+++ to secure your transactions use the Bitcoin Mixer Service +++

 

'); winprint.document.write('
'); winprint.document.write(sWinHTML); winprint.document.write('

© 2004-2010 Green Car Congress

'); winprint.document.write('
'); winprint.document.close(); winprint.focus(); }
Green Car Congress  
About GCC Contact  RSS Subscribe Twitter headlines

« Malaysian Company Takes 26% Stake in German Maker of 157 MPG Diesel Car | Main | GAO Finds Results of Federal Voluntary Emissions Reduction Programs “Varied” »

Print this post

AAA: Steer Clear of “Fuel-Saving” Additives

26 May 2006

The AAA, North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, is advising motorists to be wary of trying to improve the fuel economy in their vehicles by experimenting with gasoline additives that promise big fuel economy gains.

“Fuel-saving” gasoline additives are sold at auto supply stores, on the Internet and through multi-level marketing organizations. Some are liquids, while others come in tablet, capsule or pellet form—all are added to the gas tank during a fill up. Additive marketers often state the fuel saving effects will not become apparent until the product has been used for several tanks of fuel, and all of the companies require ongoing use of their product.

Some gasoline additives improve engine driveability by removing deposits from fuel injectors and other engine components, and others effectively deal with moisture in the fuel system. However, products whose primary claim is a major boost in fuel economy are another matter. Over the years, AAA has evaluated many such formulas, and has yet to discover one that can be proven to provide significant fuel-savings for motorists.

—John Nielsen, Director of AAA’s Approved Auto Repair Network

Manufacturers of additives promising fuel savings also often claim their product has been tested and registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

This is true, but the procedures they cite are mandated by the EPA before any fuel additive can legally be sold in the United States. The tests only prove the additive will not harm a vehicle’s fuel system or increase the amount of pollution its engine emits; they do not address a product’s effect on gas mileage.

—John Nielsen

Any maker of a “fuel-saving” product can, however, hire an approved independent testing laboratory to perform back-to-back EPA mileage and emissions tests of the same vehicle, with and without the “fuel-saving” additive, to generate scientifically valid figures that will support their claims. To date, AAA has not found one manufacturer of a “fuel-saving” additive that has done so.

Realistically, says AAA, the most practical and effective way to reduce fuel consumption is for a driver to modify his or her driving behavior.

May 26, 2006 in Fuel Efficiency, Market Background | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBack (0)

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d8341c4fbe53ef00d8349036a353ef

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference AAA: Steer Clear of “Fuel-Saving” Additives :

Comments

Regular gasoline from the major brands already contains additives that reduce HC emissions, oil dilution and spark plug fouling. These additive packages are carefully balanced and should not be tampered. Changing the fuel formulations can anyhow not by itself improve mileage. At best, it can enable higher efficiency in new engine designs (e.g. slightly higher compression ratios) and/or reduced emissions.

Some vendors also offer DIY additives for engine oil, promising to extend its life expectancy. This is rarely the case, and some products will contaminate your used oil such that it really constitutes toxic waste. In general, avoid aftermarket engine oil additives and spend the money on decent primary products instead.

There's only one trustworthy source of info for oil and fuel additives (some of which do work as advertised): BobIsTheOilGuy.com.

For states that mandate E10 in all grades of gas, the ethanol is a stronger cleaning agent than almost any other agent in existance, especially given the extreme high concentration (10%) of ethanol present. All gas additives are now essentially obsolete. Because ethanol is extremely hygroscopic, it absorbs water like crazy too, so it even deals with that problem of water vapor accumulation in the tank!

I have also tried many products over the years, and have reset the tripmeters on every tank of gas since I got our van 4 years ago and so have a general (not scientific) idea of what our vehicle gets normally. I can't think of anything that has worked, actually, in terms of mileage enhancers you put in the gas. I'm sure some do work some, but watch your wallet in this market.

Multi-level marketing selling fuel addictives? Whao that rocks, now i will show them this page if anyone selling me these things.

Petronas of Malaysia claims to have developed and marketed fuel addictives to its petrol called PRIMAX3
with ZEO DEPOSITS.

There are 2 pictures shown in advertisements before & after, I am disputing the pictures of the 2 valves because the "after valve" shows a completely clean shiny valve.

If they cheated on the adverts, I beleive Americans would have started a CLASS ACTION!

There is a brand new product that was just tested by an EPA approved Lab- I didn't say the EPA tested it, but it was tested using SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers)J1321 Type Two test- It showed a 13% improvement in Gas a 16% Improvement in Diesel and a 44% reduction in Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx)email me and I will send you the test results
Thanks


100% Organic, FUELMAX- ECOGREEN PRODUCTS
Organic Fuel Mix for diesel and gasoline, as an additive or MIX.

