Has anyone heard or used this product. It looks good and I've been wondering about it for a while, so I think I'll buy it today anyway and give it a try.

This is their web page address:

http://www.zmax.com/

snake oil - mineral oil actually. do a search on this, it is not really the same as the aviation application...

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joE
1993 300e-2.8 - gone now <sigh>
"Do not adjust your mind, it's reality that's malfunctioning"
http://banners.wunderground.com/bann...L/Key_West.gif

1) Aviation and automotive oils are very different. I wouldn't use an additive in one that was meant for one in the other unless the manufacturers (of the oil, the additive, and the engine) say its OK. Maybe in a Chevy where if it doesn't work you just throw the engine away and get a new one for fifty bucks, but not in a Benz.
2) Don't think FAA or aviation means "great". It doesn't. The latest and greatest piston aircraft engines were designed in the 1960s, have pushrods, run a whopping 8.7:1 compression ratio (on 130 octane!), and are cast in sand molds. Did I mention the magnetos? Airplanes are all about reliablility, not cutting-edge technology, as least not as long as the FAA makes it so hard to innovate in the field of aviation. I guarantee you a thousand times more money has gone into researching car engine additives than it has for aircraft.

Matthew
87 560SEL 130K
Half-built airplane next to it in the garage

Don't bother...

Not worth the money. Just change your oil more often and your other fluids.

I put it in my car and it didn't help at all with anything, and I ended up having to rebuild my tranny seevral months later, not sure if ti had anything to do with it or not.

Alon

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'92 300CE - Sold
2004 C240 - 744 - C7 Wheels - Android Radio
2002 C320 - 816 - Sport Wagon

The distributors of Z-MAX is being sued by the FTC for false advertising. Search this forum for details and a web link. I wouldn't put it in my car!

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Mark Stetson
1995 E320 Wagon Moonstone Grey/Parchment 106K mi.
2007 E63 AMG Graphite/designo 75K mi

this stuff is silicone based garbage i do not rec you using this or any other crap that is on the market especially for a benzo!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for taking the time to give your opinions on this product, which has helped me decide not to use this product, since not one person has said anything positive.

Hey guys, Just to stir this thread up! Synthetic Oil is also mineral oil. All of their products for cars, are the same Z-max additive for gas, oil and transmission. But, a different bottle and color (a type of dye) for ease of use and marketing characteristics. I've been told that you can use the bottle for the transmission in the fuel or Oil. Just use the appropriate amount. I use the stuff and have no difficulties the tests the FTC used are not necessarily indicative of the inside of your engine or transmission. I get exceptional mileage about 10% greater than the EPA stickers on my cars. This is not a recommendation. Just my opinion!

Roger

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Roger
1983 300CD 246k sold
1998 C230 52k
1980 450SL 75k needs AC
1999 Subaru Outback Ltd 43k

Hi All:

Here is the link once again for FTC.

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2001/02/zmax1.htm

Aloha,
Eric

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1987 260E Charcoal Grey 157,000 Miles
1987 260E Forest Green 120,000 Miles

When I first used Z-Max I got a 5% increase in mileage. I called and they immediately offered a refund of my costs. I declined their offer and used it another 6 months. My mileage had increase to a 10% gain. This was with two cars at approximately 15k miles each. At a cost of approximate $0.002 per mile it saves about 10% or $0.006 per mile ( at $1.50 per gallon). I've just e-mailed them and will add their comments about the FTC complaint when I get it. Roger

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Roger
1983 300CD 246k sold
1998 C230 52k
1980 450SL 75k needs AC
1999 Subaru Outback Ltd 43k

If you can buy it at Wal-Mart, Pep-Boys and the like, it's probably crap (exception=RedLine). The products made by Lubro-Moly (which aren't available through chain stores) are about the best you can use, and are available here through PartsShop.

Before jumping into the additives controversy any further, I suggest some light reading:

http://www.gsresources.com/garage/gs_additive.htm

I hope those of you that haven't read this already will find it educational.

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Scott Longston
Northern California Wine Country...
"Turbos whistle, grapes wine..."

Aviation engines are the most out of date engines in the world. They also use ashless oil, so aviation oil and automotive are not the same. Do not use the two interchangeably.

