Phony Fuel Additives Harmful to Cars & Drivers
Cathy Wilson, writing for Athens, Ohio’s, The Post, cautioned readers this week about erroneous environmental advertising that can trip up the green-minded consumer. Among her warnings was an alert on “phony fuel-additive pills that were advertised as ways people could add miles to their fuel tank.”
I’d never seen these kinds of pills (and I assumed they didn’t work) but I wondered if anyone had really tried them out? Had they talked to mechanics about what they will do to cars? It’s one thing to say they don’t work because that’s what your gut is saying, but there will always be someone who thinks it might be worth the money. Taking the “no harm - no foul” approach, they’ll waste a few pennies … not paying any mind to what might happen to their car because of these products. Or what will happen to them.
At least one state took a stand on them. From Consumers Affairs:
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has won a temporary restraining order and asset freeze against Texas-based BioPerformance Inc.
Go Greg Abbott!
Scientists who tested the product at the University of Texas at Austin and at a Florida university concluded that the pills are mainly naphthalene, the chemical found in mothballs. The Attorney General’s laboratory expert actually concluded BioPerformance’s product could decrease engine performance.
Abbott’s scientific expert also found that the chemical compound used in these pills can be harmful to humans. Short-term exposure to naphthalene by humans via inhalation, ingestion or skin contact can result in anemia and neurological or liver damage.
So, folks, please do not use these kinds of products unless you know absolutely, without doubt that they are a) okay for YOU and b) okay for your car. And please, if you were duped into getting involved with this pyramid scheme, get these toxic chemicals out of your house!
Hi Cathy,
Please don’t read everything into fuel additives. What if there was one that was tested by an EPA certified lab? The EPA does not endorse any product in this category, yet this product is the first to step up to the plate, based on rigid testing protocols. I can’t afford a Toyota or Honda hybrid anytime soon, but I know that I am saving fuel and reducing emmisions too using Ultime ME2.
Regards
Mach 3 EcoFuel Saver (EFS), EPA Registration #1927-0001, is a bulk fuel additive for blending with gasoline, diesel, and bio-diesel fuels. EFS has been formulated to best suit the needs of gasoline and light duty diesel engines.
Independent testing by a United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized laboratory has shown an unprecedented 16% reduction in fuel consumption in vehicles running on EFS treated fuel. Mach 3 EFS has also been proven to reduce NOx emissions by 44%, CO emissions by 33%, unburned HC emissions by 7% and CO2 by 1%.
EFS can allow vehicles specifying the use of 91 or higher octane gasoline to use lower octane fuel without any loss of power or the risk of pre-ignition (pinging). This will allow a compound reduction in operating costs: increased mileage coupled with lower fuel costs. The emissions reductions from the addition of EFS blended at 0.05% by volume are similar to or even superior to fuels containing MTBE or ethanol at blend rates up to 10% by volume and at significantly lower cost.
I am currently trying a fuel/engine additive called Ethos (www.thegassecret.com).
Any feedback on this product, its company, and/or its distribution?