Just Say No
to Aftermarket Additives
The performance benefits of aftermarket
additives are mostly unsubstantiated.
This
article appeared in AMSOIL DirectLine, December
1, 2001
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.
In the Questions and Answers About AMSOIL Synthetic
Motor Oils brochure (G-359), in response to the
question Should oil additives or aftermarket products
be added to AMSOIL motor oils? it states, No,
you dont 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.
A
perfect example of why AMSOIL discourages use
of aftermarket additives is the Federal Trade
Commissions (FTC) recent lawsuit against zMax
auto additives, seeking to halt false and misleading
advertising and gain refunds for consumers 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
percent gas mileage increase. Other advertising
claims zMax with LinKite has the scientific, CRC
L38 proof it takes your 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 zMax products.
The results showed motor oil treated with the
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 for 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
reduces emissions
They
also allege 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%
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 zMax advertising are the
actual and current opinions, findings, beliefs,
and/or experiences of those consumers; and the
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.