Has anyone ever used Zmax? Is there anyone out there with any pro or cons? Does this product do all that it says? Or will it hurt anything?

I have used it and didnt notice any differance.I see you are from Harvard do you still have the milk day parade?Used to know some people there.

it's hard to believe that this day and age product's like this exist , I watched two guy's garage yesterday and they did about 2 mintue's on a small block and 23 minute's on Z-max , what a load of bull :D
do they still make SLICK 50 ? what about that OVERHAUL IN A CAN ?
heck they even have product's that will grow hair on a basketball :D
I need some coffee :boring:

Yes Dave they still have it every year in June and thanks for the reply

it's hard to believe that this day and age product's like this exist ,

I agree. Pretty much more snake oil.

.

it's hard to believe that this day and age product's like this exist , I watched two guy's garage yesterday and they did about 2 mintue's on a small block and 23 minute's on Z-max , what a load of bull :D
do they still make SLICK 50 ? what about that OVERHAUL IN A CAN ?
heck they even have product's that will grow hair on a basketball :D
I need some coffee :boring:
How was the coffee? I think i saw the same show awhile ago thats why i was wondering. They are great sales people. I wonder if Carol Shelby was just hard up for cash to endorse the prouduct.

What's old is new again. Guess I should throw away my tools. No use for them anymore.

http://www.hspnnews.com/images/uploads/JB_tuneup.jpg

Lets do our own test

you guy's just reminded me of a funny but true story

OK, I was at a car swap meet in TN. one year and some company (CAN'T REMEMER ? ) might have been slick 50 ? not sure but anyway ,
they had an old 230 six cylinder chevy up on a stand running with no oil pan on it ! and were claiming that it was because of their product that it could do that ! ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,SOME GUY GOT UP FRONT AND SAID ,,,,,,,,
QUOTE ,,,,,,,,,YOU SHOULD USE A FORD ENGINE FOR THIS DEMONSTRATION THAT CHEVY SIX CYLINDER WILL RUN WITHOUT OIL ANYWAY :yes:

THE WHOLE CROWD LAUGHED !

I do use AND like good old MMO top oil!!

pdq67

Carroll Shelby is a person who sold out what integrity he had by endorsing products he knows don't work. I believe he was one of the persons endorsing the product that allowed you (so they said) to drive around with no oil in the engine.

you know we say these product's don't work and we laugh about them (OR I DO) but in truth THEY DO WORK , each one of these product's doe's EXACTLY what it was designed to do .

you know we say these product's don't work and we laugh about them (OR I DO) but in truth THEY DO WORK , each one of these product's doe's EXACTLY what it was designed to do .


You're right!! They are designed to separate you from your money. They must work because they are still in business.

I dvr shows like TWO GUY GARAGE and fast forward when they start pitching products. My hero is the pitchman from SHAM WOW! That
guy could sell an ice cube to an eskimo.

Zmax need's to hire Billy Mays !

http://www.competitionplus.com/images/stories/august_2008/news/week_3/ribbon_cutting.jpg

It may be snake oil, but they must be selling a boatload of it...

How does everyone know it doesn't work?

Has everyone done their own back to back tests with and without the additives?

And can you report the facts and not opinions?

I would honestly know the facts....

Lee

Don't forget the nitrogen enriched gasoline.

Oil-Chem Research, the manufacturers and marketers of zMAX, is a subsidiary of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. which owns eight NASCAR tracks that host eleven NASCAR Sprint Cup events. Bruton Smith is the CEO of this empire.

They have been sued by the FTC over the zmax claims.

I love this snippet: According to the FTC, the CRC L38 test is a standard auto industry tool to measure the bearing corrosion protection properties of motor oils. In February/March 1997, an independent laboratory performed two CRC L38 tests of zMax for Speedway and Oil Chem. In those tests, motor oil treated with zMax produced more than twice as much bearing corrosion as motor oil alone.

