Gas Saving Devices - a good buy for Rams?
#1
06-18-2006, 10:46 AM
Gas Saving Devices - a good buy for Rams?
{Keep in mind that if 1000 buyers try out a device that does nothing,
that won't mean that all 1000 buyers will find no change in the MPG on their next tank of gasoline. What will actually happen is that 'about' 500 will find an increase
and about 500 will find a decrease.
This is due to natural variation,
but the 500 who find an increase in their next tank of gasoline
will go out and brag about their new wonderful MPG increasing device!
This is how these scams are kept alive,
and all the scammer has to do is sell the worthless device at a huge profit so that even if half the buyers return the worthless device he still comes out many $ ahead.}
====
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nat...,7418606.story
`Gas-saving devices' bogus, authorities say
Best advice: Tune up car, inflate tires
By Tomoeh Murakami Tse
The Washington Post
June 18, 2006
WASHINGTON ยท Rob Durham had a secret -- or at least he thought he did.
Even as the prices on gasoline station signs had begun to rise, Durham, a real estate agent and budding entrepreneur in suburban Chicago, received an e-mail from a friend telling him about a "top-secret gas pill" that could significantly boost fuel efficiency while cutting emissions.
"The more I saw, the more I believed in it," said Durham, 39, who joined his friend and became a distributor. He still says the product works.
Authorities say the pill wasn't just "top-secret," it was also bogus. The additive is the equivalent of a mothball, according to Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, and federal authorities say it is one of scores of products pushed by a cottage industry preying on consumer angst over $3-a-gallon gas prices.
With drivers yearning for alternatives, manufacturers of products claiming to boost mileage are offering up solutions -- in the form of pills, powders, liquid additives and mechanical devices. Among them are magnets attached to the fuel line that "realign" fuel molecules and "vortex generators" that create mini-tornadoes inside the combustion chamber of the engine.
Some businesses marketing the products have cited rising sales in recent months, but federal authorities, consumer groups and auto experts said most of the items were unreliable. Over the past 30 years, the Environmental Protection Agency has tested more than 100 products that claimed to boost fuel efficiency. Many were sent to labs at the manufacturers' request, but all failed to show significant gains in mileage. Eight showed small increases, although three of them also increased emissions as well, which could make the products illegal.
"A lot of these claims tend to rely on magical thinking," said John Millett, an EPA spokesman. "If it really were a magic bullet, we would know about it."
That hasn't stopped manufacturers from coming up with products like the "top-secret gas pill" sold by Durham. The additive, called BioPerformance, which also comes in powder form, is manufactured by an Irving, Texas, company of the same name.
Last month, Abbott, the attorney general, filed a lawsuit against the company, saying it had recruited thousands of paying members such as Durham in an apparent pyramid scheme. Consumers were encouraged to become "dealers" at seminars across the country.
"The company's ads claim the gasoline pills and powders they offer have a nontoxic `top secret gas pill' that can increase fuel efficiency by 30 percent or more and cut harmful emissions by up to 50 percent," according to a news release from the attorney general's office. "In fact, the additive is basically the chemical equivalent of mothballs, which are toxic."
Messages left for Lowell Mims, a co-owner of BioPerformance Inc., were not returned, and the company's voice message mailbox was full Friday. In a letter dated May 26 posted on the corporate Web site, Mims told distributors that he was confident the additive would be proved effective.
Despite the official complaint, Durham, who has not been sued, defended BioPerformance.
"I'm in the business because the product works, and there's never a better time to be out there," said Durham, who had to stop selling the additives after a few months when the company's assets were frozen.
The Federal Trade Commission has filed a dozen lawsuits since the mid-1990s against makers and marketers of gas-saving products, halting the sales of the products by the defendants. But many remain available for purchase through online auction sites or other resellers.
"These are scams of opportunity," said Laura DeMartino, an attorney with the FTC, which put out a booklet for consumers titled "`Gas-Saving' Products: Fact or Fuelishness?"
Such warnings by federal regulators apparently have not stopped consumers from buying these products.
With the summer driving season starting and no short-term relief from high gas prices in sight, some consumer groups and auto shop managers said they have received more inquiries about the products.
But, auto specialists said, the best "device" consumers can get for their cars is a tire gauge, available for about $20.
"When the gas price goes up, this stuff comes out of the woodwork," said Ed Kriston, a Towson, Md.-based auto repair specialist approved by AAA Mid-Atlantic. He said his advice is always the same: Keep the air in the tires up ... and make sure the vehicle is serviced."
that won't mean that all 1000 buyers will find no change in the MPG on their next tank of gasoline. What will actually happen is that 'about' 500 will find an increase
and about 500 will find a decrease.
This is due to natural variation,
but the 500 who find an increase in their next tank of gasoline
will go out and brag about their new wonderful MPG increasing device!
This is how these scams are kept alive,
and all the scammer has to do is sell the worthless device at a huge profit so that even if half the buyers return the worthless device he still comes out many $ ahead.}
====
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nat...,7418606.story
`Gas-saving devices' bogus, authorities say
Best advice: Tune up car, inflate tires
By Tomoeh Murakami Tse
The Washington Post
June 18, 2006
WASHINGTON ยท Rob Durham had a secret -- or at least he thought he did.
