Additive debate now closed

Check that carbon - and all those
premixed additives remove what?

 FOLLOWING a report in the previous edition of Witness Wheels, which last week warned that claims made by off-the-shelve fuel additives — especially XFT — most often cannot be verified, we had several calls, some complimentary, some irate.

The most balanced opinion was from marketing manager: energy at ImproChem, Greg Olivier, who concurred with the warning in Witness Wheels.

ImproChem is a leading supplier of finished fuel additives technology in Southern Africa. Speaking in his personal capacity, Olivier said most fuels sold in SA are pre-treated with multifunctional detergent additive packages.

“These additive packages are typically tailor-made for the particular fuel distribution company and are required to undergo extensive engine performance testing in the laboratory to substantiate the marketing claims made by the fuel distribution company.

“Top-tier additive packages typically contain detergents, lubricating agents, combustion improvers and corrosion inhibitors.

Kurt Volminck

“In most cases, engine performance tests have been carried out to demonstrate their ability to provide clean-up and keep-clean performance in respect of injector and valve deposits, as well as quantify power restoration, combustion improvement and fuel economy benefits.

Olvier warned that off-the-shelf additives generally do not work as well as claimed.

“Some may provide some additional benefit in respect of lubricity and detergency improvement, but are unlikely to affect significant step changes in vehicle performance or fuel economy relative to the treated fuels purchased at most forecourts in SA.

“Many off-the-shelf additives have not gone through the same rigorous testing and development as the additives used by the major fuel distribu­tors and the suppliers of these off-the-shelf products rely on word of mouth testimonials from “satisfied” customers.

“I am sceptical of any such claims as they are generally over-stated and there is usually no tangible scientific evidence to back-up these claims.

Kurt Volmink, a rare breed of self-taught backyard mechanics who advises his clients to rather get the more expensive original parts, however told Witness Wheels while he also did not believe any claims made by off-the-shelve additives, he liked it when people used them.

“It creates business for me — some of this stuff corrodes the valves stem, and then you get this,” he said, showing a broken valve head jammed into a piston head.

• Witness Wheels has now closed correspondence on whether XFT is good or bad. It is our view that re-sellers are welcome to tout the additive to buyers on the principle that if XFT does not work as promised, buyers will get their money back.