5 Fuel-Saving Hoaxes

Understandably, no one enjoys their trips to the petrol station. With exorbitant fuel prices here, savvy motorists are always looking for ways to boost fuel economy, hopefully without sacrificing power output. It is this demand that has created a lucrative aftermarket for products that claim to save you fuel. We take a look at the science behind common add-on items that claim to save you petrol, but really don’t!

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Proponents of fuel line magnets claim that these nifty little add-ons can help you burn less fuel by using magnetic fuels to break up clumps of petrol/diesel. However, it can do no such thing. Fuels are non-polar, and thus will not be affected by magnetic waves. Independent testing conducted has shown no effect of performance or economy.

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These devices claim to be of benefit to older vehicles, with the marketing material wanting you to believe that cars are incapable of producing clean electrical impulses for efficient combustion and for general operation. Unlike their hard-mounted (voltage stabiliser) competitors, these devices promise a quick plug-and-play operation, promising unrealistic economy gains up to 40%.

It is improbable that a device powered by a cigarette lighter can aid in filtering unwanted frequencies that can disrupt a car’s general functionality. In actuality, various parties have already done their own independent testing, and have verified that these devices are incapable of doing what it says on the tin. The bulk of these devices simply have a basic circuit to power the indicator LEDs to feed you the illusion that it does something!

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As with the previous product, the voltage stabiliser promises to block out unwanted electrical signals for a stronger spark for better combustion. These are often wired onto the battery terminal, and it is a more involved process to get one of these fitted as compared to the item in the point above.

Perhaps these may work in older cars, but modern vehicles really do not need any extra assistance electrically speaking. Sensors and computers, which can cost the automakers millions in R&D, are liberally distributed across your ride, which can detect and correct any abnormalities before they can even become an issue!

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Electrical-driven/assisted turbochargers do exist; F1 cars have had them for years, but a turbocharger this is not. Turbos work by pressurising air, traditionally driven by the exhaust gases passing through itself. Since 2014, F1 turbos have sported high-torque motor-generator units between the shaft that connects the intake and exhaust impellers. This allows the unit to recover energy as the turbo spools down on deceleration, storing the energy to produce usable boost on a whim when the driver reaccelerates.

These cheap ‘electric turbos’ you find online do not, and will not, function anything like the real deal. The fans usually have hardware borrowed from the same fans you’ll find in your PC, and are incapable of producing boost that can improve performance or economy.

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Just because the physics work for a race car or an aeroplane, doesn’t mean it will work for a cheap intake enhancer you found on the internet. The humble vortex generator works in the aforementioned vehicles by means of flaps or vanes that, when the body (of the vehicle) is in motion relative to the air, generates a high-pressure vortex that keeps the airflow in check, thus ensuring aerodynamic efficiency further downstream.

Makers of these enhancers claim their products work on a similar principle, claiming that these items can condition, and even pressurise, air entering your combustion chamber, upping power and economy figures with seemingly no drawbacks. Jets of pressurised, vortexed air are, according to these companies anyway, help your engine better mix your fuel with air. It can do no such thing. In actual fact, the reverse effect of what they promise to do actually happens, negatively impacting power and fuel economy figures.

Snake oil can’t save you fuel. But fresh engine oil can. If you’re seeking measurable and repeatable fuel savings, considering doing basic, regular maintenance to your vehicle. Other methods that can help you burn less fuel without breaking the bank include shedding excess weight and adjusting your driving style (not giving your car a bootful at every opportunity!) For as long as we’ve used Internal Combustion engines, there have been dodgy products touted to reduce fuel use. With the internet, these have become increasingly pervasive. They rely on a mix of paltering, and the usage of placebos to push sales. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Credits: Jek Ray Low