Gas Mileage "Improvers", the Real Scoop

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns you to be wary of any gas-saving claims for automotive devices or oil and gas additives. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has evaluated or tested more than 100 alleged gas-saving devices and has not found any product that significantly improves gas mileage.

I did a search for engine efficiency products and this is what I found :

Product: Optifuel XTR
Claimed: They claim this liquid gas additive boosts gas mileage 10-20%.
Proof of Claims: They list testimonials and "tests" that have the words indicating the product name whited out.
Cost: (not listed)

The missing product names on their "tests" is something very suspicious.

Product: MPG-CAP is a small capsule that you put in your fuel tank when filling up your vehicle.
Claimed: It will give you a 7-14% increase on your miles per gallon yield. Its Advanced Lubrication Technology will reduce the harmful wear and tear that your engine and other equipment suffer during normal every day operation. It creates a micro-thin coating on the combustion chamber in your engine.
Proof of Claims: One of the main web sites promoting this did not list any test results, only tests showing that the pill didn't negatively alter the gas. ABC News reported a 4% highway mileage increase, but no city mileage increase. AAA also reported the same results.
Cost: $20 per 10 caps

There are other "test results", but most don't even tell who did the testing. Why?
With a tank of 20 gallons at $3.50/gal, saving 4%, you wind up with a savings of $2.80. The pill costs $2. So the savings would be 80 cents per tank full.

Product: EnviroMax+. Just add 1 oz to every 5 gallons of gas for the first 3 to 5 full tanks of fuel, then start adding 1 oz to every 10 gallons of gas.
Claimed: With each fill up and you will see an increase in miles per gallon up to 35%. It reduces engine wear and tear by 50% or more, and increases horsepower & performance. It oxygenates the gasoline.
Proof of Claims: The Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas Tech concluded that an additive of zinc oxide suspended in peroxide increased diesel engine mileage by 20% on average, and reduced emissions by around 30%. And half as much iron particles were found in the oil after 28,000 miles, which indicates less engine wear. The Emissions Testing Centers of Georgia reported an increase of 10.4% in gas mileage upon initial introduction of 3 oz of EnviroMax to 15 gallons of gas. Emissions were reduced significantly. The tested engine was a 2.5 liter V-6 Mopar. They expected greater mileage increases on less fuel-efficient engines than the one they tested.
Cost: $19.50 for a 16 oz bottle. ($3.66 for 3 ounces)

The Texas Tech test looked good, but they weren't exactly using the marketed EnviroMax product, only something similar.
Adding $3.66 worth (3 ounces) of EnviroMax to 15 gallons of gas which costs $52.50 (at $3.50 per gallon) saves $5.46 in gas. (10.4% of $52.50 is $5.46). That, minus the cost of $3.66 leaves a savings of $1.80 per 15 gallons of gas.

Products: Vortec Cyclone, Tornado FuelSaver, or Turbonator-Only (all are a device that fits in the air passage to cause the air to swirl)
Claimed: The Vortec Cyclone creates a dynamic swirling tornado of air within the combustion chamber. This leads to better fuel atomization and more efficient burning. A 1-2 mpg improvement is to be expected.
Proof of Claims: No true product test results are offered to verify the claims, only testimonials.
Cost: $50.

It is very possible that the swirl will most likely be interrupted by the shape of the 1 or 2 valved intakes (per cylinder) and the greater force of the vacuum sucking the air straight down into the cylinder, contrary to any circular air movement that might remain after it squeezes past the valves. The bladed intake device would also most likely create more resistance to air flow into the engine, whereas an engine turbo increases air flow, thereby increasing engine power.

Product: Premiere Fuelsaver from EnerStar attaches externally to your fuel line with an electrical lead that goes to the battery.
Claimed: It sends a computer-controlled electromagnetic field around the fuel line with the effect of separating clusters of fuel molecules into smaller groups and individual molecules that are more readily oxygenated. Combustion is more efficient and cleaner. This adds power, reduces fuel consumption, and reduces emissions.
Proof of Claims: The Emission Research and Measurement Development Division of Environment Canada tested the EnerStar on the diesel engine. The results were an average savings of 10% - with urban saving at 7%, suburban at 13% and motorway at 10%.
Cost: $293 to $429.

The EPA found that magnetic products don't improve gas mileage. This product varies from regular magnets though in that it probably outputs an oscillating magnetic field instead of a static one. The EPA needs to evaluate this specific product.
Search for info on electric powered bicycles if you want to reduce your gas costs to zero.


Click here for a good site with an engineer's comments on "fuel saving" gadgets.

Click here for reviews done by Popular Mechanics magazine.


from http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/autos/aut10.shtm

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has evaluated or tested more than 100 alleged gas-saving devices and has not found any product that significantly improves gas mileage. In fact, some "gas-saving" products may damage a car's engine or cause substantial increases in exhaust emissions.

The gas-saving 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.


Products 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.


Fuels and Fuel Additives. These materials are added to the gas tank.

The EPA has evaluated: Bycosin; EI-5 Fuel Additive; Fuelon Power; Johnson Fuel Additive; NRG #1 Fuel Additive; QEI 400 Fuel Additive; Rolfite Upgrade Fuel Additive; Sta-Power Fuel Additive; Stargas Fuel Additive; SYNeRGy-1; Technol G Fuel Additive; ULX-15/ULX-15D; Vareb 10 Fuel Additive; XRG #1 Fuel Additive.

Oils and Oil Additives. Usually these materials are poured into the crankcase.

The EPA has evaluated: Analube Synthetic Lubricant; Tephguard.

Air Bleed 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 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 air bleed devices, except 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 directly into the combustion chamber. Of question is whether parts in the engine and exhaust will rust with an increased exposure to water when it is injected.

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 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 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.

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 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**.

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.

* 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 fuel economy without an increase in exhaust emissions. However, cost-effectiveness must be determined by the consumer for a particular application.
 

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