I say it over and over: Show me the science. Very few companies have done actual, independent-lab, published testing on auto additive or manipulating (vornado or magnets) products outside of the company that actually makes the stuff. You are, however, starting to see more "regular guys" cut open filters or perform tests (some very well documented and analyzed) and publish the results on the internet.

Caveat: I do occasionally use B-12 Chemtool between oil changes on the Amigo (cheap dinosaur wal-mart oil) and fuel system cleaner on both vehicles.

Here's a good overall summary on all the additives/add-ons from the industry trade magazine Automotive News, interviewing people in the government and industry on the claims. (April 2006 issue)

In their on-line column, CarTalk talks about all types of additives. They have recommended Chevron with Techron as a good cleaner that actually went out and proved their results in independent labs. They talked about other additives at this link



Specifically: Oil Additives
3k oil changes came around in the 40's. Oils have advanced since then, and oil filters have both been added and improved. (Although if you own an older VW Beetle, you might not have an oil filter unless you put in an aftermarket kit.)

In Consumer Reports 4.5 million mile test, they saw no reason to go with quicker oil changes and synthetic oil. Wayne disclosure: I use 5k changes with synthetic oil in the new Rodeo (cheap oil in the Amigo) and Puralator pureOne filters, since the guys that tear them apart on the web and post pictures all say they're a good deal. (They also universally hate cheap Fram filters, while expensive Fram's do a little better.)

Do your own investigation, YMMV, and here's the consumer's report article. It also talks about oil additives: http://www.xs11.com/stories/croil96.shtml

There's another Consumers Reports reprint on the web--I want this job! Driving a car without oil to see if the "oil miracles" you see on TV work. Of course, the answer is no and the engine self-destructs. http://xcelplus.com/industry_info/consumerreport.htm

Some "user created" web pages:
ò Bob Is The Oil Guy (a whole section on additives).
ò Synthetic oil life test
ò Chris's Engine Oil Bible Actually likes one device, the FilterMag (magnet goes around oil filter)
ò One of many oil-filter tear-apart sites.


MAGNETS, IONIZERS, TORNADOS, AND OTHER IMPROVERS
One of the reviews I read about these type devices said when people get them, they want to see how much better gas mileage they get. Enter the placebo effect. As a result, they change their driving habits, possibly get a tune-up, put air in the tires, and that makes up the real difference. Ever wonder why Prius drivers go so slow? Instantaneous MPG readout--and they're trying to maximize it. The read-out device changed their driving habits (in addition to normal hybrid gain.)

Magnets: I'll suspend common sense and agree you can line up the molecules slightly as they pass through the magnetic field--but that twist would give them a spin! Right right after they leave the field, turbulence (a strong mechanical force) and Brownian motion take over and mix them all up again...not to mention what the fuel injectors do to the fuel molecules. Caveat Emporer.

As for ionizing the molecules....that means you've stripped off electrons. It would take a heck of a magnetic field (and you'd have a grounding problem with the metal line) to do this. Where do the free electrons go? And you take vitamins/veggies to reduce these same types of free radicals in your body--should you drop a multi-vitamin in your gas tank and some broccoli in your oil to reduce these? Let me know how your veggie car that works for you.

Finally, when you apply a magnet to metal (most fuel lines), the magnetic flux lines distribute INSIDE the metal. They do not penetrate to the empty space (or in this case, fuel-filled space) within the fuel line. (Most metals have a high magnetic permeability, trapping the lines. Gasoline um is very low.) Look up faraday cage or Gaussian sphere, and remember that electricity and magnetism are different manifestation of the same force.

How to make your own fuel magnet for much less

Here's what the government says in their tests of fuel saving devices: There's no end to how much money people will throw away. (Snake oil salesmen sell both fuel heaters and fuel chillers. Both with the same claim.)
ò EPA Report summary on About.com (whole article is pretty good.)
ò EPA web pages on gas savings devices
ò FTC on Gas Saving/MPG improving devices
ò Car Bible on the engine and MPG gainers (scroll down)

Someone asked the government "ask a scientist" website about the devices, and a greenie PhD said replied back that they don't work. Almost all are fuel devices scams, some save a few drops.
http://www.chem1.com/CQ/magscams.html

The FTC shuts these guys down, they just re-open under a new name and start again. Make a few bucks until the FTC shuts you down, then re-open again (See FTC link in bullet section, just above).

