Just Say
No to Aftermarket Additives
The
performance benefits of aftermarket additives are mostly unsubstantiated
See below for links on FTC lawsuits and
settlements
For an eye opening article read "Snake Oil or Not"
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
fro 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
Here is our lubrication specialists' opinion
(it is also 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
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.
FTC lawsuits and settlements:
FTC lawsuit on zmax -
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2001/02/zmax1.htm
FTC - zmax settlement -
http://www.ftc.gov/os/2003/03/oilchemstip.pdf
FTC - Dura lube settlement -
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2000/03/motor.htm
FTC - stp settlement -
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1995/12/stp.htm
FTC lawsuit on slick 50 -
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1996/07/slick.htm
FTC lawsuit on motor up -
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1999/04/motorup5.htm
FTC - prolong settlement -
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1999/09/prolong.htm
FTC - valvoline settlement -
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1997/10/valve.htm
|
AMSOIL is the undisputed leader
in synthetics...
AMSOIL
is Proudly Made in the U.S.A.
|
JP Synthetic Technologies
22 Locust Rd
Bordentown, NJ 0850
1-800-305-2688
Email Us
Today with Any Questions |
| 
