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.

 

[theMM]

Project Farm posted a video over a month ago (definitely worth watching) trying various products and those "Made in China" plug in gas saver things do absolutely nothing to your car. What was even more hilarious is that there is a product that plugs in to the cigarette lighter port that advertises better gas mileage of all things!

 

[Zee09]

Around here just driving like a sane individual would save gas ️

People drive like crazy lunatics...

 

[Kira]

I went to the Tornadoair website linked to in post #7. They come in 10 sizes.
Imagine the R&D costs involved!

The kicker is that the 89mm - 93mm size is also offered in HEAVY DUTY.
I laughed aloud.

They really dropped the ball in NOT offering SKUs for both Northern and Southern Hemispheres.....Lateral Coriolis Factor, ya know.