Whatever happened to the engine additive - PROLONG??

[pauldun170]

What ASE certified mechanic would drive over 800 miles without coolant? Why in the world would you ever need to take such a risk? Couldn't you find any water/coolant within a much shorter distance?

It makes no sense whatsoever to do that, even if Prolong does what it claims, so it's very difficult to believe anyone would do it. So I think the "over 800 miles" story is not true.

What NASCAR and NHRA teams use it in their engines? Since they rebuild their engines constantly, what's the point of using Prolong? How are racing engines a valid example?

What vehicles did you use it in, and can you demonstrate that not using it would have made a difference?

Several modern engines can go a relatively long time without coolant, as they have an overheat protection mode which allows the engine to run without coolant.

 

[rpanic]

The first job I had was working at an oil and grease blending and packaging company, I worked there for a few years in the early 90s. We blended and packaged oil for all the major companies and also sold additives to companies that blended their own products. Back then the lead chemist told me all of the oils we made were about the same except Castrol which he thought was just a tiny bit better. Some times on the package line the same oil would go into different brands. The only product that we made that made people come out of the wood work for was motor oil made by Arco that had graphite and was a pain to clean when it got spilled people would tell us stories of driving after all the oil leaked out accidently without any damage to the engine. As far as all of the weird claims with third party additives I think its mostly BS some oil stabilizers might help in some situations but for the most part with regular automobiles is just a waste of money.

 

[pauldun170]

You mean the people that are dumb enough to comment on stuff they have never tried!
The company has never been sued by anyone including the FTC like the other companies have been the FTC looked into prolong and found all their claims to be legitimate
NASCAR and the NHRA use this product in their engines not to mention major trucking companies!!
I have used it in all my vehicles since the 80's and have put almost 1/2 a million miles on them with ZERO internal engine problems till I sold them a few are still on the road today
I am also an A.S.E Certified Mechanic 30+ years and have seen the product do incredible things not to mention I drove my truck over 800 miles with no coolant in it in over 90 deg weather on a hunting trip and made it home on a Sunday with no damage to the motor so don't knock a product till you use it

 

[WackyDan]

Additives... Waste of money. I admit to throwing some high quality fuel system cleaner in before an oil change now and then, but not every fill up.

I use sea foam as an additive for gas that will be stored longer term. Otherwise it isn't needed.

None of my vehicles have had issues with the lack of additives. Straight 87 octane pump gas on all but one of them and standard dino oil on all but one of them. I keep most of my vehicles to 120k-130k miles over 10-15 years. My oldest is a bought used Jeep with 122k that is 19 years old.

I

 

[pauldun170]

Additives... Waste of money. I admit to throwing some high quality fuel system cleaner in before an oil change now and then, but not every fill up.

I use sea foam as an additive for gas that will be stored longer term. Otherwise it isn't needed.

None of my vehicles have had issues with the lack of additives. Straight 87 octane pump gas on all but one of them and standard dino oil on all but one of them. I keep most of my vehicles to 120k-130k miles over 10-15 years. My oldest is a bought used Jeep with 122k that is 19 years old.

I

This thread reminds me of the amsoil bandwagon

If you switch to Amsoil, your cars will make 100 more horsepowers and then last 1000 years. When I do an oil change the oil tastes as great as the day I put it in. My buddy who is actually a random page served up by google is a engineer mechanic race car chemist and when he tore down the race engine that was amsoiled he says it was as clean as it was when he saw it at the factory!! He even posted a picture!!!
Just make sure you break in the engine hard....bang it off the rev limiter for the first 500 miles then spinkly praprika on it. Add amsoil and your engine is race car!!!

 

[Alskn3]

What ASE certified mechanic would drive over 800 miles without coolant? Why in the world would you ever need to take such a risk? Couldn't you find any water/coolant within a much shorter distance?

