Fuel additives are ’waste of money’!

28th September 2009

They are meant to bring your ageing engine back to life by boosting its power, torque and economy.

But aftermarket fuel additives don’t live up to their claims, a new study has found.

Tests revealed that the supplements – which are poured directly into your tank after topping up – don’t deliver on their promises of adding oomph to your engine.

What’s more, they can even increase the cost of a petrol refill by 50 per cent!

Every one of the nine additives on trial failed to significantly boost economy, while five also made no power or torque improvements. Most of the products claim to increase the fuel’s octane rating (a higher number can make the motor run smoother) – yet none managed even to equal the rating of premium-grade.

The brands on trial included Redex, Wynn’s, STP, Millers and PD-5, but the most expensive was Nitrox Hot Shot Power Boost, which treats a mere 15 litres of fuel for £7.99.

It claims to enhance economy by a massive 90 per cent – yet was found wanting on virtually every front in the study by Which? magazine.

The maker was unavailable for comment, but the report stated: “The additives we tested seem very unlikely to return noticeable improvements.”

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