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

There are a myriad of fuel saving devices advertised now. If you do a search on Google for the term "fuel saving devices" google will return 1.5 million web pages in response to that search. It seems that unscrupulous individuals are always looking for a crisis situation in order to steal your hard earned money with the latest scam.

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 (FTC) warns you to be wary of any gas-saving claims for automotive devices or oil and gas additives. Even for the few gas-saving products that have been found to work, the savings have been small.

There are a few popular ads and claims used in gas saving device advertising strategy. Here are a few to watch out for:

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 advertisements use glowing testimonials by satisfied drivers as their proof that their device works. No consumer has the equipment or the ability to test for precise changes in gasoline mileage after installing a fuel saving device. Even if the consumer had the right equipment the conditions and the environment in which they could test the product could not be adequately controlled.

Many variables affect fuel consumption, including traffic, road and weather conditions, and the car's condition. For example, one consumer sent a letter to a company praising its "gas-saving" product. At the time the product was installed, however, the consumer also had received a complete engine tune-up - a fact not mentioned in the letter. The entire increase in gas mileage attributed to the "gas-saving" product most likely was the result of the tune- up alone. But from the ad, other consumers could not have known that.

These are just a few of the methods that companies selling fuel saving products use to convince you that the claims they make are real. Those companies are taking advantage of high gas costs which have caused drivers to find any way possible to lower their gas costs. Don't become a victim. Be wary of these deceptive advertising methods. Don't forget, something that sounds too good to be true, usually is! Especially when that something is taking money out of your pocket.

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Scott Siegel is the author of a 143 page manual of industry insider secrets on saving gas and dollars 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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