It makes no sense whatsoever to do that, even if Prolong does what it claims, so it's very difficult to believe anyone would do it. So I think the "over 800 miles" story is not true.

What NASCAR and NHRA teams use it in their engines? Since they rebuild their engines constantly, what's the point of using Prolong? How are racing engines a valid example?

What vehicles did you use it in, and can you demonstrate that not using it would have made a difference?

Several modern engines can go a relatively long time without coolant, as they have an overheat protection mode which allows the engine to run without coolant.

First thing is when you tear a lower radiator hose off your vehicle on a hunting trip out in the middle of nowhere Alaska how do you expect to put water in a radiator that has a torn off bottom hose?? if you can put water in a glass that has no bottom to hold the water in it then more power to you! not to mention coming home on a sunday night with nothing open in the middle of nowhere with in the days with no cell reception
Either way I do not need to explain myself to naysayers and you try driving a vehicle 800 miles with no coolant to get home safe and see how far you get so YEAH I guess using Prolong made the difference my truck ran for 5 years after that with no problems I would love to see you try that
Prolong also drove a car from California to Florida with thousands of people watching and a bunch of Mechanics checking and validating it had no oil and it made it to Florida with NO OIL OR FILTER so again GEE I think there's something to the stuff but again don't knock it till you try it but again I dont need to explain my self to any one I know for a solid fact the stuff works that is all I need

 

[WackyDan]

I am also an A.S.E Certified Mechanic 30+ years and have seen the product do incredible things not to mention I drove my truck over 800 miles with no coolant in it in over 90 deg weather on a hunting trip and made it home on a Sunday with no damage to the motor so don't knock a product till you use it

Uhm yeah. Pretty sure any reasonably dumb mother fucker would have done that to get it out of the woods and then promptly repaired it... You didn't drive 800 miles with no coolant.

3 posts... Bravo!!! Mr. Credibility.

 

[JEDIYoda]

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/1999/09/prolong-super-lubricants-settles-ftc-charges

 

[JEDIYoda]

First thing is when you tear a lower radiator hose off your vehicle on a hunting trip out in the middle of nowhere Alaska how do you expect to put water in a radiator that has a torn off bottom hose?? if you can put water in a glass that has no bottom to hold the water in it then more power to you! not to mention coming home on a sunday night with nothing open in the middle of nowhere with in the days with no cell reception
Either way I do not need to explain myself to naysayers and you try driving a vehicle 800 miles with no coolant to get home safe and see how far you get so YEAH I guess using Prolong made the difference my truck ran for 5 years after that with no problems I would love to see you try that
Prolong also drove a car from California to Florida with thousands of people watching and a bunch of Mechanics checking and validating it had no oil and it made it to Florida with NO OIL OR FILTER so again GEE I think there's something to the stuff but again don't knock it till you try it but again I dont need to explain my self to any one I know for a solid fact the stuff works that is all I need

Prolong Super Lubricants, Inc., marketer of one of the largest selling motor oil additives sold in the U. S., has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that the firm made unsubstantiated claims for its automobile motor oil additive, Prolong Engine Treatment Concentrate (ETC). Prolong Super Lubricants, Inc. is based in Irvine, California.

The complaint detailing the charges alleges that Prolong made unsubstantiated claims that compared to motor oil alone, Prolong ETC:

• reduces engine wear at start-up; and
• extends the duration of engine life.

The complaint also alleges that Prolong made unsubstantiated claims that ETC:

• reduces corrosion in engines; and
• protects against engine breakdowns.

The complaint further alleges Prolong made unsubstantiated claims that:

• benefits that may be achieved by using Prolong ETC in race cars or under racing conditions can be achieved in ordinary automobiles in conventional use; and
• testimonials and endorsements of consumers made in advertising reflected the typical or ordinary experience of members of the public who use Prolong.

