The general ( Cadillac ) promotes Z-MAX for carbon

[harleyultra06]

And oil consumption. Yes, you heard right. GM, more specifically, Cadillac, has recommended to dealer technicians ( Like myself ) that Z-MAX is a viable additive to aid in the correction of cold, and hot engine knock due to carbon deposits, and to reduce oil consumption.

The Northstar engine, in later years, plagued by various concerns, one of which is oil consumption, may now have an easy way out. GM is promoting a "Mechanics formula" of Z-MAX to be used on vehicles out of warranty. You did not really think that GM was going to pay warranty claims on a product that they could not profit on did you? Anyway, the kit comes with 2-32 ounce bottles. The program is this....change the oil and filter, add 16 ounces to the oil, and 16 ounces to the fuel tank, provided it is over half full. In 1,000 miles, change the oil again, add 16 ounces to the oil, 16 ounces to the fuel. 1,000 miles later, change the oil again, and the noise and oil consumption should be a memory now.

We have only done a couple of cars. Initial treatment only. But I will keep everyone posted as to the results....

 

[ncirish]

You have to be kidding?

 

[harleyultra06]

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You have to be kidding?

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I think those are the exact words I used when I read the memo from GM! This is WAY out of character for them. My guess is that they are doing a "Field research trial" at owners expense, and will market the product under the "Delco" name if it proves to be a success.

 

[Mystic]

Maybe GM should do some field research on Auto-RX?

 

[Thatwouldbegreat]

GM used to use an upper cylinder cleaner that was used like Sea Foam. A 'soak and smoke'...that worked pretty well.

Saturn owners like MMO for 'soak and smoke'.

I guess there are lots of ways to clean dirty piston rings... its just too bad there are some engines designs that muck up the rings so easily.

Z-Max is pure snake oil IMHO....but maybe mineral oil will work in some applications.

 

[tenderloin]

It may be snake oil. but they won some victories over the FTC ..the same FTC that nailed many a snake oil company.

zMAX vs. The FTC Summary 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, Kargen, Murray's Auto Parts, O'Reilly Auto Parts, PepBoys, Schuck's, Strauss Discount Auto, VIP as well as Target stores and #@$%!'s Wholesale nationwide. zMAX became a part of Speedway Motorsports Inc in 1987

 

[tenderloin]

http://www.zmax.com/why_zmax/test_results.html

 

[Trav]

My own experience with the N* motors.
1)Use no additives in the oil,not only do these motors burn oil they weep it.This weeping is a mechanical separation of the crankcase halves or block porosity not a seal that can be swelled or cleaned,the use of some additives can turn the "normal" weeping into a leak.ARX works very well with this engines ring issues(personal experience on more than a few engines)but does not address the carbon issue on the piston head and combustion chamber.
2)For mild cold knock condition GM top engine cleaner or seafoam through a vacuum line on the throttle body and left for a approx 2 hours will work fine.
3)severe cold/hot knock will require GM top engine cleaner be introduced through the spark plug hole on a warm(not hot) engine and be left overnight,fabricate a adapter for a shop vac to accept a small diameter plastic hose,vacuum the cylinders out.Start the engine on the old plugs,run for 15 min and replace the plugs,change the oil(flat tappet -99 use only 10w-30.2000- use 5w-30 or 0w-30 these engines love GC or Amsoil),get the engine to operating temp then drive it like you stole it(WOT second gear) for a few min.
4)Use Redline fuel system cleaner,half a bottle per tank,every tank to keep it clean.
The 99 and 05-07 N* appear to be the best of these engines and don't often exhibit piston slap and head gasket issues as the older pre 99 N* did,If the knock does not go away after cleaning the carbon its probably sloppy pistons and no amount of snake oil will fix it.

 

[Thatwouldbegreat]

Isn't Z-Max basically mineral oil that has been refined to the level of mineral oil such as you might buy from a pharmacy with some tint added to give it color?

It used to be called Lenckite after inventor Joe Lencki; now it contains Lenckite, and is called Avblend or Z-Max.

I think Avblend never claimed to do more than help prevent or dissolve deposits on valve stems, seats, and guides in leaded gas piston aviation engines... since mineral oil had good solvency and more importantly it had good penetrating oil qualities and helped to keep the metal surfaces wet.

Z-Max might work in certain applications, but at $30 to $40 per kit it is not cheap.

Marvel Mystery Oil, Sea Foam, LC-20 and FP-60 /FP-3000 might work, and if they do they are quite a bit less expensive per application.

 

[ccs v2.0]

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http://www.zmax.com/why_zmax/test_results.html

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http://www.ftc.gov/os/caselist/0023256/030321stip0023256.pdf

 

[GMorg]

Interesting story at least...

http://www.fabulousracers.com/lenckite_avblend.html
http://www.fabulousracers.com/zmax.html

 

[Crashbox]

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Maybe GM should do some field research on Auto-RX?

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IMO if GM did so they would find that Auto-Rx (and LC20 too but not simultaneously) would be an economical way to help prolong engine life- something that companies involved with "planned obsolescence" likely cringe at...

Just my opinion.

 

[Tempest]

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http://www.zmax.com/why_zmax/test_results.html

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The unique ability of zMAX to soak into metal and reduce engine deposits results in

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and:

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by virtue of reducing engine deposits.

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is a common phrase on that page. Cleaning is about the only thing it has going for it, and I don't see a mandate to show how well a cleaner it has to be to make those statements.

All oil will "soak into metal" because the oil molecules are so much smaller than the asperities on the metal surface. If the oil gets deeper than the surface...one has a crack.

No MSDS on the site either. A red flag for me.

 

[Crashbox]

IMO this Z-MAX stuff (and all other ersatz oil improvers/additives) is primarily designed to substantially reduce financial deposits...

Mesticks with LC20, FP and ARX.

 

[Lonnie]

There is some fleet testing going on now with zMax. The difficult part is the numbers, financial numbers that is. Is the cost and trouble of using the product worth any benefit received and what is that benefit. Not many products make it into field testing and most are rejected because those answers are not forthcomming.

 

[427Z06]

Viscometric calculations show that it only takes 8.5% of Z-MAX in the crankcase to turn a 5-10w30 oil into nearly 5w20 oil. Clearly, this is likely where most of the fuel economy, HP, emission benefits are coming from.

 

[Z_ombie]

I believe I saw an add for Z-Max with Carrol Shelby, he said something to the effect of using it in all his vehicles. Can't believe he would advertise for such a snake oil company.

 

[Lonnie]

In the end it comes down to the fact that no one on this board knows anything useful, good or bad about the product. Since there are so many snake oil products around it's easy to think this is one, too.

 

[Jan Richter]

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All oil will "soak into metal" because the oil molecules are so much smaller than the asperities on the metal surface. If the oil gets deeper than the surface...one has a crack.

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Well, the zMAX website says:

"Simply pour zMAX into your fuel system (12oz.), your engine (12oz.), and transmission (4oz.) or have zMAX installed by your mechanic at your next oil change.

zMAX does not replace your regular oil. And, using zMAX will not overfill your normal oil level, because it soaks into metal."

If the existing oil is filling the asperities, where does the zMAX go? There would still be a net increase in oil level even if zMAX displaced the existing oil from said asperities.

Jan Richter

 

[tenderloin]

The "theory" is the molecules are "smaller" in ZMAX than regular motor oil thus getting into places regular oil doesn't.