FTC FACTS for Consumers

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ftc.gov FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

“Gas Saving” Products:

Gas prices are up, and so is the volume of advertising for 

“gas‐saving” products. When gasoline prices rise, consumers 

often look for ways to improve fuel efficiency. Although there 

are practical steps you can take to increase gas mileage, the Federal 

Trade Commission (FTC) warns you to be wary of any gas‐saving claims 

for automotive devices or oil and gas additives. Even for the few gas‐saving products that have been 

found to work, the savings have been small.

“Gas‐Saving” Advertising Claims

Be skeptical of the following kinds of advertising claims.

“This gas‐saving product improves fuel economy by 20 percent.”

Claims usually tout savings ranging from 12 to 25 percent. However, the Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA) has evaluated or tested more than 100 alleged gas‐saving devices and has not found 

any product that significantly improves gas mileage. In fact, some “gas‐saving” products may 

damage a car’s engine or cause substantial increases in exhaust emissions.

The gas‐saving products on the market fall into clearly defined categories. Although the EPA has 

not tested or evaluated every product, it has tried to examine at least one product in each category. 

See “Devices Tested by EPA” at the end of this brochure for category descriptions and product 

names. 

“After installing your product on my car, I got an extra 

4 miles [6.4 kilometers] per gallon [3.8 liters].”

Many ads feature glowing testimonials by satisfied customers. Yet, few consumers have the ability 

or the equipment to test for precise changes in gas mileage after installing a gas‐saving product. 

Many variables affect fuel consumption, including traffic, road and weather conditions, and the car’s 

condition. 

For example, one consumer sent a letter to a company praising its “gas‐saving” product. At the time 

the product was installed, however, the consumer also had received a complete engine tune‐up — a 

fact not mentioned in the letter. The entire increase in gas mileage attributed to the “gas‐saving” 

product may well have been the result of the tune‐up alone. But from the ad, other consumers could 

not have known that.

“This gas‐saving device is approved by the Federal government.”

No government agency endorses gas‐saving products for cars. The most that can be claimed in 

advertising is that the EPA has reached certain conclusions about possible gas savings by testing 

the product or by evaluating the manufacturer’s own test data. If the seller claims that its product 

Fact or Fuelishness?
Facts for Consumers

has been evaluated by the EPA, ask for a copy 

of the EPA report, or check www.epa.gov for 

information. In some instances, false claims of 

EPA testing or approval have been made.

Product Complaints and Refunds

If you’re dissatisfied with a gas‐saving product, 

contact the manufacturer and ask for a refund. Most 

companies offer money‐back guarantees. Contact 

the company, even if the guarantee period has 

expired.

If you’re not satisfied with the company’s response, 

contact your local or state consumer protection 

agency or the Better Business Bureau.

Shifting Gears: Real Money‐Saving Steps

There are numerous no- or low-cost steps you can 

take to combat rising gas prices. The most important 

place to start is at the gas pump; buy only the 

octane level gas you need. All gas pumps must post 

the octane rating of the gas under the FTC’s Fuel 

Rating Rule. Remember, the higher the octane, the 

higher the price. Check your owner’s manual to 

determine the right octane level for your car.

Here are some additional tips from the EPA to help 

you get better gas mileage.

Drive more efficiently

•	 Stay within posted speed limits. The faster you 

drive, the more fuel you use. For example, 

driving at 65 miles per hour (mph), rather than 55 

mph, increases fuel consumption by 20 percent. 

Driving at 75 mph, rather than 65 mph, increases 

fuel consumption by another 25 percent.

•	 Use overdrive gears. Overdrive gears improve 

the fuel economy of your car during highway 

driving. Your car’s engine speed decreases 

when you use overdrive. This reduces both fuel 

consumption and engine wear.

•	 Use cruise control. Using cruise control on 

highway trips can help you maintain a constant 

speed and, in most cases, reduce your fuel 

consumption.

•	 Anticipate driving situations. If you anticipate 

traffic conditions and don’t tailgate, you can 

avoid unnecessary braking and acceleration, and 

improve your fuel economy by 5 to 10 percent. 

In city driving, nearly 50 percent of the energy 

needed to power your car goes to acceleration. 

Go easy on the gas pedal and brakes. “Jackrabbit” starts and sudden stops are wasteful.

•	 Avoid unnecessary idling. Turn off the engine 

if you anticipate a lengthy wait. No matter how 

efficient your car is, unnecessary idling wastes 

fuel, costs you money and pollutes the air.

•	 Combine errands. Several short trips taken from 

a cold start can use twice as much fuel as one 

trip covering the same distance when the engine 

is warm.

•	 Remove excess weight from the trunk. Avoid 

carrying unneeded items, especially heavy ones. 