As far as aircraft engines are concerned, who here could believe that a 360 cubic inch 4 cylinder air-cooled pushrod with mechanical fuel injection and magnetos that puts out 180 hp can run $40,000 brand new?

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Ali Al-Chalabi

2001 CLK55
1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel
2002 Harley-Davidson Fatboy
Merlin Extralight w/ Campy Record

This is the answer I received from zMax! Roger

Hi Roger,
The fact that the FTC has filed a suit does not make their opinion a statement of fact. We do not agree with the FTC. We believe they erroneously lumped zMAX into a group of engine additives that they have settled with in the past. zMAX is not like Slick50, TM8, Duralube, Prolong, Motorup or any of the other products that the FTC settled with. That is why zMAX is still available and that is why zMAX will go to court and have our case presented before a judge.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved the aviation version of zMAX for use in all piston driven aircraft. Well known aviators such as Dick Rutan and Sean Tucker use the product. Racers like AJ Foyt use the product. One of the most respected automotive journalist, Robert Sikorsky has tested zMAX and says it is one of the first additives that he has found that works. We have hundreds of pages of industry standard test results that prove zMAX does what we say it will do. And literally hundreds of thousands of consumers have used zMAX with success.

I assure you that we are standing behind our products 100%. I am attaching some press releases that have been issued in response to the FTC's attack on zMAX. I hope this information will answer your questions.

Let me know if I can be of further assistance,
Steven Smith
Customer Service Manager

Until the the court case is completed - "opinion rules" Roger

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Roger
1983 300CD 246k sold
1998 C230 52k
1980 450SL 75k needs AC
1999 Subaru Outback Ltd 43k

Here is the zMax attachment for your information! Roger
Oil Chem Research Corp.
6800 West 73rd Street
Bedford Park
Illinois
60638
Tel 708.728.0028
Fax 708.728.9308
www.zmax.com
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
For more information contact:

Ralph E. Jarrells
Morris International, Inc.

704.892.7717
rjarrells@morrisinternational.com

FTC “SHOOTS FIRST, ASKS QUESTIONS LATER”
Federal Agency Admits Claim Against zMAX Filed With No Testing
Charlotte, NC, July 4, 2001 -- After months of trying to help the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) understand that its suit filed earlier this year against zMAX is based on an erroneous assumption, it is clear the FTC just doesn’t get it.

Despite extensive efforts to help the FTC understand that zMAX is a micro-lubricant and in a category by itself, the agency continues to call it an additive and lump it with products including Slick 50, Dura Lube, Prolong, MotorUp, TM8 and other oil additives. The FTC has sued – based on an egregious mistake – and it continues to be proven in numerous independent tests that they are flat-out wrong.

On top of that, an FTC investigator has sworn in a written deposition that she didn’t send a zMAX sample to the FTC’s testing laboratory of choice until April 6, 2001. This was clearly two months after the FTC filed its suit and irresponsibly released a damaging press release against zMAX.

The FTC alleged in its press release, prior to performing any test on the product, that zMAX was merely “tinted mineral oil…and may even cause excessive bearing wear.” Consequently, OilChem Research, manufacturer of zMAX, has numerous tests that have been
conducted by firms highly regarded as leaders in their respective fields. All of these tests have been conducted under approved protocols accepted in the automotive engineering profession by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and the American Society
for Testing and Materials (ASTM).

These test results have been recently evaluated and confirmed by Maurice Le Pera, founder of Le Pera & Associates, an independent consulting firm specializing in petroleum products and evaluation protocols for fuels and additives. As an expert in the evaluation of petroleum products with more than 44 years of experience, Le Pera has stated in a sworn affidavit that, “I have reviewed the advertise-ment that the FTC is seeking to enjoin in their motion…and being familiar with the claims that zMAX increases gas mileage, lubricates engine parts by soaking into engine metal, restores power and increases performance, prevents blow-by, and reduces carbon formation…in my opinion, zMAX has a reasonable basis for making these claims.”

Ironically, Le Pera has provided expert testimony in support of earlier FTC investigations of advertising claims made on behalf of after-market lubricant additive products. He has testified for the FTC in litigation against Slick 50, Dura Lube and Motor Up.