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

Here is the outcome: http://www.ftc.gov/os/caselist/0023256/030321stip0023256.pdf
where they get hit hard. I think they had to refund 1mil to buyers, and no longer make certain calims about what the product can/does do.

How does everyone know it doesn't work?

Has everyone done their own back to back tests with and without the additives?

And can you report the facts and not opinions?

I would honestly know the facts....

Lee

This post seems to clear it up .....


Oil-Chem Research, the manufacturers and marketers of zMAX, is a subsidiary of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. which owns eight NASCAR tracks that host eleven NASCAR Sprint Cup events. Bruton Smith is the CEO of this empire.

They have been sued by the FTC over the zmax claims.

I love this snippet: According to the FTC, the CRC L38 test is a standard auto industry tool to measure the bearing corrosion protection properties of motor oils. In February/March 1997, an independent laboratory performed two CRC L38 tests of zMax for Speedway and Oil Chem. In those tests, motor oil treated with zMax produced more than twice as much bearing corrosion as motor oil alone.

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

Here is the outcome: http://www.ftc.gov/os/caselist/0023256/030321stip0023256.pdf
where they get hit hard. I think they had to refund 1mil to buyers, and no longer make certain calims about what the product can/does do.


The post and links appear to be fact..... not opinion. "Caused twice as much wear"... bet it doesn't say that on the bottle. I don't remember Carrol saying that in the commercial... lol.



.

A bit more info, I didn't include earlier but figured I better.

http://www.zmax.com/ftc/

They fought the FTC for 2 yrs back in forth over their product claims, and finally got the FTC to allow them to print various product claims "based on reduces engine deposits".

A win for ZMax from a marketing perspective, but thats all. There are dozens of products out there that claim the same because they can reduce engine deposits to some degree. I do not think they were able to dispute the bearing corrosion issues though.

I think all top tier gasoline has detergents in them today which basicly reduce engine deposits. I think of all the detergents out there I dunno from a stat's or lab tests that seafoam is the best engine detergent! But hey thats my opinion, and I could not find any cases againest them, but have been using them at 5k oil changes in all of my cars for the last 10yrs.

MY current case study:Bought my wifes car new and have been using it every 5k oil change time since new... never smokes on restart.. maybe 1-2 puffs. Bought a 4yr old jeep with 50k miles on it, apply seamfoam every 5k with oil change also. Car smoked like a bug sprayer the initial applications, but now at 100k miles it barely puffs any smoke on restart just like the wifes car.

Take a look at who owns the company that makes zMax... "Speedway Motorsports is a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States."

Get the Shamwow guy with the headset to sell it.

ZMax will become the next Snuggie!

:D I got to thinking about this today at work and could not stop laughing about it ,
I bet if you asked them the chemical makeup of Zmax it would be ,,,,,,

50% Z
50% max
:D

let's go over the good ole product list over the year's

let's see (overhaul in a can) my personal favorite , (slick 50) would have to be up there pretty good , remember the paint scratch repair commercial's ! snake oil , some of the stop leak product's OVER DO the advertising a bit , (seal swell)
have been load's of them ,

and as we have already discussed in this thread they all DO EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE CREATED AND DESIGNED TO DO !

this stuff never get's old , I love it :D

I don't care what anybody say's, but to me, good old MMO does just what it say's that it will on the back of the bottle and that is to be a dam good old-fashion "top-oil"!!

pdq67

With everything that has been reported in this thread, people will still buy it because they want to believe it works. Amazing.

This post seems to clear it up .....





The post and links appear to be fact..... not opinion. "Caused twice as much wear"... bet it doesn't say that on the bottle. I don't remember Carrol saying that in the commercial... lol.



.


Getting closer but that was 8-9 years ago! This is the information I was looking for rather than "just because I feel it's no good". I just like facts rather than opinions.

I wonder how much the formula has changed since then?