Finally, with the Big 3 arguing over who has the most HP and fighting changes to the way MPG is calculated, (last post is the best one), not to mention getting their rear ends handed to them by the Asians (Japan/Korea) if there was a 25 cent (their cost) trick to get 40% more mileage, lower emissions, more power, etc. don't you think they'd do it? Wouldn't ever auto-site on the internet (and every automotive magazine) be trumpeting it?

There's a reason why not (and no, it's not a conspiracy). If you don't have it yet, thump your head into the wall until you do. Regular maintenance and tune-ups, and easy (non-agressive, patient) driving is the best way to save gas and make your vehicle last.

Please. Use common sense, remember there's no such thing as a free lunch, and don't believe the hype from people trying to take your money. Vehicles are designed around the MPG test so there are some small gains to be had, but usually at the long term expense of your engine. Believe me, I'm waiting for the miracle product just like the rest of you.

Edit: Tightened up a little.

I thought Tom & Ray only recommended additives with the word "MIRACLE" in the product name. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the informative reading. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Awesome post wayne, very good read.

Common nsense says most of this stuff on the market is junk. As was stated, if it did work, it would come from the factory that way.

A few weeks ago, a guy I work with said he was on his way to the auto parts store to get a tornado. I chuckled and explained why it was junk. I am sure he still wants one though.

My only problem is why are these people allowed to sell this garbage? Thew government knows it is a scam and yet it is still on the shelves.

Just so that your scientifically accurate ionizing isn't always caused by a magnetic field. For example, when you dissolve table salt (NaCl) into water it seperates creating positive Na ions and neg. Cl ions. These are not harmful to you nor is the water magnetic. The pos. and neg. cancel each other out. I'm not saying that this will help/hurt a vehicles performance in any way. Just trying to keep things in the right context.

Warning: Chemistry Content Ahead

In my opinion, free radicles, though not entirely the same thing as ions, could possibly be benificial if it could be used in conjection with gasoline. The mechanism that you refer to about free radicles harming your body is referred to as the autoxidation mechanism. That is "oxidation requiring Oxygen and no other reactant. If we could in some way oxygenate our gasoline by a way of forcing it to bond some oxygens, it could possible be more powerful and cleaner burning.

I'm saying that just because free radicles in your body are bad for you, does not mean that they are bad for your car.

I've had way too many chem. classes in the last couple of years. Next year, I'm on to Quantitative Analysis, Biochem, and Physical Chem. Then I'm done! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> 2 Degrees in 4 years.

Have I ever said how much I hate chemistry?? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

I wasn't wanting to get too deep!

Remembering the claims are fake science, I was assuming the ionizing claim meant they would strip an electron and become very weakly paramagnetic (given the size of a hydrocarbon chain), much like an H2O molecule. They would then "line up" for better burning. Or that the jerk would spin them, again for better burning. Or the magnet would make them dance the waltz, which again, we all know leads to better combustion, cleaner intakes, the Swedish Bikini Team to parachute into my hot tube one snowy winter (in Tucson), and world peace.

To steal from Wikipedia:

I'm quite a bit farther out of chemistry than you and open to correction, even then I only had to take the basic courses. Still, you got me--free radicals and ions aren't the same; I was taking liberty (ions can induce radicals). I also don't recommend putting broccoli in the engine, or expecting a vehicle magnet to ionize your fuel.

ò An ion is an atom, group of atoms, or subatomic particle with a net electric charge (positive or negative)
ò A radical is an atomic or molecular species having an unpaired, or odd, electron. Some radicals are relatively stable, but most are very reactive.

I completely agree with everything that you said. Just wanted to make sure that everything was accurate. I would also like to complement you on your research. Looks like you did a fine job. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Brad