Even as the prices on gasoline station signs had begun to rise, Durham, a real estate agent and budding entrepreneur in suburban Chicago, received an e-mail from a friend telling him about a "top-secret gas pill" that could significantly boost fuel efficiency while cutting emissions.
"The more I saw, the more I believed in it," said Durham, 39, who joined his friend and became a distributor. He still says the product works.
Authorities say the pill wasn't just "top-secret," it was also bogus. The additive is the equivalent of a mothball, according to Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, and federal authorities say it is one of scores of products pushed by a cottage industry preying on consumer angst over $3-a-gallon gas prices.
With drivers yearning for alternatives, manufacturers of products claiming to boost mileage are offering up solutions -- in the form of pills, powders, liquid additives and mechanical devices. Among them are magnets attached to the fuel line that "realign" fuel molecules and "vortex generators" that create mini-tornadoes inside the combustion chamber of the engine.
Some businesses marketing the products have cited rising sales in recent months, but federal authorities, consumer groups and auto experts said most of the items were unreliable. Over the past 30 years, the Environmental Protection Agency has tested more than 100 products that claimed to boost fuel efficiency. Many were sent to labs at the manufacturers' request, but all failed to show significant gains in mileage. Eight showed small increases, although three of them also increased emissions as well, which could make the products illegal.
"A lot of these claims tend to rely on magical thinking," said John Millett, an EPA spokesman. "If it really were a magic bullet, we would know about it."
That hasn't stopped manufacturers from coming up with products like the "top-secret gas pill" sold by Durham. The additive, called BioPerformance, which also comes in powder form, is manufactured by an Irving, Texas, company of the same name.
Last month, Abbott, the attorney general, filed a lawsuit against the company, saying it had recruited thousands of paying members such as Durham in an apparent pyramid scheme. Consumers were encouraged to become "dealers" at seminars across the country.
"The company's ads claim the gasoline pills and powders they offer have a nontoxic `top secret gas pill' that can increase fuel efficiency by 30 percent or more and cut harmful emissions by up to 50 percent," according to a news release from the attorney general's office. "In fact, the additive is basically the chemical equivalent of mothballs, which are toxic."
Messages left for Lowell Mims, a co-owner of BioPerformance Inc., were not returned, and the company's voice message mailbox was full Friday. In a letter dated May 26 posted on the corporate Web site, Mims told distributors that he was confident the additive would be proved effective.
Despite the official complaint, Durham, who has not been sued, defended BioPerformance.
"I'm in the business because the product works, and there's never a better time to be out there," said Durham, who had to stop selling the additives after a few months when the company's assets were frozen.
The Federal Trade Commission has filed a dozen lawsuits since the mid-1990s against makers and marketers of gas-saving products, halting the sales of the products by the defendants. But many remain available for purchase through online auction sites or other resellers.
"These are scams of opportunity," said Laura DeMartino, an attorney with the FTC, which put out a booklet for consumers titled "`Gas-Saving' Products: Fact or Fuelishness?"
Such warnings by federal regulators apparently have not stopped consumers from buying these products.
With the summer driving season starting and no short-term relief from high gas prices in sight, some consumer groups and auto shop managers said they have received more inquiries about the products.
But, auto specialists said, the best "device" consumers can get for their cars is a tire gauge, available for about $20.
"When the gas price goes up, this stuff comes out of the woodwork," said Ed Kriston, a Towson, Md.-based auto repair specialist approved by AAA Mid-Atlantic. He said his advice is always the same: Keep the air in the tires up ... and make sure the vehicle is serviced."
#2
06-18-2006, 09:59 PM
RE: Gas Saving Devices - a good buy for Rams?
HankL I read the hole thing and I can see you tooka lot of time into getting this for us. Me being 17 and only makign about 5-600 dollars a month am really concerned about my MPG but I am not stupid. What I would like to think is what makes some one think a powder could inprove MPG? My truck often runns n E and I hate that because i know its ot good for the truck and I would do anything to keep t away from E but I dont think I would buy somthing like a powder or pill that I had my wits.
I think some people are just stupid. I have heard of a Bug getting like 50 MPG with a special designed spoiler. I am not sure if that could be right but considering its a bug and if the spoiler diverted the wind just right and didnt creat alot of drag I am sure itcould happen.
When car makers figure the MPG they do it in a dactory on hi-tech machines thaats why when you buy a car/truck even though the tag may say 30MPG it may be more like 25.
Really its common sence.
I think some people are just stupid. I have heard of a Bug getting like 50 MPG with a special designed spoiler. I am not sure if that could be right but considering its a bug and if the spoiler diverted the wind just right and didnt creat alot of drag I am sure itcould happen.
When car makers figure the MPG they do it in a dactory on hi-tech machines thaats why when you buy a car/truck even though the tag may say 30MPG it may be more like 25.
Really its common sence.
#3
06-21-2006, 09:10 AM
RE: Gas Saving Devices - a good buy for Rams?
