zMax additives

[CurtP]

I've seen people asking about zMax additives on several message boards I frequent, so I thought I'd post the latest information I got from Lube Report. The entire article can be read HERE, but I will post some of the more interesting informmation (I've added bold for emphasis):

Quote:

The marketers of zMax automotive aftermarket lubricant additives have agreed to reimburse customers $1 million to settle a false advertising suit brought by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.
...
The settlement, approved March 21 by a federal judge in Greensboro, N.C., prohibits Speedway Motorsports Inc. and subsidiary Oil-Chem Research Corp. from continuing to make general claims that zMax Power System improves fuel economy, reduces engine wear and corrosion, lowers emissions and extends engine life.
...
According to the commission’s 2001 complaint, Oil-Chem based those claims on results of results of L-38 engine tests (also known as the Sequence VIII) performed by an independent laboratory in 1997. The L-38 is a standard industry test used to measure the bearing corrosion protection properties of motor oils. The commission maintained that the results did not support Oil-Chem’s claims, that they in fact showed zMax causing more than twice as much bearing corrosion as motor oil alone. The suit also claimed that zMax was nothing more than tinted motor oil and that the defendants deleted detrimental information from the lab results before using them in infomercials.
...
The zMax settlement is the latest in a series of penalties that the FTC has obtained since the mid-1990s from engine oil aftermarket additive marketers such as STP, Dura Lube and Slick 50. The penalties, all the result of false advertising suits, ranged from less than $1 million to $10 million. Others, including Prolong, Motor Up and Valvoline, settled without fines after agreeing not to make unsupported performance claims.
...
"There’s two ways to look at all of those suits,” Wilks said. “You could say it gives this class of products a bad reputation. On the other hand, you could conclude that it’s been targeted by the FTC, for whatever reason."

As I've said in the past, there is no reason to run an additive in a good quality oil; it will more than likely upset the balance of the extensive additive package that the oil manufacturer already includes. Take the money you would normally spend on oil additives and use it for oil analysis instead -- it's a much better investment, and you will know how well your oil is protecting your engine.

[LuckyRVA]

Great information! Thanks for the heads up.Not that I planned on using ZMAX or anything.




Jason

[BruceK]

Yet another example (as if the world needed one) of: "if something seems too good to be true, it probably is".

Is there anything sold by informercial that is not crap?

[Dark Silver S]

I knew someone who put STP in his engine while the engine was not running. The STP remained in a glob, and was too thick for the oil pump. You guessed it, blown engine. His action confirmed that he was a doofus, but it also confirmed that additives like STP are only good for Andy Granatelli.

[racetek27]

Quote: Originally Posted by CurtP (original)

I've seen people asking about zMax additives on several message boards I frequent, so I thought I'd post the latest information I got from Lube Report. The entire article can be read HERE, but I will post some of the more interesting informmation (I've added bold for emphasis):



As I've said in the past, there is no reason to run an additive in a good quality oil; it will more than likely upset the balance of the extensive additive package that the oil manufacturer already includes. Take the money you would normally spend on oil additives and use it for oil analysis instead -- it's a much better investment, and you will know how well your oil is protecting your engine.

If you visit the site Bob is The Oil Guy, there's current information on zMax including how they kept all their performance claims on the FTC case. You listed the initial complaint which is incorrect as to the outcome.

They also have great test data posted as well.

Also there's a Mini guru in Illinois named Sol Snyderman at Perfect Power in Libertyville Illinois. You may wan't to ask him about zMax.

Thanks