Lee

Billy Maze say's Zmax is ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,AMAZING ! :D

NOW TRY IT IN THE HANDY DANDY SPRAY BOTTLE TOO ! :D

:D


http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp27/RS3SDL2MG/1967%20c10%20shortbed%20fleetside/zmax.jpg

Don't forget the nitrogen enriched gasoline.

Yeah, every time I see that commercial, I wonder if they forgot that the air we breathe is 78% nitrogen already???

Carroll Shelby is a person who sold out what integrity he had by endorsing products he knows don't work.

Too bad the man who put together one of the coolest cars in history - the Cobra - has sold his integrity for cash, period. He'll put his name on anything that'll make him a buck.

I wonder how much linkite is in the zMax? It's funny how the linkite related aviation products for the most part get high remarks from those in the aviation field. Yes zMax is basiclly snake oil in the automotive industry.

The product AVBlend is FAA approved has basiclly the same history as zMax... all stemming from Joe Lenki.

AVBlend can make the following claims....
AVBLEND Helps:

Prevent Rust

Reduce Premature Wear
Prevents Valves From Sticking
Prevent Carbon and Deposit Build-up
Reduce Dry Start Damage
Restore Peak Combustion Performance


NOW the real question is are these products basically the same thing and one industry has bought into it and the other industry has not? Or is one the real deal and the other trying to make some $$$ off association to linkite?

I just thought I would post that, as I found it totally interesting the avation industry believes AVBlend works and the auto industry believes zMax does not work. I mean listening to the aviation related comments makes me want to go buy some avblend and put in my car engine... it is a piston based motor after all, and would work the same in my car.

AVBlend can make the following claims....
AVBLEND Helps:

Prevent Rust

Reduce Premature Wear
Prevents Valves From Sticking
Prevent Carbon and Deposit Build-up
Reduce Dry Start Damage
Restore Peak Combustion Performance




This product makes these claims, but as compared to what? I think the claim is true if they are saying it does these things as compared to nothing. That is, if you had no oil in your engine, or were comparing this product to straight water, then yes, it does what it claims. These ads never go beyond speaking in very general terms, so that technically (although not realistically) they are correct. It is why I have contempt for people in advertising. They are paid to deceive and manipulate others.

Oh I agree don't mistake me. Just funny how the same product basiclly with a different name in a different industry. Yet, its embraced there and ridiculed here.

Yes, I was just speaking in general. My comments were not directed at you personally. I see this kind of deceptive advertising regularly, and unfortunately, it is the "American way" of doing things.

it is the "American way" of doing things.

That's because with kids who want to do nothing but play video games and the avalanche of advertising we're hit with every day, we've become a nation of suckers who will fall for anything.

That's because with kids who want to do nothing but play video games and the avalanche of advertising we're hit with every day, we've become a nation of suckers who will fall for anything.

Speak for yourself!! ;)

I dvr shows like TWO GUY GARAGE and fast forward when they start pitching products. My hero is the pitchman from SHAM WOW! That
guy could sell an ice cube to an eskimo.

Except for he got caught beating up a hooker when she bit his tongue and wouldn't let go. Guy is an idiot.

I was watching "2 guys" last night and they used Zmax as a kind of pre-assembly lube in an engine rebuild. I guess Sal will push anything if they spend enough as a sponsor.

I just wanted to put my two cents and PERSONAL EXPERIENCE in this topic. Z-Max, Prolong, etc. is a complete waste of money!

Years ago, I had a 1992 MR2 with 150K miles on the clock. There was nothing mechanically wrong with the car - it ran perfect. It had never been raced or abused during my ownership, but with the high mileage, I figured it would be a good idea to "clean-up" the internals. I'd seen the commercials for Prolong and figured it was worth a try. My justification was that if it worked, GREAT! If it didn't, no harm besides the loss of a cool $50 (I bought a milti-pack). I followed the instructions to the letter as I do with everything. As we all know, Toyota motors are build to last 200K+ miles before needing a rebuild. By the next oil change interval, my engine gradually developed an odd ticking/knocking sound. It got to the point where it was extremely loud in the passenger compartment. One day, after pulling away from a light, I noticed I had a SEVERE loss in power. I pulled the car over and had it towed to the Toyota dealership where they performed a diagnostic. The results? The engine bearings had suffered from severe decay by 155K miles. I attribute this damage to the use of Prolong and will NEVER use an additive like this again! I may use a carb or petroleum-based injector cleaner, but THAT'S IT!

