With the advancement of automobile repair technology, the traditional method of periodically disassembling the engine for maintenance has gradually declined. It has been replaced by a non-disassembly cleaning and maintenance method that uses various cleaning agents. While this brings convenience to a large number of car owners, it also adds to their troubles. Currently, there are numerous types of additives on the market from different origins, and merchants' sales tactics are constantly evolving. Due to the lack of national standards, consumers find it difficult to intuitively understand the usage effects of these additives. As a result, many car owners have developed a resistant attitude towards additives.
In professional advice related to automobile repair and maintenance, regularly changing the engine oil, oil filter, air filter, etc., is listed as a routine maintenance item in the repair and after-sales service manual. On the other hand, engine cleaners, gasoline cleaners, and various other additives are suggested maintenance items. Most manufacturers do not require car owners to necessarily use these products, nor do they clearly specify how long the vehicle should be driven before using additives. These products are only recommended to car owners when the repair technician inspects and determines that the vehicle has problems that require cleaning. Therefore, the repair technicians have significant influence over the use of additives.
Many car owners have expressed that their vehicles have used various additives. According to their introductions, repair personnel generally point out multiple issues with the vehicle and suggest that the owner use cleaning agents to achieve the purposes of removing dirt, enhancing power, and saving fuel. This may sound reasonable, but the interviewed car owners suspect that the 4S stores are not truly addressing the specific problems. Mr. Fang's opinion is quite representative: "Based on the experiences of many friends around me, I feel that when the vehicle reaches a certain mileage, regardless of the actual condition of the vehicle, the staff will suggest that all car owners use corresponding additives. This kind of suggestion seems suspicious."
Moreover, repair technicians often tempt car owners with so-called 'free lunches'. Miss Sun's vehicle recently needed a major maintenance at 60,000 kilometers. When she called the 4S store, the repair personnel suggested she perform several maintenance packages including engine cleaning, fuel system cleaning, and brake system cleaning. They indicated that this package was free of labor charges, only charging for the cleaning agent. However, upon further inquiry, the repair personnel told her that these maintenance tasks had to be performed simultaneously with an oil change, which would incur labor charges.
Mr. Li's experience is even more exaggerated. When he went to a gas station to refuel, the staff told him that using the station’s 80-yuan fuel cleaner could reduce vehicle fuel consumption by 20%. According to repair experts, if a cleaner could reduce fuel consumption by 5%, its inventor could win the Nobel Prize. Regarding these sales tactics that differ significantly from reality, experts stated that the aforementioned behaviors are suspected of using false or other improper means to deceive and mislead consumers, enticing them to buy products or services they don't need. These actions constitute consumer fraud and, according to the 'Consumer Rights Protection Law' and the 'Punishment Measures for Fraudulent Consumer Behavior', consumers have the right to legally demand double compensation from the repair party through legal procedures.
"Additives are a highly profitable link in the repair chain." A repair expert pointed out that in this aspect, the profit margin of 4S stores is significantly higher than that of repair shops and beauty salons. Taking engine cleaner as an example, the purchase price of a German product is less than 100 yuan, while some car dealers charge car owners 280 yuan per bottle, and each time they require the owner to use two bottles of cleaner. The repair expert mentioned that except for gasoline cleaners, vehicles only need to use various additives during major maintenance at 20,000 kilometers and 50,000 kilometers, or when the fuel system becomes blocked.
Industry insiders believe that the huge profit space in additive sales is one of the main reasons why repair personnel like to recommend these products to car owners. A master from a repair shop said that most of the additives used by 4S stores are relatively reliable in quality, basically marked with product components, efficacy, manufacturing date, and certified by authoritative departments. The current problem with 4S stores mainly lies in the premature use of additives, excessively high frequency of use, and lack of transparency in consumption.
