Features Business & Policy Consumer Issues
Too good to be true?

A search on the internet for 'fuel savers' turns up a host of magnetic fuel
savers, such as the CKT Fuel Saver, and other devices based on different technologies.
But are these devices too good to be true?

Canadian Consumer's Report refers to information from the US Federal
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA has evaluated many different
types of 'fuel savers' and their web site recommends that consumers be skeptical
of advertising statements such as: "This gas-saving product improves fuel
economy by 20 percent." The 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. In their tests, the EPA looked
at four magnetic fuel line devices and did not find any of these fuel savers
to increase fuel economy, although the CKT Fuel Saver was not in their tests.
Also, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has aggressively targetted companies
who make unsubstantiated advertising claims around fuel savers, and prosecuted
them for false advertising.

For more information from the FTC, go to its web site on 'Gas Saving Fuelishness'
at: www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/autos/gasave.htm

In the absence of any recognizable third-party Canadian research, providing
a solid recommendation on the device is difficult. Like many products that have
not been scientifically researched by independent third parties, the bottom
line has to be 'buyer beware'. -30-