fuel additive scams

xavier · #1 (**permalink**) 28th March 2008, 09:13 AM

As always, I am fascinated by the ingenuity of the more imaginative scamsters and their products. Recently however I am disappointed by the plethora of poorly thought out and shoddily marketed products. Where are the great old scams of yesteryear? Scams of legendary tributes to the at of hype marketing such as STP (I still have the famous logo proudly display on my 1977 LX A9X Torana Hatchback) seem to have deteriorated into products with selling stories that lack even the mere vestige of credibility. The latest scam comprising of a sad attempt to pyramid sell fuel additive based on a ill conceived biodiesel rip-off accompanied with very half hearted and some clearly irrelevant "scientific testimonials" would under normal circumstance be of little interest and die a natural death in the files of various Consumer Affairs files. But for one fact.

The promoters of this latest poorly organised "multi-level " marketing nonsense have extracted $AUD51 MILLION !!! from their woolly headed "investors" in Australia alone!!! Equally astonishingly, to date no prosecutions have been contemplated.

I have always been very skeptical of the claims of all fuel additive promoters, especially in the field of increasing economy, reducing emissions etc but perhaps I am being to harsh, maybe the are some worthwhile products that may live up to more modest claims and have a value in reducing harmful emissions etc..

I would be very interested to hear what other think, especially those of us with greater technical knowledge and expertise .

Cheers,
Xavier

TroyH · #2 (**permalink**) 28th March 2008, 09:43 AM

What product are you talking about?

xavier · #3 (**permalink**) 30th March 2008, 09:55 PM

G'day Troy,

Well, I was really generalizing however, to highlight the issue I referred to Eftos FR (4-Ecorp Inc and subsideries), but in this is only one example of the pyramid scheme Igenre, the are undoubtedly countless others, Blue Marble, Pro-tech, Biomile tablets etc..

Equally disturbing is the increasing number of Biofuel enterprises seeking public listing, each with a prospectus of very dubious scientific merit but long on celebrity endorsement and marketing. Invariably these IPOs are astonishingly well supported, indeed some are heavily over-subscribed only to later produce very dismal results. This sort of reputation can only serve to harm the growth and aceptance in the capital markets to regard Biodiesel as a serious capital investment.

Also of concern should be that certain feedstocks have experienced dramatic market price increases, (canola, corn etc.. ) usually as a result of ill-planned pressure and incentives from governments seeking short term political gain for 'envirogreen' credentials, always without any interest in a proper commitment to long term planning or detailed analysis.

Hmmmm... please excuse the previous rant! (Getting old I guess !!) but I wondered if you had any views on the merit's of fuel additive based on friction reduction etc ?

Cheers, Xavier

silverfox · #4 (**permalink**) 7th April 2008, 11:01 PM

I have always used fuel additives even when using petro diesel. I have been making my own bd now for seven years and still use an additive, mainly to dissolve water and keep out fungus. I find them effective and really not costly in the long run.

I have been using an oil additive called ROIL now for some time and find it effective to. It is a metal conditioning and friction reducing product. I use it in the engine oil, diff, gear box, chain saw, chain saw blade lube.

Jasper · #5 (**permalink**) 8th April 2008, 07:46 AM

Xavier,

Have you seen this..................

Lubricity Additive Study Results - Diesel Place

Biodiesel is the best additive you can add to diesel.

Cheers, Chris

silverfox · #6 (**permalink**) 8th April 2008, 11:31 AM

Thanks for that link Xavier. It was good to read. I also agree to what you say "biodiesel is the best additive to diesel" for lubrication properties. I do not know why they are reluctant to "just add biodiesel" to petro diesel.

xavier · #7 (**permalink**) 9th April 2008, 02:03 AM

G'day Silver Fox and Jasper,

Deisel place is a very interesting site.

Recently I came across another claim in the area of fuel additives, the science of which baffles me! (not hard I'll grant you) but felt that somone with more technical knowledge may contribute a more expert opinion. The product in question bases its amazing claims on the following:

