OBD2 Plug In Gas Savers a Real Scam

[Boomer]

Neat article about what a scam these "plug in" gas savers are. I always wonder if if people realize that if it was this easy to save gas, why don't the manufacturers employs? Give them a heck of a marketing advantage!


https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/tech...&cvid=6a4cdd6b720547eda7415431e63014aa&ei=106

 

[skyactiv]

I’m sure some people purchase one, start driving like there’s an egg between their foot and the gas pedal and attribute it to the device.

 

[fantastic]

I’m sure some people purchase one, start driving like there’s an egg between their foot foot and the gas pedal and attribute it to the device.

Placebo!

 

[SC Maintenance]

Same every time gas goes up - all the snake oil salesman come out. Like the water carburetor in the 70's.

 

[Geekhead]

Same every time gas goes up - all the snake oil salesman come out. Like the water carburetor in the 70's.

Or MLM marketed fuel saver tablets for your tank, "One $4.00 tablet will save you $10-15 per tank"

 

[Leo99]

Same every time gas goes up - all the snake oil salesman come out. Like the water carburetor in the 70's.

I recall something that created a vortex to save gasoline.

 

[Thermo1223]

I personally always got a kick out of this growing up.

https://www.tornadoair.com/

It seems it evolved now to stainless steel.

 

[Bob5150]

I recall something that created a vortex to save gasoline.

I saw a similar device on a vehicle on a used car lot years ago, it was a little box mounted near the battery, even had a fancy green LED lit up.

I looked it up online, and it had claims of "pre-aligning" the molecules in the fuel before ignition, or something like that, and sold for almost $100.

 

[Kestas]

I enjoy reading the psychology behind all the people who buy and use snake oil to save gas. I wish I had time to type it all up.

 

[D60]

Neat article about what a scam these "plug in" gas savers are. I always wonder if if people realize that if it was this easy to save gas, why don't the manufacturers employs? Give them a heck of a marketing advantage!


https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/tech...&cvid=6a4cdd6b720547eda7415431e63014aa&ei=106

My client has one that plugs into the cigarette lighter. He claims it improved MPG by something like 8 in a 2010 Accord. He was so sure and proud of it I didn't have the heart to burst his bubble.

From what I can tell these are just tiny capacitors and the theory is they momentarily reduce load on the alt

 

[D60]

I enjoy reading the psychology behind all the people who buy and use snake oil to save gas. I wish I had time to type it all up.

Back when I sat at a desk (and as a result understood how people go Postal) all the co-workers in my office bought into the aforementioned moth ball MLM scam.

We had seven in my sub-department and while I was the only "car guy" there and told them it's a scam, all six co-workers bought into it. That one was eventually shut down by a state AG. Too bad as surely those moth balls were "safe and effective"

I've since noted similar go-with-the-herd actions, like 6 years ago

 

[dogememe]

I've occasionally run across these. I take them out when doing OBD2 scans and set them on the seat, and then put them back when I'm done. I do not comment on them - it's not my place to judge. Often the customer will, unprovoked, bring up how awesome that thing is, how much gas they save, etc. Almost in a way that makes me think deep down they know it's a scam and are trying to convince not me, but themselves, that it does something.

 

[JohnnyG]

I agree, all of these items are truly scams, designed to lighten your wallet.

However, I was very surprised to find that my Northstar engine in my 1999 STS, had indeed, a flow straightener at the throttle body,
Exactly what it did, other than increase air flow, is beyond me.
We also used them in certain areas of gasoline/diesel pipelines to reduce turbulence.....also a liquid polymer version at one time.