This settlement is the latest in a series of FTC law-enforcement initiatives targeting claims made by engine treatment manufacturers. The Commission recently charged the marketers of Dura Lube and Motor Up with making unsubstantiated claims for their brands of motor oil additives. Those complaints are awaiting administrative trial. The FTC previously halted allegedly deceptive advertising by the marketers of Valvoline, Slick 50, and STP, other major brands of engine treatment products.

The Prolong settlement would require scientific substantiation for a broad range of claims relating to Prolong ETC, or any other product sold for use in an automobile, relating to engine-wear reduction, engine-life extension, corrosion reduction, protection against engine breakdown, or racing benefits being achievable in ordinary driving. The settlement would also require substantiation for claims made for any product marketed by Prolong Super Lubricants, relating to the product's performance, benefits, efficacy, attributes or use.

In addition, the order would bar misrepresentations relating to tests, studies or research, and would bar misleading demonstrations, pictures, experiments or tests relating to any product's features, superiority or comparability. If Prolong employs user testimonials or endorsements in promotional material in the future to depict typical consumer experience with any product, it would be required to have scientific substantiation for the representation, or disclose what results ordinary consumers could expect to achieve, and the applicability of the endorser's experience. Finally, the settlement contains certain administrative record keeping and reporting provisions to allow the agency to monitor compliance.

The Commission vote to accept the proposed settlement was 4-0, with Commissioner Orson Swindle concurring in part and dissenting in part. In his statement, Commissioner Swindle said,

" I support the provisions in the proposed order prohibiting Prolong from making . . . claims in the future without adequate substantiation. The consent agreement, however, also contains provisions prohibiting Prolong, in connection with the sale of any product, from misrepresenting the existence or results of tests and from misrepresenting that a demonstration confirms the benefits of a product. While firms should not misrepresent the existence or results of tests or demonstrations, it is inappropriate to include specific establishment and demonstration requirements as remedies in an order without corresponding complaint allegations. In this case, and in others from the recent past, there is a troubling lack of symmetry between the complaint and the order."

An announcement regarding the proposed consent agreement will be published in the Federal Register shortly. The agreement will be subject to public comment for 60 days, after which the Commission will decide whether to make it final. Comments should be addressed to the FTC, Office of the Secretary, 6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580.

NOTE: Consent agreements are for settlement purposes only and do not constitute an admission of a law violation. When the Commission issues a consent order on a final basis, it carries the force of law with respect to future actions. Each violation of such an order may result in a civil penalty of $11,000.

Copies of the complaint, consent and Commissioner Swindle's statement are available from the FTC's web site at http://www.ftc.gov and also from the FTC's Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580; 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357); TDD for the hearing impaired 1-866-653-4261. Consent agreements subject to public comment also are available by calling 202-326-3627. To find out the latest news as it is announced, call the FTC NewsPhone recording at 202-326-2710.


(FTC File No. 972 3014

 

[Meghan54]

First thing is when you tear a lower radiator hose off your vehicle on a hunting trip out in the middle of nowhere Alaska how do you expect to put water in a radiator that has a torn off bottom hose?? if you can put water in a glass that has no bottom to hold the water in it then more power to you! not to mention coming home on a sunday night with nothing open in the middle of nowhere with in the days with no cell reception
Either way I do not need to explain myself to naysayers and you try driving a vehicle 800 miles with no coolant to get home safe and see how far you get so YEAH I guess using Prolong made the difference my truck ran for 5 years after that with no problems I would love to see you try that
Prolong also drove a car from California to Florida with thousands of people watching and a bunch of Mechanics checking and validating it had no oil and it made it to Florida with NO OIL OR FILTER so again GEE I think there's something to the stuff but again don't knock it till you try it but again I dont need to explain my self to any one I know for a solid fact the stuff works that is all I need

Cow dung.

 

[Torn Mind]

800 miles is the approximate equivalent of traveling from DC to St. Louis.

Not to mention that coolant is supposed to be under pressure and that it is pissing out the goods quickly.

Someone is exaggerating or lying.

