Why are they still selling this crap?!

[ZmOz]

I'm sure all of you know about the various devices sold on TV and shady websites that supposedly let you get 50mpg in your fullsize pickup. Things like magnets for your fuel line, metal fan blades that only block your intake, electric superchargers that are really bilge blowers, etc. A few days ago I noticed my dad bought a can of some oil additive that "fills scratches in cylinder walls". <br /><br />Anybody with half a brain knows these products don't work. Obviously no test could EVER conclude that they do. How can they still sell this crap? Aren't there laws against making such blatantly false false claims like that? There's a big difference between a poorly designed product that barely works, and a scam that was never intended to work...<br /><br />I mean, if I started selling something called magic water, and claim that when you drink it, it cures cancer, but in reality it's just water from my hose, wouldn't I get arrested?

 

[alumistar]

Re: Why are they still selling this crap?!

the answer zmoz, is sheeple. like morons, people buy up everything. here's food for thought: if there's 400,000,000 people in the u.s. and of that 200,000,000 can read, have cash, etc. and of that 1/10 of 1 percent but your little magic "magnet" and you sell it for $39.99 that's 200,000 morons paying you $39.99 per hit. it costs you $5.00 a set to make and distribute these. after all the math you're left with $6,998,000! that's why!

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Why are they still selling this crap?!

Look at the money that was made on the Pet Rock!

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Why are they still selling this crap?!

I know the manufacturer's motivation for selling it...<br /><br />Let me rephrase. Why are they still ALLOWED to make false claims on bogus products? If there isn't a law against this there needs to be.<br /><br />Alot of products can prove that they SORT OF work, in SOME applications. That keeps them legal. But things like fuel line magnets could have never been proven in any situation.

 

[Homerr]

Re: Why are they still selling this crap?!

Or the 'Name a star after someone'<br /><br />Sure... give me some money, and i'll name anything after you?<br /><br />How about I start a 'Name a genuine Oregon Pinecone' after you?<br /><br /><br />There's one born every minute.<br /><br />H.

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Why are they still selling this crap?!

I agree alomost 100%. I can think of two products that do work and would reccomemend them to anyone. The first is restore. I have used this in several cars and trucks and it works. Restore <br /><br />The next one is K&W TransX. It comes in a blue CAN like oil used to. It does free sticky valves in auto trannies and lubricate/soften seals. K&W

 

[Dave Abrahamson]

Re: Why are they still selling this crap?!

I second the Restore mention. Compression got better, mileage was slightly better , smoother idle....wait that sounds an auful lot like seafoam! No kidding...Restore worked for my 81 F-150.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Why are they still selling this crap?!

Simple cause some one is willing to buy it. As for the gov. regulating the sales of snake oils, (my .02 cents) it's all a matter of public safety and resources. If the magic oil was a public health threat Uncle Sam would intervene. Just like selling Boob cream or Stecker Strechers, no harm, no Gov. intervention.

 

[Blind Dog Jake]

Re: Why are they still selling this crap?!

http://www.buydehydratedwater.com/index.htm <br /><br />Just add water

 

[oddjob]

Re: Why are they still selling this crap?!

A few days ago I noticed my dad bought a can of some oil additive that "fills scratches in cylinder walls". <br />

That would be a true statement for any additive put in the crank case. Any solution will fill into a crack or scratch and displace it. It didnt say it would remove the scratch, just fill it.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Why are they still selling this crap?!

Originally posted by oddjob:<br /> That would be a true statement for any additive put in the crank case. Any solution will fill into a crack or scratch and displace it. It didnt say it would remove the scratch, just fill it.

Exactly, just like the motor oil that's already inside of every engine. If you guys really think anything that comes in a can does anything for the compression in your engine I've got a bridge to sell you...<br /><br />Maybe I will start selling additives. A little bulk motor oil, some acetone to give it a strong smell, and some dye. Put it in a $0.19 plastic bottle and sell it for $7/quart. Cleans out your engine and fuel system, quiets lifters, stabilizes fuel, even fills the hole if your engine throws a rod!

