When it Comes to "Gas-Saving" Devices, Save Your Money

Friday, June 15, 2007

Contact: Bill Cloud

With gas prices sky-rocketing, consumers are looking for alternative ways to save money at the pump, including investing in one of the many products out there that claim to improve fuel economy.  These include fuel and oil additives, fuel line devices, engine heaters and injectors, and air and vapor bleed devices, among others.  But do these products really do what they say?  Research by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Consumer Reports has found that the vast majority of “gas-saving” devices are totally ineffective.  A few produced a very small improvement in fuel economy, but the money saved by the consumer was negligible.  And of those devices, some had the undesirable side effect of increasing exhaust emissions, meaning that installation of these devices could be considered “illegal tampering” according to federal regulations.  To view EPA evaluations of gas-saving devices, visit the EPA web site.

Consumers should be very wary of advertising claims for products that promise a significant improvement in fuel economy or claim “EPA Certification”.  While the EPA will issue a registration letter indicating that the chemicals in the gasoline additives do not produce emissions that are any more harmful than those in regular fuel, this does not amount to approval or endorsement of the product.

The Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs contends that the best way to save money on gas is by following these suggestions from the EPA, Consumer Reports and other sources:

• Slow down.  According to the EPA, every five miles per hour you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional 20 cents a gallon for gas.

• Drive smoothly.  Frequent starts and stops can reduce mileage by 2 to 3 miles per gallon, so avoid tailgating. You can also save significantly on gas by slowing your rate of acceleration from a stoplight.

• Proper maintenance.   Make sure your car is in good working order.  Regular tune-ups, oil changes, replacement of air filters and keeping your tires properly inflated can all help improve your fuel economy.

• Lighten your load.  At highway speeds, more than half of the engine power goes to overcoming aerodynamic drag.  If taking a trip, keep luggage inside the vehicle rather than strapping it to the roof.  Remove unnecessary items, especially heavy ones, from your car and trunk so that your engine doesn’t have to work as hard. 

• Don’t be idle.  Shut off the engine if you’ll be idling for more than 30 seconds. 

• Combine small trips.  Half of all car trips are less than 6 miles.  Since driving with a warm engine saves gas and limits engine wear, try to string your errands together.

• Economy cars.  If you’re buying a new car, consider a hybrid or other model that’s received high ratings in fuel economy. 

For more information, contact  the Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs.