providing different protection functions:
Engine Surface Protection Layers
Conventional engine protection relies entirely on Layer 1 — oil film. The oil must be present, at correct viscosity, at sufficient pressure, to prevent metal-to-metal contact. When any of these conditions fail, the base metal wears directly against other metal surfaces.
Cerma STM-3® adds Layer 2 permanently. Even when oil film is absent or compromised, the ceramic matrix provides a dramatically lower-friction surface that protects the base metal. The two layers work together — oil over ceramic provides the best possible protection under all operating conditions.
⚖️ Ceramic Treatment vs. Oil Film: Full Comparison
| Protection Factor | Engine Oil (Synthetic) | Oil Additives | Cerma STM-3® Ceramic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold start protection | ✗ Drains from surfaces overnight | ✗ Drains with oil | ✓ Ceramic matrix present at first crank |
| Survives oil change | ✗ Replaced entirely | ✗ Flushed out | ✓ Bonded to metal — permanent |
| High temperature stability | Degrades above 150–200°C | Degrades with oil | ✓ Stable to 2,730°C |
| Surface roughness improvement | ✗ Cannot modify metal surface | ✗ Cannot modify metal surface | ✓ Fills micro-scratches permanently |
| Self-healing capability | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✓ SiC fills new micro-scratches as formed |
| Cost over 5 years | $0 additional (required anyway) | $325–$600 (every oil change) | $105.60 one time (gas engine) |
| Reapplication required | Every 5–15k miles | Every oil change | ✓ Never |
| Active ingredient content | ~15–25% additive package | Variable, often low SiC % | ✓ 100% active Nano SiC |
📊 What Ceramic Protection Actually Does to Your Engine
The technical mechanism of SiC bonding translates into concrete, measurable improvements that engine owners report:
Reduced Engine Wear
By creating a harder, smoother surface at all friction points, the ceramic matrix reduces the rate of material removal from engine components. This extends the usable life of cylinder walls, piston rings, valve train components, and bearings — directly translating to more miles before rebuild or replacement.
Improved Fuel Economy
Friction is a direct tax on fuel efficiency. Every joule spent overcoming internal friction is a joule not converted to wheel torque. By reducing friction at all lubricated surfaces by up to 90%*, Cerma-treated engines require less fuel to produce the same power output. Customers report 4–21%* fuel economy improvements.
Reduced Operating Temperature
Friction generates heat. Less friction means less heat generation inside the engine, which reduces thermal stress on oil, seals, and engine components — and can reduce operating temperatures measurably.
Restored Compression in High-Mileage Engines
As SiC fills the micro-scratches on cylinder walls and piston ring faces, it effectively reduces the gap through which compression gases escape. High-mileage engine owners frequently report improved compression readings and smoother idle after Cerma treatment.
Reduced Engine Noise
The primary source of "engine noise" — ticking, knocking, valve train clatter — is metal-to-metal contact at friction surfaces. Smoother surfaces and reduced friction translate directly to quieter engine operation, particularly noticeable at cold starts and at idle.
Cerma STM-3® Engine Treatment
100% Nano Silicon Carbide. No fillers. No carriers. Pure ceramic that permanently bonds to your engine metal — one application, lifetime protection for gas and diesel engines.
🔧 Engine Compatibility and Application
| Engine / Application | Compatible? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4-stroke gasoline engines (4-8 cyl) | ✓ Yes | Cars, trucks, SUVs — one 2oz bottle for all |
| Diesel engines (all sizes) | ✓ Yes | Size varies by displacement — see table below |
| 4-stroke motorcycle engines | ✓ Yes | 1.25oz dedicated motorcycle treatment |
| Marine 4-stroke engines | ✓ Yes | Inboard, sterndrive, and 4-stroke outboards |
| Transmission gear boxes | ✓ Yes | Separate transmission treatment product |
| 2-stroke engines | ✗ No | Not compatible — oil/fuel pre-mix systems |
| Electric motors | ✗ No | No internal combustion friction surfaces |
| Any motor oil brand | ✓ Compatible | Works with conventional, synthetic, synthetic blend |
| Internal seals and rubber | ✓ Safe | SiC does not degrade seals, O-rings, or gaskets |
Application is simple: Pour the treatment directly into your engine oil at your next oil change. Drive normally — the engine does the rest. No special RPM required, no warm-up protocol, no disassembly. The heat and pressure of normal operation bond the SiC over the first 3,000–5,000 miles.
📦 Cerma STM-3 Product Line
| Engine Type | Applications | Size | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas Engine Treatment | ALL gas engines — cars, trucks, SUVs (4-8 cylinders) | 2 oz | $105.60 |
| Diesel 1–2.8L | Small diesel cars, compact diesels | 2 oz | $105.60 |
| Diesel 3–4.8L | Mid-range diesel trucks and SUVs | 4 oz | $195.80 |
| Diesel 5–6.7L (Pickup) | PowerStroke, Duramax, Cummins pickup engines | 6 oz | $290.40 |
| Diesel 6.7L+ (Semi) | Semi trucks, heavy duty commercial diesel | 12 oz | $538.45 |
| Transmission Treatment | Automatic and manual transmissions — cars/trucks | 2 oz | $70.40 |
| Transmission Treatment (Semi) | Semi truck automatic transmissions | 6 oz | $193.60 |
| Motorcycle Treatment | All 4-stroke motorcycles | 1.25 oz | $71.50 |
🛡️ Complete Ceramic Protection — Every Drivetrain Component
The same SiC technology protects your entire drivetrain, not just the engine:
Cars/trucks: 2oz $70.40
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Why Engineers and Drivers Trust Cerma STM-3®
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One application. Permanent Nano Silicon Carbide protection bonded to your engine metal. Use code C10 for 10% off your first order.
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Performance Claims: * All performance claims marked with an asterisk reflect maximum results observed under testing conditions. Individual results vary based on engine condition, age, usage, and operating environment. Up to 90% friction reduction and 4–21% fuel economy improvements represent the range of reported results; your results may differ.
Technical Information: Material properties for Silicon Carbide (Mohs hardness, melting point, chemical inertness) are established scientific data for the SiC compound. Bonding mechanisms described represent the documented behavior of nano-ceramic particles under heat and pressure in lubricated systems.
Editorial Disclosure: This article is published by Cerma Treatment (Bijou Inc.), the manufacturer of Cerma STM-3® products. Cerma Treatment has a commercial interest in the products described herein.
Trademark Notice: Cerma STM-3® is a registered trademark of Bijou Inc. All other brand names mentioned are trademarks of their respective owners.