just what is a "Snake Oil".?

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oilrecovery2003

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"Snake Oil", are you talking to me"? What is a snake oil. OH I would say any additive or prodcut that people don't like or believe in.

My last oil change I used Royal Purple 10/30. To that at the aut store they also have Schaffers prodcuts, so I figured what the hell, I also put in a pint ? of Moly EP "Additive". Oh, but this one is good right? again, what the hell?

Now, I also bought Neutru fuel "Additive" also from Schaffers.

Im tired of buying high price filters that I change in 3,000 or under anyway. So I put in the STP which I compared to the Bosch filter, and I would say, they are pretty identical. although I couldn't see the filter media. But the stamp and holes are the same. And it is a pretty heavy weight.

Now to make a long story short. I don't keep a milage log like I should when I get gas everytime. But I can say without a doubt that my milage jumped to at least 4 to 5% Took a 300 trip and I always burn between 1/2 and 3/4. this time it was half way to the 1/2 tank mark. About a half tank. Oh yeah, also put in the rest of my Lucas fuel stabalizer. So one or all of these things have contributed too my vehicle running better. Snake oil? who knows. But if it works, what the hell.

STP: Snake oil? hmmmm I don't know. I like it for the extra ZDDP.

MOLY EP. I like this for the Moly.

LUCAS FUEL ADDITIVE. I love this upper cylynder lubricant.

And Frank. If you want to get technical. Auto RX is an additive. That I can't find any data sheets on. WHich I do not think is fair for pushing such a product which no one knows what the hell is in it. Could be just a mineral oil base with cleaners. They also sell that at advance auto over the counter.
 
Im really beginning to think we need help? Anyone we can call about our OCD. This ain't normal. Most people pull in, change the oil when the sticker says, and goes on with their lives. Why, oh why can't I ge like this?
 
What is a snake oil. OH I would say any additive or product that people don't like or believe in.


I would add that it is marketed with an intended purpose as a cure for a problem but in real life it does not fulfill the purpose and, may in fact, cause more harm then good.
 
If you look in the dictionary under snake oil, these pictures come up:

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quote:
Originally posted by oilrecovery2003:
Im really beginning to think we need help? Anyone we can call about our OCD. This ain't normal. Most people pull in, change the oil when the sticker says, and goes on with their lives. Why, oh why can't I ge like this?
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Yeah, we do have a problem. I spent at least an hour in the garage organizing my oil last night.
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I don't even have a car to put it in right now...
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Jeez, and I thought the term was commonly understood.

IMO, the phrase "snake oil" describes a product that does not perform in the same manner as it was sold/marketed/promoted. Whether by slick marketing, false promises, or flat out BS, snake oil essentially means the product is a fake.

As far as what I believe in or like/dislike, I don't think it has anything to do with the definition of snake oil. I don't like spinach but that does not mean its without nutritional benefits, so it can't be called snake oil.

Snake oil = lack of performance covered up by a deceptive promotional/marketing campaign. Simple as that.
 
I think snake oil goes back to over 100 years ago. Traveling salesmen would come through town peddling quack medicines. In some cases, they clamed it had oil from snakes giving it great curative properties. Now it is used to mean any over rated, ineffective ingredient. Sort of like the magic drops back when i worked in the paint industry. Surly you should be able to render a little fat out of a snake, even if most of them look fairly skinny. I doubt PETA would be happy.
 
I thought snake oil was used by those creatures so they would slither more quietly. Rattlesnakes need something with a little more moly to help with "tail knock".
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My wife gave me a book for Christmas, "Pennsylvania Firsts".

In the book they cover the early oil times in PA. According to the book "On a stream called Oil Creek, in Venango County, during the 18th century, the Indians sopped up oil in blankets, then squeezed it into hollowed-out logs. They used it for medicinal purposes, and the stuff became known throughout the land as Seneca oil."... "In the middle of the 19th century, Americans were being introduced to a new group of fast-talking characters with a flair for razzle-dazzle theatrics, known as traveling medicine men."... These salesmen were selling bottled crude oil for all sorts of miricle cures, the oil came from the territory once occupied by the Seneca Indians - "Seneca oil". "Many of the hucksters talked so fast that it sounded like they were saying "snake oil". Thus, they became known as snake oil salesmen."

At least that's what the book says.
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Many of the other Pennsylvania "firsts" were of a more positive and reputable variety.
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You crush olives to get olive oil
You crush cottonseeds to get cottonseed oil
you crush peanuts to get peanut oil
you crush castor beans to get castor oil

How in the hell do you get Baby Oil????
 
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This one even has a snake oil indicator right on the box: "As Seen on TV"
It's gotta be good stuff if it was seen on TV, right?

[ December 30, 2003, 01:01 AM: Message edited by: TallPaul ]
 
I used to work with a guy who used Duralube,I remember him going to his truck in the winter mornings and revving the heck out of it right away.When questioned about it his response was commercial like-"It's okay,I got Duralube!".
 
quote:
Ever notice almost every product advertised on TV isn't worth a crap
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What I really find amazing is that most of these companies are still in business. Not just because their products don't work ...but I can't figure out why they haven't run into legal issues. Heck, I think Slick 50 is still in business ...with only some restrictions placed on them in regard to claims.

Z-MAX and "The Tornado" would be prime targets for some legal action, I'm sure.

If this was Betty Crocker making a false claim about muffins ...there would be some major expose' on some major network.
 
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