Gas-Saving Products: Fact or Fuelishness?

When gas prices go up, out come the advertisements for "gas saving" products. When there's a gasoline and oil price hike, consumers tend to look for ways to save or find cost effective ways to save on gas expense.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns the public against "gas saving" advertisements and products. Instead, look for some practical and safe way to save on gas.

Be careful with these kinds of advertisements regarding gas saving products and devices:

"After installing your device on my car, I got an extra 6.4 miles/gal.". This is just one of the many ads featuring glowing testimonials by satisfied customers. However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has tested and evaluated more than 100 products and devices allegedly featuring some gas saving function and the agency has not found any one of these products who could significantly improve gas mileage. In fact, many of these products have been found to be dangerous and could cause damage to vehicles.

And always remember, no government agency endorses any gas saving products or devices for cars.

Unsatisfactory Products

Don't hesitate to contact the company if you are not satisfied with their "gas saving" product. They should be covered with a warranty service or call your local consumer protection agency for consumer assistance.

There are other practical ways to combat high gas prices:

Driving:

• Drive efficiently: stay within speed limit, the faster you drive fuel consumption increases.

• Practice the use of overdrive gears. This minimize fuel consumption and engine wear.

• Use cruise control on highway trip. It helps maintain a constant speed and reduce fuel consumption

• Avoid carrying excess weight in the trunk while on a trip

• Turn off engine if there's going to be a lengthy wait

• Warm the engine first before embarking on short trips, combine errands if possible.

• Don't be wasteful, avoid "jack rabbit starts and sudden stops"

• Try to anticipate any situations such as traffic and road inconveniences.

• Avoid tail-gating, give proper distance.

Car maintenance:

• A poorly tuned engine can increase fuel consumption. Make sure that your car is properly tuned and maintained accordingly, fuel will be saved and the car will perform better and will last longer.

• Tires should be properly inflated and aligned at all times. Under inflated tires causes gas consumption to increase and it can also cause danger.

• Air filters should be checked and maintained regularly. Clogged filters can also cause fuel consumption.

• Change oil regularly for smooth engine performance.

Try to buy a fuel efficient vehicle, it could be the most important move to fuel economy decision. There are many types of vehicles that are fuel efficient and these vehicles could help a lot in your drive for fighting gas price hike.

There are "gas saving" products and devices that have been tested and evaluated by EPA whether their use will result to a significant improvement on fuel economy. But the agency can not say what could be the effect of these "gas saving" products on vehicles if use for they have not any evaluation yet of their durability. It's possible that these products could damage a car or otherwise may adversely affect its performance in the long run.