Some info on tin pellet catalyst found here
http://www.oft.gov.uk/News/Press+releases/2000/PN+42-00.htm Misleading fuel claims stopped
PN 42/00 24 October 2000
The supplier of a fuel additive for cars has agreed, after OFT action, not to make misleading claims about its effectiveness.
Clockwork Orange Limited, based in London, has given written assurances to the Director General of Fair Trading, John Vickers, that it will stop producing misleading adverts for a product called Fuel Cat.
Fuel Cat, a catalyst of tin alloy pellets designed to be placed in either the fuel tank or fuel line of any vehicle, was said to save fuel, reduce exhaust pollution, improve performance and lower maintenance costs.
Adverts also claimed that it would enable unleaded fuel to be used in cars designed for leaded fuel and that there were many thousands of satisfied users.
Clockwork Orange was unable to prove the claims and tests [see amendment] by the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) showed that the pellets did not do what the company claimed.
Assurances were sought after Clockwork Orange was referred to the OFT by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). The ASA had already upheld complaints against the company after adverts were placed in specialist car magazines, in leaflets distributed at classic car exhibitions and on the company's Internet site.
Mr Vickers said:
'False claims made for products deceive and harm consumers. The OFT will continue to work hard with the ASA and trading standards departments to stamp out misleading adverts.'
Amendment made on 4 May 2001
It should be noted that the RAC was commissioned by the ASA to produce a report commenting on the claims made by Clockwork Orange Limited in relation to Fuel Cat. The RAC did not, as far as we are aware, carry out any tests on Fuel Cat. However, the RAC report did conclude: 'None of the claims made by Clockwork Orange Limited in respect of Fuel Cat have been substantiated. Furthermore, there are good theoretical considerations and existing knowledge which lead to the conclusion that tin alloy pellets in the fuel tank of a vehicle or fitted in the fuel line, with or without a magnet, will not have any effect on combustion and therefore cannot affect fuel consumption, exhaust emissions, gasoline octane number, exhaust valve seat recession or exhaust catalyst life.'
NOTES
1. The RAC's tests [see amendment] concluded that for Fuel Cat to have any effect at all the pellets would have to be dissolved or mixed with the fuel. In practice this does not happen which means that Fuel Cat cannot meet the claims made for it.
2. The ASA forwarded the case to the OFT after trying on a number of occasions to get Clockwork Orange to justify its claims. The company was unable to do this so ASA upheld complaints against them in July 1998 and then issued an ad alert against Clockwork Orange and Fuel Cat on 6 June 2000.
3. Assurances were made under the Control of Misleading Advertisements Regulations 1988. They came into force on 20 June 1988, implementing an EC Directive on misleading advertising. The role of the Director General of Fair Trading under the Regulations is to support and reinforce existing controls, not to replace them. The Regulations give him the power to step in if the public interest requires that advertisements complained of should be stopped by means of a court injunction. Alternatively the Director General can seek assurances or undertakings.
4. The Director General can act only when a complaint has been received. To come within his scope an advertisement must be misleading (ie must deceive or be likely to deceive and affect economic behaviour), and be published in connection with a trade, business craft or profession to promote the supply or transfer of goods and services.
5. Full details of the assurances signed by Clockwork Orange follow. Similar assurances were signed by Clockwork Orange's Company Secretary and by its Director.
The Company shall not (whether by its officers, employees or agents or otherwise) from the date hereof publish, disseminate or cause or otherwise be concerned in the publication or dissemination of any of the following advertisements, namely:
(a) the advertisements.
(b) any other advertisement likely to convey a false impression that "Fuel Cat:
(i) permits engines which were designed to run on leaded fuel to safely run on unleaded fuel;
(ii) replaces lead in petrol so offering protection against exhaust valve seat recession and increasing the octane number of gasoline;
(iii) increases the life of exhaust catalysts by reducing the exhaust emissions;
(iv) increases miles per gallon;
(v) cleans the combustion chambers of an engine;
(vi) prevents carbon build up in a engine;
(vii) keeps crankcase oil cleaner and
(viii)protects the upper cylinder area including pistons, rings, valves and injectors.