“It is my opinion that zMAX is more than just “ordinary tinted mineral oil. Tests performed with zMAX have demonstrated its ability to penetrate into metal.”

In addition, Le Pera further stated that, “…the results from the L-38 tests do not show “ a detriment from the use of zMAX in the treated versus untreated motor oil,” as the FTC alleges in its complaint. In short, the results do not prove that zMAX increases bearing wear in the engines of passenger cars.

Still, the FTC prefers to ignore these facts and continues to stead-fastly stand by their erroneous assumption. The bottom line is
that the FTC still does not understand zMAX and does not want to consider the differences between zMAX and the other engine treatments. It is overtly clear that they refuse to admit that they have made a mistake.

www.zmax.com

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Roger
1983 300CD 246k sold
1998 C230 52k
1980 450SL 75k needs AC
1999 Subaru Outback Ltd 43k

Here's the current release

CONCORD, NC (March 20, 2003) - Oil-Chem Research Corp. (Oil-Chem) and Speedway Motorsports, Inc. (SMI) announced today a resolution to their dispute with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) concerning the advertising of zMAX Power System.

"We at Speedway Motorsports are very pleased that the staff of the Federal Trade Commission has specifically confirmed that Oil-Chem can continue to make the following claims in its advertising and promotion of zMAX," stated Marylaurel E. Wilks, vice president and general counsel of SMI.


zMAX soaks into metal,
zMAX reduces friction,
zMAX increases horsepower,
zMAX dissipates engine heat,
zMAX helps to improve or restore gas mileage and reduce emissions in older cars, by virtue of reducing engine deposits,
zMAX helps to maintain gas mileage and emissions in newer cars, by virtue of reducing engine deposits,
zMAX helps to reduce engine wear on engine valve-stems and guides and piston rings and skirts, by virtue of reducing engine deposits,
zMAX helps to extend engine life, by virtue of reducing engine deposits.

This confirmation is specified in an exchange of letters with the Division of Enforcement of the FTC. Oil-Chem's letter lists the tests and other documents that substantiate the zMAX claims (provided by Oil-Chem to the FTC during the litigation), and the FTC responded that no compliance action would be merited as a result of Oil-Chem making such claims.

Oil-Chem and SMI have not admitted any liability in this litigation. However, in order to avoid the significant expense and time involved in the litigation, the FTC, Oil-Chem and SMI have agreed to end the litigation by the signing of an order, which, in summary, states: (a) Oil-Chem and SMI do not admit any liability and continue to deny any liability; (b) The FTC has issued its compliance letter (which confirms that enforcement is not merited for the eight specified claims); (c) Oil-Chem and SMI will not make advertising claims which are not properly substantiated; and (d) Oil-Chem and SMI will offer a refund of up to $1 million, in the aggregate, to certain purchasers of zMAX, who bought zMAX before January 31, 2001. No refund will be offered to purchasers after that date. For more information visit zmax.com.

zMAX was developed in 1947 by Joe Lencki as Speedway Cocktail. Sold to the racing industry and car dealerships since it development, it has been marketed as zMAX since1989. AVBLEND, the zMAX formula for aviation, is FAA approved for all piston driven aircraft and has been available since 1980. In addition to company efforts to market zMAX through infomercial, zMAX is available at better auto parts stores including Advance Auto Parts, AutoZone, Checker, Kragen, Murray's Auto Parts, O'Reilly Auto Parts, PepBoys, Schuck's, Strauss Discount Auto, VIP as well as Target stores and BJ's Wholesale nationwide. zMAX became a part of Speedway Motorsports Inc in 1987.

Speedway Motorsports is a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States. The Company owns and operates the following premiere facilities: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Infineon Raceway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Lowe's Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway. The Company provides souvenir merchandising services through its SMI Properties subsidiary, and manufactures and distributes smaller-scale, modified racing cars through its 600 Racing subsidiary. The Company also owns Performance Racing Network which broadcasts syndicated motorsports programming to more than 725 stations nationwide including XM Satellite and NASCAR.com, and Oil-Chem Research Corp., the manufacturer and distributor of zMAX. For more information, visit the Company's website at gospeedway.com.

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Roger
1983 300CD 246k sold
1998 C230 52k
1980 450SL 75k needs AC
1999 Subaru Outback Ltd 43k