Popular Mechanics magazine has also tested out claims of gas gimmicks:
http://www.popularmechanics.com/auto...s/1802932.html
http://www.popularmechanics.com/auto...s/1802932.html
#4
06-28-2006, 04:50 AM
RE: Gas Saving Devices - a good buy for Rams?
A couple of guys at work are pushing the BioPerformance stuff, I think the company changed its name recently though. These are also the same people trying to get you to buy their Amway, FortuneTech and other "network marketing" crap. I keep telling them that if they really want to get rich they need to come up with their own idea to sell to others, instead of paying someone else for theirs.
#5
06-28-2006, 10:58 AM
RE: Gas Saving Devices - a good buy for Rams?
One of the real shames is that small bits of plastic can REALLY improve MPG.
None of the pickup trucks -
Dodge, Ford, GM, Toyota or Nissan
is anywhere close to the 'best' aerodynamic shape.
DaimlerChrysler has shown with its 'BoxFish' show vehicle that they can make a vehicle with a aerodynamic Cd=0.19.
In pickup trucks the Ram is perhaps the worst with its 2002-2006 Cd=0.528
but the Toyota Tundra is not much better at 0.42 (same as the 1994 4x2 Ram)
GM recently claimed that the new Tahoe is a little better at Cd=0.36
Someone could indeed make money and help his fellow pickup owners by selling little pieces of plastic and metal that would be attached in the right places to improve MPG at highway speeds.
Most of these add-on devices would go UNDERNEATH the pickup where looks would not even be a factor. GM claimed in their recent press release that the majority of the changes that made the Tahoe better aerodynamically were on the underside.
The wind tunnel employees at DCx, GM, Ford, Toyota and Nissan probably already know what simple things can be done - but their bosses seem to be indifferent to spreading the word - with the possible exception of Roger Clark.
http://web.archive.org/web/200208032...332270,00.html
None of the pickup trucks -
Dodge, Ford, GM, Toyota or Nissan
is anywhere close to the 'best' aerodynamic shape.
DaimlerChrysler has shown with its 'BoxFish' show vehicle that they can make a vehicle with a aerodynamic Cd=0.19.
In pickup trucks the Ram is perhaps the worst with its 2002-2006 Cd=0.528
but the Toyota Tundra is not much better at 0.42 (same as the 1994 4x2 Ram)
GM recently claimed that the new Tahoe is a little better at Cd=0.36
Someone could indeed make money and help his fellow pickup owners by selling little pieces of plastic and metal that would be attached in the right places to improve MPG at highway speeds.
Most of these add-on devices would go UNDERNEATH the pickup where looks would not even be a factor. GM claimed in their recent press release that the majority of the changes that made the Tahoe better aerodynamically were on the underside.
The wind tunnel employees at DCx, GM, Ford, Toyota and Nissan probably already know what simple things can be done - but their bosses seem to be indifferent to spreading the word - with the possible exception of Roger Clark.
http://web.archive.org/web/200208032...332270,00.html
#6
07-01-2006, 02:27 AM
RE: Gas Saving Devices - a good buy for Rams?
[sm=crossbonesgif.gif]
I find that MY gas milage has improved greatly impart to the pair of trucknutz I have hanging under my truck!
[sm=roll.gif]
[sm=crossbonesgif.gif]
I find that MY gas milage has improved greatly impart to the pair of trucknutz I have hanging under my truck!
[sm=roll.gif]
[sm=crossbonesgif.gif]
#7
07-04-2006, 11:08 PM
RE: Gas Saving Devices - a good buy for Rams?
My second car is an 05 Scion Tc, only relevent because a couple of weeks ago I read on their forum that people have found adding a small percentage of alcohol to a tank of gas improves gas milage up to 13%. A few cap fulls of alcohol helps fully burn everything in the combustion chamber. I have tried it in my scion and have noticed an improvement of about 4-7 miles per gallon. I have yet to try this in my 98 Dodge Ram 4x4, only because I've only had it for a month or so. Also keep in mind the scion is a four cylinder, dual overhead cam, so results may vary in our dodges. If I can find the link again I will post it because it's a long informative article.
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#9
07-07-2006, 09:40 AM
RE: Gas Saving Devices - a good buy for Rams?
We all know about Computer Viruses.
Adding acetone to gasoline is a 'Mind Virus'
Somewhere someone is getting a lot of laughs because he has managed to trick people into trying something that a DCx or Honda engineer would tell you is totally bogus.
But if you want to read about it,
here it is:
http://www.lubedev.com/smartgas/tips.htm
Adding acetone to gasoline is a 'Mind Virus'
Somewhere someone is getting a lot of laughs because he has managed to trick people into trying something that a DCx or Honda engineer would tell you is totally bogus.
But if you want to read about it,
here it is:
http://www.lubedev.com/smartgas/tips.htm
#10
07-09-2006, 11:07 PM
RE: Gas Saving Devices - a good buy for Rams?
When I added flames to my truck, I found it added about 20 HP, which did, in fact, increase my MPG, so everyone go out and paint some flames on your hood!! Never buy into gimmicks, stick with the proven facts. Run cooler, and improve effeciency through time tested methods and thoroughly tested new methods that have the hardcore facts and numbers to back them up.
