I know exactly what you mean in finding solace in doing your own repair/maintenance work Billy. Having had a car in someone elses shop only once since 1975 has saved me untold dolleros and ... I know the quality of the work done as well as the parts used. Sadly this is a trend lost on many males in modern society and even many mechs have become little more than parts changers. Reminds me of CNC mill/lathe operators who wanna be called machinists but couldn't set up a job on a manual machine to save their life

'Berto, yeah ceramics have been used with mixed results in many tests and experimental engines but have seemingly found little use in mass production, mainly due to cost of both involved manufacturing and finish machining of ceramic components. Ceramic coatings of various components however is a common part of many race teams builds and have been quietly embraced for a long time now.

I've always been suspect of anyone using teflon additives in oils used inside an engine, while in trannies and differentials it works great. The problem in an engine is the relatively low heat threshold of teflon. Even DuPont (original developers of teflon) advises against it's use as an additive for engine oils as in the upper cylinder areas it tends to get burned off and then lead to increased carbon particulate accumulations in the oil. However, if someone's figured out how to morph teflon into a more suitable heat bearing component then it would indeed be a great step forward