EnviroTabs

[Steve_Benne]

My mechanic tried to sell me a packet of EnviroTabs the other day. He said you add them to your fuel and they increase gas mileage by up to 20%, eliminate the need to buy high octane gas, and decrease emissions.

I want to support the guy but can’t imagine that anything besides driving slower would produce that kind of efficiency.

Is this a hoax?

[excavating_for_a_mind]

I’d find a new mechanic.

[aNewLeaf]

If that worked, Shell would add it to their gas and tell you it’s better than Exxon’s.
Then Exxon would add the same stuff in a new way and say it even better than Shell’s.

What’s stopping that is one of two things.
Either there’s no such product
or,
there’s an enormous global conspiracy screwing literally every person in the world out of billions of dollars daily.

Occam’s Razor says excavating (for a mind) has the right answer.

[Gary_Robson]

The previous two answers are undoubtedly right, but if you need to be convinced this is easy to test.

Measure your gas mileage with a tank of the gas you normally use. Then fill up again and add some of these tabs. Measure your gas mileage again, doing the same kind of driving. If there’s a difference of more than a couple of percent (basically the margin of error) I would be shocked.

[excavating_for_a_mind]

[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:4, topic:665904”]

The previous two answers are undoubtedly right, but if you need to be convinced this is easy to test.

Measure your gas mileage with a tank of the gas you normally use. Then fill up again and add some of these tabs. Measure your gas mileage again, doing the same kind of driving. If there’s a difference of more than a couple of percent (basically the margin of error) I would be shocked.
[/QUOTE]

This is clearly “snake oil”, as implied by aNewLeaf’s logic. He is not trying to help you, he is trying to separate you from your money. Find an honest mechanic.

excavating (for a mind)

[running_coach]

From the EnviroTabs website.

	**H****elps Increase Fuel Economy**

May Lower Octane Requirements
May Reduce Emissions
May Lower Maintenance Cost
EnviroTabs® May Help Extend the Life of Your Engine
**Increases Horsepower **

**
**
I had no idea snake oil was so effective**. **I wonder if it keeps your tires inflated and windows clean?

[njtt]

It is an “organometallic metal conditioner”, apparently. It could just be a way of putting lead back in your fuel. That could indeed lower your octane requirements. It is not going to be good for the environment, though, and if it is not illegal it ought to be.

[Jackmannii]

Helps Increase Fuel Economy
May Lower Octane Requirements
May Reduce Emissions
May Lower Maintenance Cost
EnviroTabs® May Help Extend the Life of Your Engine

Are there Quack Miranda Warnings for fuel additives?

All that’s missing is a dramatic headline: The Additive Oil Companies Don’t Want You To Know About!

[Gary_Robson]

@runner pat

I had no idea snake oil was so effective**. **I wonder if it keeps your tires inflated and windows clean?

As I understand it, adding these tablets to your gas tank also makes your brake fluid, transmission fluid, antifreeze, and windshield washer fluid last twice as long. It also warms the steering wheel on cold winter days.

[48Willys]

In answer to your question, Yes it is a hoax.

@excavating_for_a_mind

I’d find a new mechanic.

As an aircraft mechanic, I feel strongly that this is your best course of action.

I detest this advise given by “mechanics” it gives all of us mechanics a bad name.

He is either trying to separate you from your money, or he really believes this drivel. In either case you do not want his “services” if you value your car.

Note: This product will PROBABLY not hurt your engine. I make no guarantees. Use at your own risk.

IHTH, 48

[Una_Persson]

The mechanic may be honest, just ignorant. One of my early jobs working through Engineering school was as an import auto mechanic, and although the guys who were the real mechanics were incredibly skilled and good at their job, none of them really understood the science of how the cars they worked on really worked. They had only the barest grasp of the 4-stroke process, they knew nothing about how or why CO and NOx formed (other than you “tweak the carb” until the tester says things are better), did not understand suspension concepts like unsprung mass, etc. They were very capable and honest people, but they just didn’t understand, and I recall many of them lost money to the snake-oil salesmen themselves.

[Rick]

@Una_Persson

The mechanic may be honest, just ignorant. One of my early jobs working through Engineering school was as an import auto mechanic, and although the guys who were the real mechanics were incredibly skilled and good at their job, none of them really understood the science of how the cars they worked on really worked. They had only the barest grasp of the 4-stroke process, they knew nothing about how or why CO and NOx formed (other than you “tweak the carb” until the tester says things are better), did not understand suspension concepts like unsprung mass, etc. They were very capable and honest people, but they just didn’t understand, and I recall many of them lost money to the snake-oil salesmen themselves.

This.
There are some additives that work.
Most don’t.

[Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor]

@excavating_for_a_mind

I’d find a new mechanic.

That.

Any mechanic that would peddle such trash is:
[LIST=A]
[li]Too dumb to be any good, or–[/li][li]A crook, with bad morals, or–[/li][li]So poorly skilled in car repair that poverty & desperation has driven him to scamming people.[/li]Therefore–
[li] You need to drop this guy, like he was a rattlesnake, or suffer the (financial) consequences.[/li][/LIST]