Author: Pierre Schexneider M. Ed.
Source: articleage.com
"Gas-Saving" Products: Fact or Fuelishness?, gas regulator, By Pierre
Schexneider M. Ed.
Gas prices are up, and so is the volume of advertising for
"gas-saving" products. When gasoline prices rise, consumers
often look for ways to improve fuel efficiency. Although there
are practical steps you can take to increase gas mileage, the
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns you to be wary of any
gas-saving claims for automotive devices or oil and gas
additives. Even for the few gas-saving products that have been
found to work, the savings have been small.
"Gas-Saving" Advertising Claims
Be skeptical of the following kinds of advertising claims.
"This gas-saving product improves fuel economy by 20, gas regulator, percent."
Claims usually tout savings ranging from 12 to 25, gas regulator, percent.
However, the Environmental Protection Agency, gas regulator, (EPA) has evaluated
or tested more than 100 alleged gas-saving devices and has not
found any product that significantly, gas regulator, improves, gas regulator, gas mileage. In
fact, some "gas-saving" products may damage a car's engine or
cause substantial increases in exhaust emissions.
The gas-saving, gas regulator, products on the market fall into clearly defined
categories. Although the EPA has not tested or evaluated every
product, it has tried to examine at least one product in each
category. See "Devices Tested by EPA" at the end of this
brochure for category descriptions and product names.
"After installing your product, gas regulator, on my car, I got an extra 4 miles
[6.4 kilometers] per gallon [3.8 liters]."
Many ads feature glowing testimonials by satisfied customers.
Yet, few consumers have the ability or the equipment to test for
precise changes in gas mileage after installing a gas-saving
product. Many variables affect fuel consumption, including
traffic, road and weather conditions, and the car's condition.
For example, one consumer sent a letter to a company praising
its "gas-saving" product. At the time the product was installed,
however, the consumer also had received a complete engine
tune-up - a fact not mentioned in the letter. The entire
increase in gas mileage attributed to the "gas-saving" product
may well have been the result of the tune-up alone. But from the
ad, other consumers could not have known that.
"This gas-saving device is approved by the Federal government."
No government agency endorses gas-saving products for cars. The
most that can be claimed in advertising is that the EPA has
reached certain conclusions about possible gas savings by
testing the product or by evaluating, gas regulator, the manufacturer's own test
data. If the seller claims that its product has been evaluated
by the EPA, ask for a copy of the EPA report, or check
www, gas regulator, .epa.gov for information. In some instances, false claims of
EPA testing or approval have been made.
Product Complaints and Refunds
If you're dissatisfied with a gas-saving product, contact the
manufacturer and ask for a refund. Most companies offer
money-back guarantees. Contact the company, even if the
guarantee period has expired.
If you're not satisfied with the company's response, contact
your local or state, gas regulator, consumer protection agency or the Better
Business Bureau.
EPA Evaluation Efforts
The EPA evaluates or tests products to determine whether their
use will result in any significant improvement, gas regulator, or detriment to
fuel economy. However, the EPA cannot say what effect gas-saving
products will have on a vehicle over time because it hasn't
conducted any durability tests. It's possible that some products
may harm the car or may otherwise, gas regulator, adversely affect its
performance. In fact, today's vehicles' emission control systems
are very sophisticated and complex. They have On Board
Diagnostic features that alert the driver to problems associated
with the emission, gas regulator, control and fuel delivery systems. Retrofit
products may have an adverse effect on these systems.
Devices Tested by EPA
The following list categorizes various types of "gas-saving"
products, explains how they're used and gives product names.
Those with asterisks may save measurable, but small, amounts of
gas. All others have been found not to increase fuel economy.
Air Bleed, gas regulator, Devices: These devices bleed air into the carburetor.
They usually are installed in the Positive Crankcase Ventilation
line or as a replacement for idle-mixture screws.
The EPA has evaluated the following, gas regulator, products: ADAKS Vacuum
Breaker Air Bleed; Air-Jet Air Bleed; Aquablast Wyman Valve Air
Bleed; Auto-Miser; Ball-Matic Air Bleed; Berg Air Bleed; Brisko
PCV; Cyclone-Z; Econo Needle Air Bleed; Econo-Jet Air Bleed Idle
Screws; Fuel Max*; Gas Saving Device; Grancor Air Computer; Hot
Tip; Landrum Mini-Carb; Landrum Retrofit Air Bleed; Mini
Turbocharger Air Bleed; Monocar HC Control Air Bleed; Peterman
Air Bleed; Pollution Master Air Bleed; Ram-Jet; Turbo-Dyne G.R.
Valve.
Vapor Bleed Devices: These devices are similar to the, gas regulator, air bleed
devices, except, gas regulator, that induced air is bubbled through a container
of a water and anti-freeze mixture, usually located in the
engine compartment.