One final thought, someone jokingly mentioned the use of additives replacing his tools. I agree with the sarcasm. If products like Restore, Z-Max and Prolong really work, why are machine shops still in business? Why would we spend huge amounts of money to sleeve cylinders when we just need to dump a quart or two of the magic potion? The answer is that these product DO NOT WORK. The only way to clean up a bore is through machining or honing (a process I wouldn't want happening as I drive the car). The only way to keep parts well lubricated is through the use of quality oil and filters at the proper change intervals.

Yeah, every time I see that commercial, I wonder if they forgot that the air we breathe is 78% nitrogen already???



Too bad the man who put together one of the coolest cars in history - the Cobra - has sold his integrity for cash, period. He'll put his name on anything that'll make him a buck.

How do you know it doesn't work? Have you tried it and I mean more than once? A product like this is not going to work if you ONLY use it once. It's designed to be used continuously and yes it does work. It requires enough heat/cool cycles to soak into the metal. I experienced better gas mileage and more power. If you only pour it in once and expect it to work, then you are kidding yourself. The directions say every 3000miles because it deplenishes itself.

For a product that doesn't work, they sure do seem to sell a lot of it. Enough to build the new Z-Max dragstrip and as far as Carol Shelby selling out, how do we know this? I for one have used and continue to use this product because I have received the benefits of better fuel mileage and more power, both in my 2003 Buick Rendezvous and my 67 Camaro. Proven on a dyno.

I think it coems down to this...

Lets say it works... if so it is nothing more than an engine cleaner. The lawsuit they lost required them to alter promotion/labeling to say iit does its magic basicly by cleaning the parts.

zMax 12 oz bottle is roughly $20.00

Seafoam 16 oz can is roughly $9.00

Marvel Mystery Oil 1 pint is roughly $6.00

You do the math, they are all 3 engine cleaners. Most of these additives are just cleaners, its just the price you pay that seperates them in the end. They all 3 claim to do the same thing, but Seafoam & Marvell have never lost a lawsuit on advertising claims.

So if I were looking for an additive to help my engine;

I would pick the one that did not loose the lawsuit. Is about 1/2 the price, and has a long product history & consumer confidence

They all 3 claim to have been around over 50 yrs, but zMax itself was not labeled and branded as it is until 1995. So zMax (as it is mixed today, not the original lubiricant) has not stood up to consumer criticism like seafoam and marvell have for over 50 yrs.

This thread is interesting.

There are many pet peeve's I have with regard to automotive product marketing....

ZMax...
Slick50....
Royal Purple (specifically their bearing photo ads)....
Quaker State (4x4, sports car, etc oils... which are all the same).....
E85 ("better for the environment")... SUUURE it is. ;)

Deceptive marketing was, is, and will always be prevelent in the automotive marketplace... because most people don't understand how an engine works... but everyone's got a car.

I got to thinking about this today at work and could not stop laughing about it ,
I bet if you asked them the chemical makeup of Zmax it would be ,,,,,,

50% Z
50% maxrotflmao... now that's funny, I don't care who you are... lol

Fram sells a lot of oil filters. Does that make it a good product just because the masses of people buying it are ignorant of what garbage the product is? Z Max is made specifically for people who WANT and WILL believe something regardless of the truth. That is why products like this are made.

It's like drug testing. They use 50% placebo and 50% of the real deal. It's amazing what the human brain will do. I've never tried it so I don't know if it works.