1. ENGINE OIL:

- LUBRICATES OR MAKES MOVING PARTS “SLIPPERY”
- PROTECTS MOVING PARTS FROM EXCESSIVE WEAR.
- CLEANS CARRYING DEPOSITS AND DIRT ETC. AWAY TO A FILTER.
- COOLS YOUR ENGINE BY DISPERSING HEAT.

ABOVE FUNCTIONS RESULT IN:

- EXTREME PRESSURE (EP) PROTECTION
EXTREME PRESSURE CAUSES:
A. COLD CRANKING
B. OIL DEPRIVATION
C. SUDDEN ACCELARATION
D. HEAVY ENGINE LOAD CONDITIONS
E. HIGH TEMPERATURE
- OXIDATION AND THERMAL STABILITY UNDER SEVERE CONDITION
- TBN RETENTION VALUE
- ANTI- CORPOSION
- ACID NEUTRALIZATION
- DETERGENCY AND DISPERSANCY
- SOOT MANAGEMENT
- LUBRICITY

2. FUEL ADDITIVES

- UPPER CYLINDER E.P. LUBRICANT
- COMBUSTION IMPROVER
- COMBUSTION CHAMBER DEPOSIT (CCD) CLEANER
- OCTANE REQUIREMENT INCREASE (ORI) REDUCER
- POWER BOOSTER

ABOVE FUNCTION RESULT IN:

- SIGNIFICANT FUEL SAVINGS
- INCREASED ENGINE POWER
- REDUCED SMOKE
- IMPROVED ENGINE OPERATIONS, AND
- INCREASE ENGINE LONGEVITY

3. OIL ADDITIVES

- INCREASES ENGINE POWER OUTPUT
- REDUCES FUEL CONSUMPTION
- EXTENDS OIL DRAIN INTERVAL
- REDUCES VIBRATION

ENGINE PROTECTOR (OIL ADDITIVES) TO OUR ORDINARY MINERAL BASED ENGINE OIL WILL BEAT SYNTHETIC ENGINE OIL IN THE FF. AREAS:
1. OXIDATION STABILITY
2. EXTREME PRESSURE
3. ALKALINE RESERVES LEVEL
4. WEAR METAL PROTECTION

4. SMOKELESS 2T LUBE

- COMPLETELY ELIMINATES SMOKE WITHIN 1 HOUR.
- DOES NOT CONTAIN HEAVY METAL.
- COMPETITIVE PRICE AGAINTS OFFERED BY OIL MAJORS.
- CLEANS COMBUSTION CHUMBER
- ELIMINATES CARBON IN MUFFLER, PISTON, CYLINDER
- SAVE DRIVER’S DOWN TIME.
- INCREASE ENGINE POWER OUTPUT
- REDUCES FUEL CONSUMPTION
- INCREASE ENGINE LONGEVITY

OVER-ALL RESULTS:

1 PROTECTS THE ENVIRONMENT
2. REDUCE TOXIC EMISSIONS FROM LOWER FUEL USAGE..
3. REDUCE THE DUMPING OF USED OIL BY UP TO 80%.
4. NO TOXIC ZINC OR OTHER HARMFUL CHEMICALS.
5. ADD RESALE VALUE TO VEHICLES & MACHINES.
6. SAVE ON SERVICE PARTS AND OVERHAUL OF ENGINES
7. SAVE OUR CHILDREN.
8. SAVE OUR MOTHER EARTH.

I have tried a product that has definately added to my mileage and I had it checked IE: Emissions test and it has reduced my emission by 67%. I would have never baught int this whole thing but I was told by somebody that used this product it really works. So I reluctantly baught this product and am truly saving about 22% consistand after 3 months I have had no drop in what this product does and the thing that got me completely was the smog check and the fact that my muffler is completely clean. This product is called FuelMD FCC and I recomend that everybody try it before they go bshing these things. I was the first one to bash and now I am a pure believer.

I have been searching for anybody else that has tried this stuff called fuelMD FCC along with thier product OL. I have tried these products and am recieving over 27% increase in mileage and as well have the power of a new car. This product has thrown me for a loop as I havetried a whole buch of products to help me save from a deteriorating bottom line. This product has saved me not only in the tank but has allowed me to make money as well. I was tols by one of the technitions that if I run this product for 45 days or so then I could ad a Hydrogen device without need or expensive computer changes and trick switches. I completely trust what the Fuel Doctor is telling me as this product really works.

Verify your Comment

Previewing your Comment

This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.

Working...
Your comment could not be posted. Error type:
Your comment has been posted. Post another comment

The letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. Please try again.

As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.

Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.

Working...

Post a comment

Green Car Congress © 2010 BioAge Group, LLC. All Rights Reserved. | Home | BioAge Group