An extra 100 pounds in the trunk reduces a 

typical car’s fuel economy by one to two percent.

Maintain your car

•	 Keep your engine tuned. Studies have shown 

that a poorly tuned engine can increase fuel 

consumption by as much as 10 to 20 percent 

depending on a car’s condition. Follow the 

recommended maintenance schedule in your 

owner’s manual; you’ll save fuel and your car 

will run better and last longer.

•	 Keep your tires properly inflated and aligned.

Car manufacturers must place a label in the car 

stating the correct tire pressure. The label usually 

is on the edge of the door or door jamb, in the 

glove box, or on the inside of the gas cap cover. 

If the label lists a psi (pounds per square inch) 

range, use the higher number to maximize your 

fuel efficiency. Underinflated tires cause fuel 

consumption to increase by six percent.

•	 Change your oil. Clean oil reduces wear caused 

by friction between moving parts and removes 

harmful substances from the engine. Change your 

oil as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.

Consider buying a fuel efficient vehicle

Deciding which vehicle to buy may be the most 

important fuel economy decision you make. The 

difference between a car that gets 20 MPG (miles 

per gallon) and one that gets 30 MPG amounts to 

$3,125 over 5 years, assuming gas costs $2.50 per 

gallon and you drive 15,000 miles a year.
Facts for Consumers

Visit www.fueleconomy.gov for more information. 

You’ll find gas mileage estimates and other data 

from EPA for 1985‐2007 model year cars.

EPA Evaluation Efforts

The EPA evaluates or tests products to determine 

whether their use will result in any significant 

improvement or detriment to fuel economy. 

However, the EPA cannot say what effect 

gas‐saving products will have on a vehicle over time 

because it hasn’t conducted any durability tests. 

It’s possible that some products may harm the car 

or may otherwise adversely affect its performance. 

In fact, today’s vehicles’ emission control systems 

are very sophisticated and complex. They have On 

Board Diagnostic features that alert the driver to 

problems associated with the emission control and 

fuel delivery systems. Retrofit products may have 

an adverse effect on these systems.

Devices Tested by EPA

The following list categorizes various types of 

“gas‐saving” products, explains how they’re used 

and gives product names. Those with asterisks 

may save measurable, but small, amounts of gas. 

All others have been found not to increase fuel 

economy.

Air Bleed Devices. These devices bleed air into the 

carburetor. They usually are installed in the Positive 

Crankcase Ventilation line or as a replacement for 

idle‐mixture screws.

The EPA has evaluated the following products: 

ADAKS Vacuum Breaker Air Bleed; Air‐Jet 

Air Bleed; Aquablast Wyman Valve Air Bleed; 

Auto‐Miser; Ball‐Matic Air Bleed; Berg Air Bleed; 

Brisko PCV; Cyclone‐Z; Econo Needle Air Bleed; 

Econo‐Jet Air Bleed Idle Screws; Fuel Max*; Gas 

Saving Device; Grancor Air Computer; Hot Tip; 

Landrum Mini‐Carb; Landrum Retrofit Air Bleed; 

Mini Turbocharger Air Bleed; Monocar HC Control 

Air Bleed; Peterman Air Bleed; Pollution Master 

Air Bleed; Ram‐Jet; Turbo‐Dyne G.R. Valve.

Vapor Bleed Devices. These devices are similar 

to the air bleed devices, except that induced air 

is bubbled through a container of a water and 

anti‐freeze mixture, usually located in the engine 

compartment.

The EPA has evaluated: Atomized Vapor Injector; 

Frantz Vapor Injection System; Hydro‐Vac: 

POWERFUeL; Mark II Vapor Injection System; 

Platinum Gasaver; V‐70 Vapor Injector; SCATPAC 

Vacuum Vapor Induction System: Econo‐Mist 

Vacuum Vapor Injection System; Turbo Vapor 

Injection System.

Liquid Injection. These products add liquid into 

the fuel/air intake system and not directly into the 

combustion chamber.

The EPA has evaluated: Goodman Engine 

System‐Model 1800; Waag‐Injection System*.

Ignition Devices. These devices are attached to 

the ignition system or are used to replace original 

equipment or parts.

The EPA has evaluated: Autosaver; Baur 

Condenser; BIAP Electronic Ignition Unit; Fuel 

Economizer; Magna Flash Ignition Control System; 

Paser Magnum/Paser 500/Paser 500 HEI; Special 

Formula Ignition Advance Springs.

Fuel Line Devices (heaters or coolers). These 

devices heat the fuel before it enters the carburetor. 

Usually, the fuel is heated by the engine coolant or 

by the exhaust or electrical system.