Ms. Yan's case is quite representative. Her vehicle underwent maintenance at both 20,000 kilometers and 25,000 kilometers at the 4S store. "During the 20,000-kilometer maintenance, the 4S store already used engine cleaner and engine protector on my vehicle, and during the 25,000-kilometer maintenance, they used the same products again." Ms. Yan provided two repair work orders, and the work orders only listed the prices of the cleaners without indicating the brands or quantities used. After the product was used, the empty bottles of the cleaner were not shown to the car owner, making the operation very unrigorous.
So, does frequent use of additives affect the normal use of the vehicle? Experts stated that if the product quality is reliable, even if a certain additive is used again before reaching the specified maintenance interval, it will not harm the vehicle; it just makes the car owner spend more money. In this regard, lawyers also pointed out that according to Article 8 of the 'Consumer Rights Protection Law', consumers have the right to know the true situation of the goods they purchase or the services they receive. Car owners not only have the right to know the basic information such as the composition and efficacy of additives, but also have the right to know important factors such as the reasonable usage frequency and scientific dosage of additives. To increase sales, the repair party selectively highlights part of the product performance information and conceals important information such as the scientific usage method of additives, infringing on the consumer's right to know. When encountering the promotion of additives by the repair party, car owners should confidently defend their right to know, request a full introduction of the additive information, and rationally choose whether to purchase and use it.
The actual effect may not be worth the price
When talking about the usage effect of additives, many car owners describe it with the word "misleading". Mr. Feng said that his vehicle has used various additives multiple times, but the psychological effect is greater than the actual effect, and in the actual driving process, he did not feel any significant improvement in the vehicle condition. Because of this, some car owners expressed in interviews that they have developed a resistant attitude towards additives and try to avoid using these products during repairs and maintenance.
"Fuel cleaner, engine cleaner, and fuel system cleaner can clean the dirt and impurities in the corresponding parts of the vehicle. After use, you may feel an increase in vehicle power and a decrease in fuel consumption, and after using the air conditioning cleaner, the cooling effect of the car air conditioner will also improve." Experts stated that if used properly, good-quality additives can enhance power and clean the system. But these additives are not strong medicines, and their effects will not be too obvious. According to experts, even the best gasoline and fuel system cleaners cannot break through a 5% fuel-saving effect. Ordinary car owners may find it hard to notice the changes in the vehicle unless they carefully observe. Poor-quality products may corrode pipes.
According to relevant industry insiders and experts, although China has national standards related to automotive additives such as 'GB 19592-2004 Vehicle Gasoline Detergents', 'GB/T 17752-1999 Test Evaluation Method for Automotive Fuel Energy-Saving Additives', and 'GB/T 17753-1999|Test Evaluation Method for Automotive Engine Lubricating Oil Energy-Saving Additives', these standards are not effectively enforced. Currently, the quality of domestically produced additive products varies greatly, and many manufacturers fail to fully disclose the inspection process of the additives. Consumers find it difficult to understand the composition, content, environmental protection indicators, and degree of damage to the vehicle of an additive based solely on unverifiable advertising slogans. Taking gasoline additives as an example, the components of fuel additives from different manufacturers vary greatly. Although they all contain a certain amount of detergent, manufacturers selectively add rust inhibitors, anti-emulsifiers, bio-hydrogen, activators, bio-enzymes, fuel savers, and carry oils, whose components and contents are determined by the manufacturers themselves.
Precisely because of this, counterfeit and substandard products are rampant in the additive market, and many low-quality products enter the market through repair shops and gas stations. "A bottle of inferior additive costs less than 5 yuan in wholesale, but unscrupulous merchants can sell it to consumers for more than 100 yuan. The huge profit tempts them to take risks," an informed person said. These substandard products not only fail to enhance vehicle power, but also corrode pipes and shorten the lifespan of various components. They seriously affect consumers' purchasing intentions regarding additives.
In response to this situation, both repair technicians and automotive manufacturers suggest that car owners use additives produced by well-known foreign automotive manufacturers. When purchasing, consumers should also pay attention to whether the bottle has certification from authoritative departments, confirm the authenticity of trademarks, addresses, phone numbers, and whether the packaging is clear and attractive, and decide whether to purchase based on these factors.