Complaint Review: Bio Performance

I have examined products like this for over 20 years. The initial concept with this particular product--if I understand it correctly--is actually sound: The weaker the bonds between certain molecules the easier combustion can occur. Having a formal Chemistry and Laboratory background, I ran a few tests to see if this product was viable.

PROS: It seems to work. In a 2000 Toyota Tacoma 3.4L V6 4wd, gains as high as 40 to 50 extra miles per tank were realized depending on driving conditions. At $2.75 per gallon of 91 octane gasoline with an average highway fuel consumption of 19 miles per gallon at 70 mph, this product saved me approximately $7.23 per tank. In short: 290 miles/tank without, 330 miles/tank with, approximately. If I fill up 52 times each year that's a savings of $375.96 annually--providing gas prices stay exactly the same. This is a significant figure. Subtract the price of the product--approx. $120 per year--still saves a respectable $255.96 dollars. Unfortunately, there seems to be a problem with this particular product's present manufacturing method.

CONS: During my tests, each recommended dose of the solid Bio Performance product had insoluble precipitate that fell out of solution when dissolved in gasoline--irregardless of how thoroughly it was mixed. So pronounced was this precipitate that it literally coated the bottom of a clear container within two hours of mixing--falling almost completely out of solution after 24 hours. The result? If the current instructions are followed and the material is added directly to the vehicle's fuel tank, there may be an increasing possibility of vehicle damage with extended use.

How? Such damage would, theoretically, be limited to components in the fuel system--such as the fuel filter, pump and injectors--however, the resulting potential problems arising from a malfunctioning fuel system could be numerous. Due to the variety of interdependent systems on modern cars there could be significant undesirable tertiary effects as well--such as loosing power when accelerating into freeway traffic at rush hour. Also, with long-term use it is likely the gas tank may require expensive flushing to remove accumulated sediment.

THE WORK-AROUND: I found that by mixing the recommended dose in a separate small gasoline-approved container then filtering the mixture with an inexpensive fuel filter (purchased at auto parts or lawn mower stores) an acceptable amount of the insoluble particulate could be filtered out. I then add the filtered solution to the fuel tank.

As mentioned earlier, the product appears to work for me. The only long-term concern I have is that when solids are dissolved in liquids, they still remain a solid despite being invisible to the naked eye. Such mixtures tend to deposit the dissolved material as ash on cooler surfaces when combusted. It is uncertain what effect, if any, years of using such a solid fuel enhancing product--opposed to a liquid fuel enhancing product--might have on a vehicle's engine. The most obvious concern would be the long-term effects on rings, pistons, cylinders and oil (potentially altering the chemical properties in an undesirable way).

This problem has allegedly been brought to the attention of Bio Performance in May of 2006; however, only future testing will tell if it has been resolved. As a general rule, it is unwise to dissolve a solid into a fuel without first knowing precisely what effect it will have on the over-all mechanical system.