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Why are they still selling this crap?!

Originally posted by ZmOz:<br /> <br />Let me rephrase. Why are they still ALLOWED to make false claims on bogus products? If there isn't a law against this there needs to be.<br /><br />

Because when they are finally proven to be snake oils and such, they are only made to rephrase there statements and get there hand slapped. Nothing is ever done about fraud. They should have to repay everyone that bought the product on faith.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Why are they still selling this crap?!

When is someone going to say "Amsoil" and get this moved to Outboard Non-Repair.

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Why are they still selling this crap?!

Originally posted by ZmOz:<br />

Originally posted by oddjob:<br /> That would be a true statement for any additive put in the crank case. Any solution will fill into a crack or scratch and displace it. It didnt say it would remove the scratch, just fill it.

If you guys really think anything that comes in a can does anything for the compression in your engine I've got a bridge to sell you...<br /><br />

You buy it and do a test before and after a week in any car that has at least 50,000 miles. If it doesn;t raise the compression I'll pay for the restore. I don't work for them and never have, it simply works as advertised.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Why are they still selling this crap?!

Theft by fraud is still illegal.<br /><br />If enough people report the swindle to an attorney general, and are able to prove that the claim is false, and that they relied on a false claim and suffered damages because of it yada yada yada, due process of law, whatever whatever...in other words if nobody buys it, there's no victim, no harm no foul...if the victims don't complain there can't be any enforcement.<br /><br />Make a claim that can't be proved wrong, laugh all the way to the bank.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Why are they still selling this crap?!

Originally posted by Kenneth Brown:<br /> You buy it and do a test before and after a week in any car that has at least 50,000 miles. If it doesn;t raise the compression I'll pay for the restore. I don't work for them and never have, it simply works as advertised.

It's a thick oil. That's why it raises compression...TEMPORARILY. Same thing happens if you squirt a little motor oil in the cylinder. The compression will go up...TEMPORARILY.<br /><br />Compression is lost because the metal on the cylinders, rings, and pistons is worn away. It's gone. Nothing you could ever buy in a can will fix that.<br /><br />BUT...I think you have just proven why no action is ever taken against these kind of companies. People really do believe they work even if they don't. Look at the feedback of the people selling boat bilge blowers on ebay as "superchargers". Those people all have great positive feedback because it makes a nice placebo.

 

[one more cast]

Re: Why are they still selling this crap?!

My dad had a farmall cub tractor that smoked due to ring blow by. While it was running he would add a cap full of STP and within seconds the smoke would stop. I seen him do this several times over a couple of years to show his friends.<br /><br /> My cousin has a merc 9.8 outboard that was hard starting so he took it to the shop. They told him it had a scored cylinder. He bought some of that "stuff that fills scratches" and mixed it with his gas. It now starts with a couple of pulls of the rope. Does this stuff really work? He says it does.

 

[CN Spots]

Re: Why are they still selling this crap?!

Look for the anti-lawsuit buzzwords on the packaging like: "may" improve... or "can potentially"... and my personal favorite "Results may Vary"<br /><br />Little phrases, but they're cheap defense in a trial. Start looking. Almost everything you buy these days has some kind of hidden disclaimer stuck on it somewhere.<br /><br />spots<br /><br />...as seen on TV

 

[steamboatwilly]

Re: Why are they still selling this crap?!

Speaking of false advertisement!!What about all of the new car advertisements?I cant bear to watch them.Ford got more torque..Chevy got more power..Dodge got more HP,etc,,etc,,etc.

 

[oddjob]

Re: Why are they still selling this crap?!

I wont dispute anyones claim about the results of the scratch fillers. Just making a comment about the statement. As for as increasing compression I have no argument. I have an old muzzle loader with alot of pitting along the bore. When ever I use it I always fire a shot of lead thru the barrel prior to hunting.