Lucas Oil ... very poor customer service and low satisfaction

[Bilko]

I recently bought a 16 oz (473 ml) bottle of Deep Fuel System Cleaner. I had used it before with good results, noticing less engine exhaust odor from lower-quality gasoline. However, this time I became suspicious of the bottle. Using a kitchen scale, I measured its total weight, expecting it to weigh more than the listed volume on the packaging.

There was no evidence of tampering. To be sure, I checked a similar bottle at Walmart, and it also weighed 35 ml less than the stated volume, matching my home scale. I contacted Lucas, and although they initially gaslighted me, they eventually agreed the bottle should weigh more than what was indicated on the label. They finally agreed to send a replacement.

When I asked about receiving a voucher instead, they said no and informed me the replacement would be shipped via USPS. After a month, I followed up, and Lucas claimed I should have received the bottle by then, promising to investigate. After another month without a response, I followed up again—still no reply. I tried contacting them several more times over the following months, but they remained silent.

I imagine there is some government body that investigates misleading packaging. In any event, I'm rethinking buying Lucas products in the future.

 

[blufeb95]

How did you determine that it weighed 35ml less, the sds reflects that the relative density is .8658, which would mean 473ml would be around 410g for just the liquid.

 

[Bilko]

How did you determine that it weighed 35ml less, the sds reflects that the relative density is .8658, which would mean 473ml would be around 410g for just the liquid.

Simply weighed it comparing the number on the scale with the bottle (473 ml) and actual 438 ml. Lucas agreed the bottle should weigh more after they reviewed the pics I sent them. I'm not using grams but mililiters.The bottle packaging makes no reference to grams either.

 

[fantastic]

Simply weighed it comparing the number on the scale with the bottle (473 ml) and actual 438 ml. Lucas agreed the bottle should weigh more after they reviewed the pics I sent them. I'm not using grams but mililiters.The bottle packaging makes no reference to grams either.

Was it passed return window?

 

[paulo57509]

I need a visual; 35ml is about 1oz (US). This is about 2.5 tablespoons.

 

[Rand]

How are you getting a volume measurement from a scale?

mg to ml only works if its water

For water, which has a density of 1 gram per milliliter (g/mL), 1 gram of water is equivalent to 1 milliliter. However, for other substances, you would need to know the specific density to convert between grams and milliliters.]/quote]

How did you determine that it weighed 35ml less, the sds reflects that the relative density is .8658, which would mean 473ml would be around 410g for just the liquid.

Maybe the volume * .8658 + the bottle weight = 35mg less??? Whole post doesnt make sense.

starting with the first line "Noticed less exhaust odor from lower quality gasoline"

I am a lucas "hater" due to their deceptive marketing and in general bad products.. but I dont think this is a legit issue.
OP doesnt seem to understand a straight ml to mg conversion is only for water or other liquid with specific density of near 1.

 

[NibbanaBanana]

Agree with most of the above post. For clarity 1 ml of water weighs 1 mg at 25C. Deep fuel system cleaner? I don't know.

I use the Lucas Red&Tacky regular grease and the green extra heavy duty polyurea. Both available at Walmart. Very happy with them.

 

[Donald]

I recently bought a 16 oz (473 ml) bottle of Deep Fuel System Cleaner. I had used it before with good results, noticing less engine exhaust odor from lower-quality gasoline. However, this time I became suspicious of the bottle. Using a kitchen scale, I measured its total weight, expecting it to weigh more than the listed volume on the packaging.

There was no evidence of tampering. To be sure, I checked a similar bottle at Walmart, and it also weighed 35 ml less than the stated volume, matching my home scale. I contacted Lucas, and although they initially gaslighted me, they eventually agreed the bottle should weigh more than what was indicated on the label. They finally agreed to send a replacement.

When I asked about receiving a voucher instead, they said no and informed me the replacement would be shipped via USPS. After a month, I followed up, and Lucas claimed I should have received the bottle by then, promising to investigate. After another month without a response, I followed up again—still no reply. I tried contacting them several more times over the following months, but they remained silent.

I imagine there is some government body that investigates misleading packaging. In any event, I'm rethinking buying Lucas products in the future.

Why would some run lower quality gasoline?

 

[RDY4WAR]

Lucas's advertising budget dwarfs their R&D and customer service budgets combined. A good chunk of the cost of their product is just funding their massive marketing campaigns. Errors and inconsistencies in their products is par for the course as their quality control is practically zilch. An error in calibration resulting in several hundred (or thousand) bottles to be underfilled by 35 ml wouldn't be surprising. It also wouldn't be something they'd admit to or correct as any callouts would be isolated to the small community of ourselves that are insignificant to the mass volume sold every day. (We're dismissed as noise) Thus, any actual investigation into this problem is highly unlikely and will remain unlikely until it starts to hurt their bottom line. Even then, it'll still be swept under the rug because that's just how unethical companies operate.

If it was me, I'd just cut my losses and never do business with them again.

 

[RDY4WAR]

Why would some run lower quality gasoline?

I've run a good bit of it the past 2 weeks in the aftermath of hurricane Helene. When gas is in short supply, you use what you can get.

 

[Kira]

For clarity 1 ml of water weighs 1 mg

Check that.

 

[dfarr67]

I've had my own dealings with them in the past- I don't use their products.

 

[factorytuned2012]

maybe the bottle itself has less material

 

[anderson]

wow
id hate to be the guy that took your call

 

[Glenda W.]

I refuse to support Lucas. Their reputation among mechanics was bad even 30 years ago.

 

[Skippy722]

It’s 16oz by volume, not weight. Take it to the space station and it will weigh almost nothing, but still contain 16oz of fluid. I doubt my 16oz redbull weight a pound before I drank it, doesn’t mean I got “shorted.”

My 32oz jars of canned apple butter also weigh more than the 32oz jars of canned potatoes…. Both are still filled almost completely full.

 

[blufeb95]

Maybe the volume * .8658 + the bottle weight = 35mg less??? Whole post doesnt make sense.

starting with the first line "Noticed less exhaust odor from lower quality gasoline"

I am a lucas "hater" due to their deceptive marketing and in general bad products.. but I dont think this is a legit issue.
OP doesnt seem to understand a straight ml to mg conversion is only for water or other liquid with specific density of near 1.

That's what I was getting at, the bottle probably weights around 20-30g. I hate Lucas products as much as the next guy, but the OP's grievance ain't a grievance.

 

[D60]

I'm also curious about how OP is converting volume to weight?

But I thought all states had a Weights & Measures dept? If they truly are off start at the state level. Your state AG should absolutely have jurisdiction because Lucas markets a product to his constituents.

 

[Bilko]

That's what I was getting at, the bottle probably weights around 20-30g. I hate Lucas products as much as the next guy, but the OP's grievance ain't a grievance.

That’s just your opinion. Imagine a world where grievances couldn’t be addressed when someone dismisses something as irrelevant or without merit. There would be no objective, informed parties to weigh in.

As for the issue, this is false advertising, and while the poster above asked if such legislation exists, it does. It violates the weights and measures laws in nearly every state. I wouldn’t be surprised if you’d be fine with paying for 3.78 liters of engine oil and only getting 3.5.

Btw. The mod here edited my thread title and removed unethical Lucas.

 

[Lyman]

I feel a little dumber after reading this