Vent: Fell for that 'miracle in a bottle' fuel additive scam last month

Dropped $80 on a bottle of some snake oil additive that promised to clean my injectors and save me on fuel costs but all it did was clog my fuel filter and leave me stranded on I-35 for two hours waiting for a tow, has anyone else had this happen with those miracle additives?

3 comments

3 Comments

chen.casey7h ago

Whoa hold up, just gotta say real quick that the FDA doesn't actually test stuff like fuel additives. They're more about food and drugs, not what you pour in your gas tank. The EPA has some rules for fuel additives but it's not like they test every single bottle. That gunk your buddy saved sounds exactly like what i've seen online from guys who cut open their filters after using those miracle cleaners. It's basically just a thick solvent that can gum up if your engine's already got buildup. I learned the hard way too after a bottle of that stuff made my car run rough for a week. Best bet is just stick to name brand fuel from a busy station and save your money.

kelly_west7418d ago

wait so you're telling me that stuff actually clogged your filter? like was it that thick gummy crap that turns into sludge or something else? i've always wondered how those bottles even get past the fda or whoever's supposed to keep an eye on that stuff.

grant_allen8518d ago

1987 I had a buddy who ran a detailing shop out of his garage and he kept a jar of the gunk he pulled from cars that used that stuff. it looked like someone melted a rubber spatula and mixed it with hair. i dont think the fda really tests that stuff for how it holds up in a real engine, its more about whats in the bottle not what it does after you pour it in.