The EPA has evaluated: FuelXpander; Gas Meiser 

I; Greer Fuel Preheater; Jacona Fuel System; 

Optimizer; Russell Fuelmiser.

Fuel Line Devices (magnets). These magnetic 

devices, clamped to the outside of the fuel line 

or installed in the fuel line, claim to change the 

molecular structure of gasoline.

The EPA has evaluated: PETRO‐MIZER; 

POLARION‐X; Super‐Mag Fuel Extender; Wickliff 

Polarizer [fuel line magnet/intake air magnet].

Fuel Line Devices (metallic). Typically, these 

devices contain several dissimilar metals that 

are installed in the fuel line, supposedly causing 

ionization of the fuel.

The EPA has evaluated: Malpassi Filter King [fuel 

pressure regulator]; Moleculetor.

Mixture Enhancers (under the carburetor). These 

devices are mounted between the carburetor and 

intake manifold and supposedly enhance the mixing 

or vaporization of the air/fuel mixture.
Facts for Consumers

1-877-FTC-HELP FOR THE CONSUMER

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION ftc.gov

September 2006

The EPA has evaluated: Energy Gas Saver; 

Environmental Fuel Saver; Gas Saving and 

Emission Control Improvement Device; Glynn‐50; 

Hydro‐Catalyst Pre‐Combustion Catalyst System; 

PETROMIZER SYSTEM; Sav‐A‐Mile; Spritzer; 

Turbo‐Carb; Turbocarb.

Mixture Enhancers (others). These devices make 

some general modifications to the vehicle intake 

system.

The EPA has evaluated: Basko Enginecoat; Dresser 

Economizer; Electro‐Dyne Superchoke; Filtron 

Urethane Foam Filter; Lamkin Fuel Metering 

Device; Smith Power and Deceleration Governor.

Internal Engine Modifications. These devices 

make physical or mechanical function changes to the 

engine.

The EPA has evaluated: ACDS Automotive 

Cylinder Deactivation System*; Dresser 

Economizer; MSU Cylinder Deactivation*.

Accessory Drive Modifiers. These devices reduce 

power to specific auto accessories.

The EPA has evaluated: Morse Constant Speed 

Accessory Drive**; P.A.S.S. Kit**; PASS Master 

Vehicle Air Conditioner**.

Fuels and Fuel Additives. These materials are 

added to the gas tank.

The EPA has evaluated: Bycosin; EI‐5 Fuel 

Additive; Fuelon Power; Johnson Fuel Additive; 

NRG #1 Fuel Additive; QEI 400 Fuel Additive; 

Rolfite Upgrade Fuel Additive; Sta‐Power Fuel 

Additive; Stargas Fuel Additive; SYNeRGy‐1; 

Technol G Fuel Additive; ULX‐15/ULX‐15D; 

Vareb 10 Fuel Additive; XRG #1 Fuel Additive.

Oils and Oil Additives. Usually these materials are 

poured into the crankcase.

The EPA has evaluated: Analube Synthetic 

Lubricant; Tephguard.

Driving Habit Modifiers. These are lights or sound 

devices to tell the driver to reduce acceleration or to 

shift gears.

The EPA has evaluated: AUTOTHERM**; Fuel 

Conservation Device; Gastell; IDALERT**.

Miscellaneous. The EPA has evaluated: 

BRAKE‐EZ; Dynamix; Fuel Maximiser; 

Gyroscopic Wheel Cover; Kamei Spoilers**; Kat’s 

Engine Heater; Lee Exhaust and Fuel Gasification 

EGR; Mesco Moisture Extraction System; P.S.C.U. 

01 Device; Treis Emulsifier.

* Indicated a very small improvement in fuel 

economy but with an increase in exhaust emissions. 

According to Federal regulations, installation of this 

device could be considered illegal tampering.

** Indicated a very small improvement in fuel 

economy without an increase in exhaust emissions. 

However, cost‐effectiveness must be determined by 

the consumer for a particular application.

For More Information

For information about EPA test 

procedures and test results, visit 

www.epa.gov/otaq/consumer/reports.htm or 

write: Verification and Compliance Division, Office 

of Transportation and Air Quality, Environmental 

Protection Agency, 2000 Traverwood Drive, Ann 

Arbor, MI 48105; or call 734-214-4925.

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent 

fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices 

in the marketplace and to provide information 

to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. 

To file a complaint or to get free information 

on consumer issues, visit www.ftc.gov or call 

toll-free, 1‐877‐FTC‐HELP (1‐877‐382‐4357); 

TTY: 1‐866‐653‐4261. The FTC enters Internet, 

telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related 

complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online 

database available to hundreds of civil and criminal 

law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.