Physics cannot be defied and WARPING is bound to happen.

The main source of heat in an internal combustion engine is from the burning of fuel. Prolong only adds a microscopic layer of extra stuff, meaning that a coolant-less engine is STILL left with a hunk of metal being the next-best transfer medium for the energy produced front combustion. And just like other pieces of metal, the inability to transfer heat will stress and break something.

 

[Torn Mind]

Also, racing is merely a different purpose than that of a commuting vehicle. Racing is all about performance from methanol-powered engines. The engines all last about a few races at most. That is because performace is the sole metric to optimize for.

Also, don't spew credentials without proof. It is utterly revolting how snake oil salesman and other crafty buck seekers just use nice-sounding credentials and say it with fervent conviction to overwhelm the suggestable folks. Luckily, the godforsaken Prolong shill posting here from his blood money cubicle is on a message board and not a situation where he can take advantage of his prey.

Also, mechanics are socialpathic salesmen anyway, and it is just as plausible that this guy is indeed an ASE certified guy who also has an additional income stream by fooling his customers with tall tales. But seriously, all Prolong can physically do is allegedly correct deficiencies in metal machining. But I highly doubt that even in limp mode, an engine can last 800 miles, which is an extremely long drive of at least 16 hours in summer heat.

Mechanics know how to fix cars, but they are not actual tribologists.

 

[pauldun170]

Pretty sure Mr. A.C.E mechanic is one of those people how get paid to market product online.
Probably a broke english major who doesn't even have a car. Bounce back and forth between generating content and posting on some blog about how they should raise the minimum wage to 70K a year.

 

[LTC8K6]

First thing is when you tear a lower radiator hose off your vehicle on a hunting trip out in the middle of nowhere Alaska how do you expect to put water in a radiator that has a torn off bottom hose?? if you can put water in a glass that has no bottom to hold the water in it then more power to you! not to mention coming home on a sunday night with nothing open in the middle of nowhere with in the days with no cell reception
Either way I do not need to explain myself to naysayers and you try driving a vehicle 800 miles with no coolant to get home safe and see how far you get so YEAH I guess using Prolong made the difference my truck ran for 5 years after that with no problems I would love to see you try that
Prolong also drove a car from California to Florida with thousands of people watching and a bunch of Mechanics checking and validating it had no oil and it made it to Florida with NO OIL OR FILTER so again GEE I think there's something to the stuff but again don't knock it till you try it but again I dont need to explain my self to any one I know for a solid fact the stuff works that is all I need

More stories! I love stories!

But really, I've already seen those commercials you are quoting.

Now tell me about the time you froze your engine in a solid block of ice at 250 degrees below zero, and it started right up due to Prolong's amazing properties.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Uhm yeah. Pretty sure any reasonably dumb mother fucker would have done that to get it out of the woods and then promptly repaired it... You didn't drive 800 miles with no coolant.

3 posts... Bravo!!! Mr. Credibility.

Troll account is trolling.
Nobody drove 800 miles with no coolant. Only a mouth breathing mongolodial idiot would even try it.

Prolong is snake oil just like every other additive ever introduced.

Just think about it: Each manufacturer pays millions to develop their engines. They then work hand-in-hand with the oil companies' engineers to develop the proper oil blends to make them live.

The oil companies also spend millions in this process, as do the vendors that make the parts to the specs the manufacturers ask for.

And then some yahoos at some little company are going to come up with a one-size-fits-all additive that makes everything better? Horse shit.

 

[Torn Mind]

Pretty sure Mr. A.C.E mechanic is one of those people how get paid to market product online.
Probably a broke english major who doesn't even have a car. Bounce back and forth between generating content and posting on some blog about how they should raise the minimum wage to 70K a year.

English Majors would not use a run-on sentences and excessive prepositional phrases. It's a low paying degree, but I would expect some grammar freaks to gravitate towards those studies.

