February 23, 2011
what is the best additive or device to save gas?
Ok I already knew none of them work to the standards they claim. However I’ve heard the EPA test over one hundred of them and some of them turned out a 6% Mpg increase. 6% increase should save me between $400.00 and $600.00 per year.
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Filed under Gas Conservation FAQ by on Feb 23rd, 2011. Comment. 
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Comments on what is the best additive or device to save gas?
Best device…your foot
Best additive…tune ups and regular maintenance
there aren’t any , if there were they would be fitted to every car and would probably be compulsory
well tuned engine
and Conservative driving
if you can’t run on pump fuel you have a problem
best device: get a hybrid… or you can get better ‘throttle control’
best additive: proper engine care, unload unnecessary weight (each 100 lbs reduces it by 1mpg)
some more tips: tires that are properly inflated help too; and using the brakes slowly and lightly vs. slamming on them save gas too…
good luck…. safe driving
no additives or devices, they can sometimes help minor problems but won’t pay for themselves or save fuel. manufacturers squeeze every bit of economy out of an engine so keeping it well maintained to their standards is usually all that is required.
Changing your driving style is best, i can get around 300 miles out of a tank driving normally, but squeeze up to 450 miles if I put a bit of effort into driving gently, and my tops tips are:
1. Keep speed down on open roads, below 60, nearer 50 if your car isn’t aerodynamic.
2. Try to keep revs between 1500-2500 on a petrol engine, maybe 3000 max for cruising.
3. You don’t need to accelerate slowly, do it briskly with low revs, give at least 2/3 gas and stay below 2500 and the engine will be breathing well on an mostly open throttle.
4. Anticipate, every press of the brakes is wasted fuel, of course you have to stop for red lights, but drive in a way that avoids the need to brake in the first place.
5. Higher octane fuels can give better economy on some modern fuel injection cars
6. Short journeys are fuel hungry for the distance, up to 3 times more than just cruising at 50-60. Idling is 0mpg, avoid it.
7. Keep excess weight out of the car, tyre pressures at recommended, air con off, electrics to minimum.
Ok I see what you mean about EPA results, but they are not additives and devices of the type i was thinking, the best performing are engine upgrades. These are individual to your car engine, depends where the manufacturer had to make compromises in performance over reliability or emissions. Things like over the counter petrol and oil additives and other minor things will not usually pay back the investment even though they might actually improve economy.
But you’ll notice a lot of the good EPA results apply to changes to carburettor cars / non electronic ignition which weren’t as good at economy anyway, that’s why fuel injection replaced them to meet stringent laws.
In that case you are best looking at proper upgrades. Other sensors / ECU may need to be changed on modern fuel injection so the car can understand the changes:
1. Any kind of upgrade to air intake can sometimes improve economy by reducing pumping losses and providing more oxygen, a complete replacement may give noticeable results.
2. More powerful ignition, full upgrade to coil pack / sparks / igntion module / ECU
3. Exhaust manifold and system changes, noiser exhaust can also be more economical.
A light foot! lol