Now that gasoline prices have risen to an all-time high, devices that claim to increase your gas mileage have been pulled from the closet, dusted off and placed for sale to consumers hungry to save a few bucks on their next fuel bill. I'll review two products, and show why you shouldn't waste your money.
1.
Fuel line magnets (Magnetizer, Motoflow, etc.).
There are many different brands of this device on the market ranging in price from $.99 to more than $100. Whether the advertising mentions anything about magnets, magnetic forces or not, you can pretty much assume that anything that installs around the fuel line will involve a magnet. Claims of "clustered fuel molecules" due to the magnetic attraction of those pesky molecules, and then being broken up by the device strapped to your fuel line (with resulting increased combustion efficiency) is such incredible B.S. - there is absolutely nothing in gasoline that could be even remotely considered magnetic! Plain and simple, no further explanation required, the basic fact that gasoline has no magnetic properties puts this old scam to rest.
2.
Vortex Generators (Turbonator, Turbo Air, etc.).
These are add-on sheet metal devices that are installed in your air intake. Even though the many competing brands claim to work differently from each other, in principle, they are all very similar in the way they're supposed to increase your gas mileage and even boost horsepower. By increasing the velocity (speed) of the airflow to your engine, as well as giving the air a "swirling motion" (increased turbulence), vortex generators are supposed to improve airflow through the intake manifold and increase combustion efficiency. The reality? Popular Mechanics scientifically tested several of these devices and came up with two conclusions. First, not one of them increased the miles per gallon of the test vehicle. One of the vortex generators actually decreased efficiency, dropping the miles per gallon by at least 10%. Second, what about claims of increased horsepower? Horsepower, as measured by a dynamometer decreased while testing both devices. One caveat: car manufacturers sometimes use variations of airflow enhancement techniques, but they are scientifically designed and rigorously tested as only O.E.M. designs can be. Once again, put your money back in your pocket as vortex generators, at least the add-on products, are even more than worthless, as they will cost you more gas.
Rather than spending money on worthless fuel mileage enhancement devices, the only proven ways to get more mpg from your car are very simple. Make sure your car is in tip-top mechanical shape and change your driving habits to get the most mileage from each gallon of gas.
Dan Morton is a car enthusiast, author and recovering engineer. Looking for more insightful and interesting automotive resources? Visit http://www.AutoSanity.com
Got a hankering for Hot Rods and Classic Cars? See http://www.RodnClassic.com
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