Gas Saving Devices

As gas prices continue to hike, many people are looking for ways to reduce fuel consumption for their cars. Growing right along with the hike in fuel prices is the number of gas saving devices that claim to help you economize on gasoline and make your vehicle more fuel-efficient.

From metallic additives with antifreeze mixture to magnets that are clamped to the inside or outside of the fuel line in order to change the molecular structure of gasoline, the range of gas saving devices available in the market are truly wide.

However, experts say that consumers should not let their desire to save on gas blind them to the faults of these so-called gas saving devices. John Millet, spokesman for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says, “They don’t work. Believe me, if it were that easy, cars would be built that way, especially the magnets and whirling devices.”

“It’s smart to be skeptical about any claims like that,” he further adds.

At the request of the Federal Trade Commission, the EPA has recently tested 100 gas saving devices in the neighborhood. They found that only six of these gas saving devices showed an improvement in fuel economy without an increase in exhaust emissions. The improvement, however, is very minimal and is hardly worth the amount you pay for these gas saving devices.

Rather, the best gas saving devices out there are the drivers themselves – YOU. How you drive can greatly affect how much fuel your motor vehicle consumes. Whether you are driving a car, a truck, bus, utility vehicle, trailer, or a motorcycle, keep in mind that your driving technique is the single determining element for gauging fuel economy. So if you a real gas saving device that is guaranteed to save fuel, then improve your driving technique.

Here are more gas saving tips:

• There are vehicles that are tuned up to operate at a higher elevation and there are those that are better suited for areas close to sea level. Thus, if you are driving a car that is streamlined for areas close to sea level and you drive it up a high elevation, then the car becomes less fuel efficient. The same things happens if you are driving a vehicle suited for high elevations. The difference in air density between areas close to sea level and higher level areas affects fuel economy of your car.

• When you fuel your car, do it in the morning when the day is still cool.

• When you fuel your car, never fill the tank to the brim.

• After starting your car, drive off immediately. However, do so at a low speed in order to allow the engine warm up faster and lubricate better.