It's amazing what the human brain will do. I've never tried it so I don't know if it works :noway: Vegas69... do you mean your brain... lol l:) (sorry dood... couldn't pass that one up)

You know, I really like "Two Guys" now that Bryan Fuller is on there. It's got to eat at them to have to be shills for something that they both know is useless garbage. We all have our own jobs to do though. I hate that there's only five minutes of show now and twenty five minutes of commercials and ads.

I read a great article by someone about oil additives and why if they work, why didn't they already come in the oil. Well, besides not actually working many of them are illegal for the oil producer to add because they create increased carcinogens when used in a combustion engine. But, it is perfectly legal to sell it in it's own bottle and let the consumer add it.

By the way, there was another article somewhere on the internet that proved that Z-Max is tinted mineral oil. I believe it was was the same FTC suit papers that someone else posted.

Fram sells a lot of oil filters. Does that make it a good product just because the masses of people buying it are ignorant of what garbage the product is? Z Max is made specifically for people who WANT and WILL believe something regardless of the truth. That is why products like this are made.


If it is garbage, then how do you explain the benefits I got from using it? I am not trying to be rude, I am curious how you justify calling it garbage, yet I got what it claims.

Lets look at it this way.

You want to decoke your combustion chambers, warm her up and drizzle water down her at fast idle say three or four timers in one week! She's decoked!!

You want to desludge her, pour a pint of diesel in the oil 25 miles before changing it! Both work fine and are basically as cheap as it gets!

And I've done both.

MMO and Seafoam just make doing this crap more convenient by me is all so to me is worth the money.

One other thing and that is STP/Motor Honey, dam stuff thicken's the viscosity of your oil if you have a loose beater and want it to live longer!

pdq67

X2 with Paul's suggestions. Easy and quick and works.

This thread makes me smile. I frequently go to Afghanistan. I think there is a breed of camel there that has really slick urine. I'm going to bring back about 500 gallons of it and make a fortune.

It really give you better gas milage? Really? Dyno proven horsepower?

At what cost? I know for a fact running dino oil in my engine will not hurt it, at least any more than any other oil. Do you know for a fact that super duper stuff won't hurt your engine?

In the end if it makes you feel better, then by all means use it.

If it is garbage, then how do you explain the benefits I got from using it? I am not trying to be rude, I am curious how you justify calling it garbage, yet I got what it claims.

People tend to adjust their driving habits when they use these snake-oil products. Since they are trying to achieve maximum fuel efficiency, they make an extra effort to take it easy when driving.

The only way to be objective is to do repeated mileage checks with or without the additive. Headwinds, tailwinds, city driving, all have an effect on the results. I had a guy tell me how much power his car had after putting in high octane fuel. When I explained to him that an 8:1 compression engine will not run any better with 100 octane, he refused to believe me because he had made up his mind.

When I explained to him that an 8:1 compression engine will not run any better with 100 octane, he refused to believe me because he had made up his mind.

That's another one of my favorites. Try explaining that lower octane fuel makes more horsepower in an untuned motor.

My blower car makes 200 rwhp less on 116 octane fuel then 92 if I left the pump gas tune in.

Few people know that braking also reduces mileage. Hard or constant braking makes the engine 'pull' down and that draws more gas than just coasting up to a stop sign before applying brakes.
air-temp, humidity, wind, slight grades uphill, the drafting effect, so many things that can affect mileage.

One other thing and that is STP/Motor Honey, dam stuff thicken's the viscosity of your oil if you have a loose beater and want it to live longer!

pdq67[/QUOTE]


I would like to see what pours faster...STP or HEINZ ketchup...talk about antisapation!

Few people know that braking also reduces mileage. Hard or constant braking makes the engine 'pull' down and that draws more gas than just coasting up to a stop sign before applying brakes.
air-temp, humidity, wind, slight grades uphill, the drafting effect, so many things that can affect mileage.

If you really want to track your milage and get some tips... check our www.fuelly.com .

It's a pretty cool site. I've been on there for a few months now...