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The federal government and other groups tested more than one hundred gadgets that claim to increase gasoline miles-per-gallon. We did some checking to see what the testers found out.
Motorist James Urruthia of Harrisburg sums up the gasoline price situation this way, "Ridiculous. It's real bad," said Urruthia. "You can't do anything about it. Five dollars gets you one gallon of gas."
It's not quite that bad but it could be soon. That's why conditions are ripe for motorists to buy gadgets that claim to boost mileage.
"I've always wondered about them," said motorist Mike Mishler of Carlisle. "I never really tried them or anything."
The device called "Water-4-Fuel" claims to boost a car's mileage by extracting hydrogen from water. The maker of "Turbomag" fuel saver magnets says placing the magnets on a car's fuel line rearranges fuel molecules for better mileage. We had a professional mechanic test the "Tornado" fuel saver a couple of years ago. His truck got worse mileage when using the device that's placed in the engine's air intake.
Judy Zimmerman-Walter of Zimmerman Automotive in Mechanicsburg said, "I've had several customers that have tried some of the devices. Some of them weren't sure if they helped. Others said it was fun but it wasn't worth the time or energy."
The EPA tested more than one hundred MPG gadgets and quote, "has not found any that significantly improved mileage." The EPA and Zimmerman-Walter say, you're much better off replacing things like a dirty air filter to improve mileage. "The air needs to flow through that filter properly," said Zimmerman-Walter. "Obviously if it's clogged with dirt, the air is not going to flow properly. Anytime you restrict airflow you're going to lose mileage.
She says basic maintenance will help your car give the best mileage possible.
The EPA has more tips to save gas on its website. Go to www.fueleconomy.gov.
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