[FONT='Arial','sans-serif'] According to [FONT='Arial','sans-serif']Centron Australia, their product [/font]E3008 MCF, [/font][FONT='Arial','sans-serif']is superior because by a process of Electro-Phoresis Dynamics (EPD) instead of [/font][FONT='Arial','sans-serif']relying on heat or friction to coat the engine parts,EPD utalises the [/font][FONT='Arial','sans-serif']bar magnet quality of polarity, the unveral pricipal that oppiste poles [/font][FONT='Arial','sans-serif']attract. The engine pre-treatment, bottle1, the POLARISER this gives [/font][FONT='Arial','sans-serif']the metal surface a powerful CATIONIC or electo-positive charge . The [/font][FONT='Arial','sans-serif']treatment itself, bottle 2, the ANIONIC, or electro negative, seeks out[/font]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']out the cationic and locks onto the metal surface. The result is long [/font][FONT='Arial','sans-serif']term (100,000 klms+) protection.Centron ll uses PTFE at the lower end of [/font][FONT='Arial','sans-serif']the engine(shafts,journals,bearings and cylinder walls) to give it a [/font][FONT='Arial','sans-serif']tough, slippery film of longlife lubrication. But ant the other end, on [/font][FONT='Arial','sans-serif']the rings, in the high-tempreature, oil destroying area of the combu[/font][FONT='Arial','sans-serif']stion chamber,Centron ll makes the most dramatic difference from oil [/font][FONT='Arial','sans-serif']additives.MCF(Metallo-Chhlorbutanol Flurethylene) resistant to [/font][FONT='Arial','sans-serif']2500-3000F,gives the engine piston rings a similar protective coating as [/font][FONT='Arial','sans-serif']the bearings recieve. It is THIS coating which traps the combustion [/font][FONT='Arial','sans-serif']energy above the piston crown and delivers it to the crankshaft.[/font]

[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']From my scant knowlege this would appear to be an anotishing breakthough! but alas not other scientic data appears to be available. [/font]

xavier · #8 (**permalink**) 9th April 2008, 02:04 AM

G'day Silver Fox and Jasper,

Deisel place is a very interesting site.

Recently I came across another claim in the area of fuel additives, the science of which baffles me! (not hard I'll grant you) but felt that somone with more technical knowledge may contribute a more expert opinion. The product in question bases its amazing claims on the following:

[FONT='Arial','sans-serif'] According to [FONT='Arial','sans-serif']Centron Australia, their product [/font]E3008 MCF, [/font][FONT='Arial','sans-serif']is superior because by a process of Electro-Phoresis Dynamics (EPD) instead of [/font][FONT='Arial','sans-serif']relying on heat or friction to coat the engine parts,EPD utalises the [/font][FONT='Arial','sans-serif']bar magnet quality of polarity, the unveral pricipal that oppiste poles [/font][FONT='Arial','sans-serif']attract. The engine pre-treatment, bottle1, the POLARISER this gives [/font][FONT='Arial','sans-serif']the metal surface a powerful CATIONIC or electo-positive charge . The [/font][FONT='Arial','sans-serif']treatment itself, bottle 2, the ANIONIC, or electro negative, seeks out[/font]
[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']out the cationic and locks onto the metal surface. The result is long [/font][FONT='Arial','sans-serif']term (100,000 klms+) protection.Centron ll uses PTFE at the lower end of [/font][FONT='Arial','sans-serif']the engine(shafts,journals,bearings and cylinder walls) to give it a [/font][FONT='Arial','sans-serif']tough, slippery film of longlife lubrication. But ant the other end, on [/font][FONT='Arial','sans-serif']the rings, in the high-tempreature, oil destroying area of the combu[/font][FONT='Arial','sans-serif']stion chamber,Centron ll makes the most dramatic difference from oil [/font][FONT='Arial','sans-serif']additives.MCF(Metallo-Chhlorbutanol Flurethylene) resistant to [/font][FONT='Arial','sans-serif']2500-3000F,gives the engine piston rings a similar protective coating as [/font][FONT='Arial','sans-serif']the bearings recieve. It is THIS coating which traps the combustion [/font][FONT='Arial','sans-serif']energy above the piston crown and delivers it to the crankshaft.[/font]

[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']From my scant knowlege this would appear to be an anotishing breakthough! but alas not other scientic data appears to be available. [/font]

xavier · #9 (**permalink**) 9th April 2008, 02:08 AM

G'day,

Sorry abut the duplicate message, and gratuitous additives, perhaps my computer could use a little POLARISER !!!!!!!!!!!!

silverfox · #10 (**permalink**) 9th April 2008, 10:58 AM

Xavier,
I worked out your message and searched the website - thanks for the lead.

There is an OIL additive that is similar in that it reduces friction and thereby metal wear and the end result - fuel savings, that could be based on the same where like poles attract etc. I use it in both my vehicles (and chain saw etc) and find it smoother running, and more importantly cooler running. It is actually a metal conditioner and does not combine with the oil at all.

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