LO 10-3 Identify and describe the purpose and function of oil additives

Aftermarket Oil Additives
The cost for an oil manufacturer to test and certify engine oil to API standards easily runs in the range of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Profits made from API-certified oil, which retails for a few dollars a liter, is small in comparison to the huge profits made by aftermarket additive marketers on a single bottle of additive. Despite the carefully exacting standards to which engine oil is refined, the advertising of engine oil aftermarket additives leaves the impression that regular engines’ oils are inadequate. Claims made by aftermarket additive makers range from substantial increases in fuel economy to reduced engine wear, increased horsepower, increased cleanliness of engines, and elimination of engine oil leaks. Evidence supporting these claims rests heavily on customer testimonials and little on verifiable testing of products by independent labs. In fact, in recent years, a number of high-profile additive marketers have been prosecuted for making unsubstantiated claims about their products.