The man is on Disqus, tripadvisor, and the like and uses these same run-ons.
----

And 800 miles in a truck...hmm. A truck can't last a little more than 300 miles without a pit stop at a gas station, assuming a 22 gallon tank and 15 MPG, which would be super generous in limp mode, if it had one.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Couldn't you patch a radiator hose with, like, gorilla tape or something?

Could fill the water reservoir with almost anything, for a little while. Vodka maybe.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Couldn't you patch a radiator hose with, like, gorilla tape or something?

Could fill the water reservoir with almost anything, for a little while. Vodka maybe.

I know a fellow who filled his with beer once. Got him to where he could get it fixed. Was rather foamy trying to get it filled, though. Truck smelled like a bar after that.

 

[nakedfrog]

First thing is when you tear a lower radiator hose off your vehicle on a hunting trip out in the middle of nowhere Alaska how do you expect to put water in a radiator that has a torn off bottom hose?? if you can put water in a glass that has no bottom to hold the water in it then more power to you! not to mention coming home on a sunday night with nothing open in the middle of nowhere with in the days with no cell reception
Either way I do not need to explain myself to naysayers and you try driving a vehicle 800 miles with no coolant to get home safe and see how far you get so YEAH I guess using Prolong made the difference my truck ran for 5 years after that with no problems I would love to see you try that
Prolong also drove a car from California to Florida with thousands of people watching and a bunch of Mechanics checking and validating it had no oil and it made it to Florida with NO OIL OR FILTER so again GEE I think there's something to the stuff but again don't knock it till you try it but again I dont need to explain my self to any one I know for a solid fact the stuff works that is all I need

800 miles through Alaska, and you couldn't be bothered to stop anywhere for a radiator hose?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

800 miles through Alaska, and you couldn't be bothered to stop anywhere for a radiator hose?

800 miles in Alaska is... well... entirely possible there wasn't any radiator hose to be had.

 

[nakedfrog]

800 miles in Alaska is... well... entirely possible there wasn't any radiator hose to be had.

Starting out from the middle, on your way home? It seems just as unlikely as the rest of the story.

 

[Torn Mind]

As I mentioned before, if his engine didn't die, his truck would have ran out of gas. He also would have need to take a pit stop for sleep because there is no way he is travelling 55 mph for 800 miles with a limp mode engine.

No way he would have made the full 800 mile trip without some way back to civilization. If this story is not a complete fabrication, it is an inaccurate exaggeration and embellishment of something that might have happened but not anywhere near the degree this guy has claimed.

If his disqus account is the same person, he was making claims of chinook winds making air temperatures go above 80 degrees. Chinook winds are indeed a real phenomenon, but the exact temperature might not have been true.

 

[Z15CAM]

I posted this reply at Larverda forums.com a while back regarding Snake Oil Additives:

I added Prolong in my 750SF one time thinking my Rings, Cylinder Bore, Bearings and Cam Followers would be protected but played havoc with the Wet Clutch (Slip and Rattle).

Time to change out oil to HEDO DINO 15w40 and bake the clutch disc's with a Butane Torch and scuff them up.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I entered this thread thinking that Prolong was a sexual performance enhancement product...sheesh. Really though I still remember when everyone was on the PTFE bandwagon and yes auto dealerships try to sell anything that will enhance their bottom line. You gotta love those old commercials where they supposedly drained the oil out of the cars and then drove them around for hundreds of miles with no damage.

 

[lxskllr]

Couldn't you patch a radiator hose with, like, gorilla tape or something?

Could fill the water reservoir with almost anything, for a little while. Vodka maybe.

I patched the upper radiator hose in my jeep with pvc plumbing parts. I blew a hose, and I gimped it to the closest parking lot, which had a hardware store. Since I was such a good customer, and bought ~$10 in plumbing, they gave me water for the jeep :^D

On the primary subject... What does the military use in their vehicles? That's what I'd want in my engine.