Just Say No
to Aftermarket Additives
The performance
benefits of aftermarket additives are mostly unsubstantiated
AMSOIL has long
discouraged motorists from using any kind of aftermarket
lubricant additive. After all, AMSOIL synthetic
lubricants use the finest quality synthetic basestocks
and additive systems. AMSOIL's response to the question
"Should aftermarket additives or aftermarket products
be added to AMSOIL motor oils?" is " No, you don't need
them. AMSOIL motor oils are formulated under the strictest
quality control standards to provide superior lubrication
performance. Additives cost money and only detract
from the quality of AMSOIL motor oils." Additionally,
not only do they detract from the quality of the motor
oil, but they can also be damaging to your engine.
A perfect example
of why AMSOIL discourages use of aftermarket additives
is the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) recent lawsuit
against zMax auto additives, seeking to halt false
and misleading advertising and gain refunds for customers
who purchased the products. According to
the FTC, the enhanced performance benefits zMax claims
its products provide are totally unsubstantiated, and
in the same tests cited to support performance claims,
motor oil treated with zMax actually produced more than
twice as much bearing corrosion than motor oil
by itself. They further allege that the three
different zMax products- an engine additive, a fuel
line additive and a transmission additive- are nothing
more than tinted mineral oil.
The complaint
states that since at least May of 1999, zMax has aired
infomercials promoting its "Power System", a $39 package
of three additives to be used in the engine, fuel line
and transmission of automobiles. The infomercials
are quite convincing, even going as far as featuring
testimonials from various consumers and race car drivers
making such claims as, "I was averaging about 22 miles
to the gallon on the highway. I installed the zMax and
so I jumped right up to about 28 miles per gallon" and
"zMax guarantees a minimum of 10% gas mileage increase."
Other advertising claims "zMax with LinKite has the
scientific, CRC L38 proof it takes you car to the Max!"
and 'Why zMax Works- Cuts carbon build-up on valve stems
66%; Lowers wear on valve stems 66%; Lowers wear
on piston skirts 60%; Reduces blow-by leakage 17.7%;
Increases combustion efficiency 9.25%; Lowers fuel consumption
8.5%- results of an independent CRC L38 test."
The CRC L38 test
is a standard auto industry test which measures the
bearing corrosion protection properties of motor oils.
According to the complaint, in early 1997 an independent
testing facility performed two CRC L38 tests of the
zMaz products. The results showed motor oil treated
with zMax additives produced more than double the bearing
corrosion as motor oil alone. According to the
FTC, the defendants eliminated the bearing corrosion
results, as well as all other negative results, to produce
one "report" from the two sets of tests, using this
"report" in its infomercials and on its website.
The FTC charge
alleges that zMax did not possess and rely on reasonable
substantiation from the following product claims:
increases gas
mileage by a minimum of 10%, reduces engine wear, reduces
or eliminates engine wear at startup, reduces engine
corrosion, extends engine life and reduces emissions.
The FTC also
alleges that the defendants falsely represent that the
results of the CRC L38 test prove that zMax:
increases gas
mileage, reduces engine wear, extends engine life, lowers
fuel consumption by 8.5%, lowers wear on valve stems
by 66%, lowers wear on piston skirts by 60% and cuts
carbon build-up on valve stems by 66%
Finally, the
FTC charges that zMax does not have substantiation for
the representation that the testimonials and endorsements
shown in the zMax advertising are "the actual and current
opinions, findings, beliefs, and/or experiences of those
consumers; and typical or ordinary experience of members
of the public who use the product."
The lawsuit against
zMax is the latest in a long line of FTC charges against
auto additive manufacturers. The FTC has previously
halted allegedly deceptive advertising by the marketers
of Dura Lube, Motor Up, Prolong, Valvoline, Slick 50,
STP and other major brands of engine treatment systems.
End of Article
Read
About Other Addatives on the FTC website
Valvoline Engine Treatment
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1997/9710/valve.htm
Slick 50 Engine Treatment
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1996/9607/slick.htm
STP Engine Treatment
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1995/9512/stp.htm
Dura Lube Super Engine Treatment
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1999/9905/duralub2.htm
Dura Lube Advanced Engine Treatment
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1999/9905/duralub2.htm
Motor Up Engine Treatment
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1999/9904/motorup5.htm
Prolong Super Lubricants
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1999/9909/prolong.htm
Here is my
opinion (not only is it my opinion but it is my opinion
backed by proven scientific research and testing by
some of the worlds best chemists and engineers):
Stay away from
all aftermarket additives!
You simply do
not need them and you surely don't need the problems
they may cause with your engine. If your still not convinced
then think about this statement:
The major oil
companies, including AMSOIL, are staffed with
the, bar none, some of the best chemists, scientists
and engineers the world has to offer. Now, don't you
think that if they determined that their motor oil was
lacking an additive that they would blend it in their
additive package? They obviously have the technology
and resources and the financial backing to do it. Then
why don't they? The answer is simple: They are
not needed!
How can it be
that some fly by night additive manufacturer can have
a miracle, cure-all additive without knowing the chemistry
of the oil it will be used in? The answer is, they don't.
They simply are out to get your money by using false
and deceptive advertising to appeal to your desire to
have what they are selling in your engine. They are
masters at marketing, not science chemistry and engineering
and I would equate them to nothing more than snake oil
companies. Thank goodness for the FTC that is actually
doing what it is supposed to be doing; protecting
the consumer and going after these companies and hopefully
put them out of business.
Other articles:
The Unmeasurable Benefits
of AMSOIL
Chevron 15 Years Behind AMSOIL
What every Lubricant Must Do
Components of a Lubricant and How
Are Synthetic Oils Different
AMSOIL is the undisputed leader in synthetics.............
