Carol Shelby and Z-Max

[Sid]

I remember on the Z-Max commercials Carol Shelby comes out and says that he puts a bottle of Z-max in every one of the cars that leaves his garage. Is this true or was it just Z-max paying him to lie and if so why would he put his reputation on the line?

BTW sorry if this has been discussed before.

 

[hkkc]

Money talks.

I don't think he cares about his reputation.

 

[sbc350gearhead]

I think shelby's rep went to **** , after he forged 500 titles.

 

[Pablo]

I forget, what IS in Z-Max? (I can't keep up with all these cheezy additives)

Some guy called into the local car talk radio saying how great this juice is, blah blah, blah.

 

[Jim Spahr]

That car line referred to in the Z Max ad was the Series I sports car with an Olds NorthStar V8. He is now touting the new Ford Cobra with the V 10 in it. No mention of Z Max in that one.

 

[Sid]

quote:

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I think shelby's rep went to **** , after he forged 500 titles.

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Please clarify?

Z-Max was this lubricant that invaded the night time infomercial scene touting that it was a new wonder additive that worked miracles and saved you at least 10% gas mileage guaranteed. It was suppose to use some stuff called "LINKITE" that was a micro lubricant that was used in planes. Apparntly from what I read here the government found out that Z-Max did worse when applied to an engine that regular dino oil showing double the wear? Supposedly they were all mineral oils and nothing more.

 

[Don Stefanik]

FYI

Just Say No to Aftermarket Additives
The performance benefits of aftermarket additives are mostly unsubstantiated.

This article appeared in AMSOIL DirectLine, December 1, 2001

AMSOIL has long discouraged motorists from using any kind of aftermarket lubricant additive. After all, AMSOIL synthetic lubricants use the finest quality synthetic basestocks and additive systems. In the “Questions and Answers About AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oils” brochure (G-359), in response to the question “Should oil additives or aftermarket products be added to AMSOIL motor oils?” it states, “No, you don’t need them. AMSOIL motor oils are formulated under the strictest quality control standards to provide superior lubrication performance. Additives cost money and only detract from the quality of AMSOIL motor oils.”

A perfect example of why AMSOIL discourages use of aftermarket additives is the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) recent lawsuit against zMax auto additives, seeking to halt false and misleading advertising and gain refunds for consumers who purchased the products. According to the FTC, the enhanced performance benefits zMax claims its products provide are totally unsubstantiated, and in the same tests cited to support performance claims, motor oil treated with zMax actually produced more than twice as much bearing corrosion than motor oil by itself. They further allege that the three different zMax products - an engine additive, a fuel line additive and a transmission additive - are nothing more than tinted mineral oil.

The complaint states that since at least May of 1999, zMax has aired infomercials promoting its “Power System,” a $39 package of three additives to be used in the engine, fuel line and transmission of automobiles. The infomercials are quite convincing, even going as far as featuring testimonials from various consumers and race car drivers making such claims as, “I was averaging about 22 miles to the gallon on the highway. I installed the zMax and so I jumped right up to about 28 miles per gallon” and “zMax guarantees a minimum of 10 percent gas mileage increase.” Other advertising claims “zMax with LinKite has the scientific, CRC L38 proof it takes your car to the Max!” and “Why zMax Works - Cuts carbon build-up on valve stems 66%; Lowers wear on valve stems 66%; Lowers wear on piston skirts 60%; Reduces blow-by leakage 17.7%; Increases combustion efficiency 9.25%; Lowers fuel consumption 8.5% - Results of an independent CRC L38 test.”

The CRC L38 test is a standard auto industry test which measures the bearing corrosion protection properties of motor oils. According to the complaint, in early 1997 an independent testing facility performed two CRC L38 tests of the zMax products. The results showed motor oil treated with the zMax additives produced more than double the bearing corrosion as motor oil alone. According to the FTC, the defendants eliminated the bearing corrosion results, as well as all other negative results, to produce one “report” from the two sets of tests, using this “report” in its infomercials and on its website.

The FTC charge alleges that zMax did not possess and rely on reasonable substantiation for the following product claims:

• increases gas mileage by a minimum of 10%
• reduces engine wear
• reduces or eliminates engine wear at startup
• reduces engine corrosion
• extends engine life
• reduces emissions

They also allege that the defendants falsely represent that the results of the CRC L38 test prove that zMax:

• increases gas mileage
• reduces engine wear
• extends engine life
• lowers fuel consumption by 8.5%
• lowers wear on valve stems by 66%
• lowers wear on piston skirts by 60%
• cuts carbon build-up on valve stems by 66%

Finally, the FTC charges that zMax does not have substantiation for the representation that the testimonials and endorsements shown in zMax advertising are “the actual and current opinions, findings, beliefs, and/or experiences of those consumers; and the typical or ordinary experience of members of the public who use the product.”

The lawsuit against zMax is the latest in a long line of FTC charges against auto additive manufacturers. The FTC has previously halted allegedly deceptive advertising by the marketers of Dura Lube, Motor Up, Prolong, Valvoline, Slick 50, STP and other major brands of engine treatment systems.

 

[tenderloin]

To Be "Fair"

SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS ANNOUNCES RESOLUTION OF FTC VS. OIL-CHEM LITIGATION

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.

I've built over 100 different kinds of cars … Shelby Cobra, over 20,000 Shelby Mustang, the Viper…at 77 I wanted to see if I could build another good automobile like the Cobra. I call the car the Series One. We're putting zMAX in each and every one that leave the factory. It penetrates the metal, decreases the friction, cleans the carbon residue out of the engine. Therefore it gives you a more efficient engine and a lot more durability. I've got my reputation to protect and I wouldn't recommend zMAX unless I knew it worked."

Carroll Shelby
Automotive Hall of Fame and Racing Legend

[ February 01, 2004, 06:22 PM: Message edited by: tenderloin ]

 

[RichR]

quote:

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Originally posted by hkkc:
Money talks.

I don't think he cares about his reputation.

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Reminds me of Chet Coppick anound here.
He uses EVERY product hes hypes,really!

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

Richr, I doubt Chet pays for any product.

 

[MolaKule]

Shelby is no chemist, and these guys will say anything for sponsor money.