Deceptive Ad Claims for Gas Saving Devices Can Cost You Plenty!

With the price of gas at record levels, a host of fuel saving products are being advertised. If you do a search for the key words "fuel saving devices" google will find 1.5 million pages as a result of the search. It never ceases to amaze that so many unscrupulous individuals try to take advantage of specific situations in order to scam you out of your hard earned money. And that is exactly what these gas saving devices are, scams.

The latest scam is trying to convince you that a fuel saving device attached to your car will miraculously cut your gas consumption 20, 30 even 40 percent. The federal government has done a lot of testing of fuel saving devices. From this extensive testing comes this advice.

The Federal Trade Commission warns drivers to be extremely wary of any gasoline saving claims for additives or devices. The test and research results to date show that there has not been any fuel saving device that significantly increases fuel economy in any way!

There are some general themes and methods to the fuel device advertising strategy. Here are a few to beware of:

Be extremely skeptical of this kind of advertising scam: the ad claims "This gas saving device increases gas economy by 20 percent." In general gas saving device advertising claims savings ranging from 12 to 25 percent. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has tested or evaluated more than 100 supposed gas-saving devices and additives and to this day has not found any one of them that significantly increases gas mileage. In fact, some of these alleged "gasoline-saving" products actually might damage your engine or cause an increase of fuel exhaust emissions. That could even cause your car to fail emissions test that are required in many states.

Another deceptive advertising method used are ones that are based on great and glowing testimonials from satisfied consumers and drivers. An example: "After putting your product on my vehicle, I saw that I started getting an extra 6 miles per gallon of gas." Don't rely on some amateur drivers claim to justify spending your money.

These types of deceptive advertisements use testimonials from happy drivers as the proof that the product works. No consumer or driver has the proper equipment or the training to test for precise changes in fuel economy. Even if the consumer had the right equipment they could not control the conditions that affect fuel economy a great deal.

Different variables affect gasoline mileage. These include road conditions, weather conditions, traffic conditions, and the condition of the vehicle. For example in one deceptive advertising case that was researched, a driver wrote a letter praising a "gasoline saving" device. Of course this consumer forgot to mention that when he had the aforementioned device installed, he also had his car completely tuned up. The increase in fuel economy that was attributed to the "gasoline saving" device in the letter was most certainly a result of the tune up and not the device. The device advertisement did not mention this, so other drivers and consumers would never know it was the tune up not the device that accounted for any increase in fuel economy.

These are just some of the tactics that those selling fuel saving devices use to legitimize their claims. They are out there to take advantage of unsuspecting consumers desperate to find a way to lower their gas costs. Don't become a victim of these scams. Be wary of their claims. Remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

By: Scott Siegel

Scott Siegel is the author of a 143 page manual of automotive industry insider information on saving gas and money at the pump (beatthegaspump.com). Visit us to discover how you can get better gas mileage. Find out how to increase gas mileage.
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