The EPA has evaluated: Atomized Vapor Injector; Frantz Vapor
Injection System; Hydro-Vac: POWERFUeL; Mark II Vapor Injection
System; Platinum Gasaver; V-70 Vapor Injector; SCATPAC Vacuum
Vapor Induction System: Econo-Mist Vacuum Vapor Injection
System; Turbo Vapor Injection System.
Liquid Injection: These products add liquid into the fuel/air
intake system and not, gas regulator, directly into the combustion chamber.
The EPA has evaluated: Goodman Engine System-Model 1800;
Waag-Injection System*.
Ignition Devices: These devices are attached to the ignition
system or are used to replace original equipment or parts.
The EPA has evaluated: Autosaver; Baur Condenser; BIAP
Electronic Ignition Unit; Fuel Economizer; Magna Flash Ignition
Control, gas regulator, System; Paser Magnum/Paser 500/Paser 500 HEI; Special
Formula Ignition Advance Springs.
Fuel Line Devices (heaters or coolers). These devices heat the
fuel before it enters the carburetor. Usually, the fuel is
heated by the engine coolant or by the exhaust or electrical
system.
The EPA has evaluated: FuelXpander; Gas Meiser I; Greer Fuel
Preheater; Jacona Fuel System; Optimizer; Russell Fuelmiser.
Fuel Line Devices (magnets). These magnetic devices, clamped to
the, gas regulator, outside of the fuel line or installed in the fuel line,
claim to change the molecular structure of gasoline.
The EPA has evaluated: PETRO-MIZER; POLARION-X; Super-Mag Fuel
Extender; Wickliff Polarizer [fuel line magnet/intake air
magnet].
Fuel Line Devices (metallic). Typically, these devices contain
several dissimilar metals that are installed in the fuel line,
supposedly causing ionization of the fuel.
The EPA has evaluated: Malpassi Filter King [fuel pressure
regulator]; Moleculetor.
Mixture Enhancers: (under the carburetor). These devices are
mounted between the carburetor and intake manifold and
supposedly enhance the mixing or vaporization of the air/fuel
mixture, gas regulator, .
The EPA has evaluated: Energy Gas Saver; Environmental Fuel
Saver; Gas Saving and Emission Control Improvement Device;
Glynn-50; Hydro-Catalyst Pre-Combustion Catalyst System;
PETROMIZER SYSTEM; Sav-A-Mile; Spritzer; Turbo-Carb; Turbocarb.
Mixture Enhancers: (others). These devices make some general
modifications to the vehicle intake system.
The EPA has evaluated: Basko Enginecoat; Dresser Economizer;
Electro-Dyne Superchoke; Filtron Urethane Foam Filter; Lamkin
Fuel Metering Device; Smith, gas regulator, Power and Deceleration Governor.
Internal Engine Modifications: These devices make physical or
mechanical function changes to the engine.
The EPA has evaluated: ACDS Automotive Cylinder Deactivation
System*; Dresser Economizer; MSU Cylinder Deactivation*.
Accessory Drive Modifiers:. These devices reduce power to
specific auto accessories.
The EPA has evaluated: Morse Constant Speed Accessory Drive **;
P.A.S.S. Kit**; PASS Master Vehicle Air Conditioner**,, gas regulator, gas, gas regulator, regulator, .
Fuels and Fuel Additives: These materials are added to the gas
tank.
The EPA has evaluated: Bycosin; EI-5 Fuel Additive; Fuelon
Power;, gas regulator, Johnson Fuel Additive; NRG #1 Fuel Additive; QEI 400 Fuel
Additive; Rolfite Upgrade Fuel Additive; Sta-Power Fuel
Additive; Stargas, gas regulator, Fuel Additive; SYNeRGy-1; Technol G Fuel
Additive; ULX-15/ULX-15D; Vareb 10 Fuel Additive; XRG, gas regulator, #1 Fuel
Additive.
Oils and Oil Additives:. Usually these materials are poured into
the crankcase, gas regulator, .
The EPA has evaluated: Analube Synthetic Lubricant; Tephguard.
Driving Habit Modifiers: These are lights or sound devices to
tell the driver to reduce acceleration or to shift gears.
The EPA has evaluated: AUTOTHERM**; Fuel Conservation Device;
Gastell; IDALERT**.
Miscellaneous: The EPA has evaluated: BRAKE-EZ; Dynamix; Fuel
Maximiser; Gyroscopic Wheel Cover; Kamei Spoilers**; Kat's
Engine Heater; Lee Exhaust and Fuel Gasification EGR; Mesco
Moisture Extraction System; P.S.C.U. 01 Device; Treis Emulsifier.
Legend: * Indicated a very small improvement in fuel economy but
with an increase in exhaust emissions. According to Federal
regulations, installation of this device could be considered
illegal tampering.
** Indicated a very small improvement in, gas regulator, fuel economy without an
increase in exhaust emissions. However, cost-effectiveness must
be determined by the consumer for a particular application.
For more information on gas saving tips visit
How to
Save on Gas
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