Are there any viable after-market devices to improve gas mileage, like OptiMiser Magnetic fuel saver or other?

Question

Gas saving devices, for fuel economy

Answer 1

There used to be some devices which would take advantage of the inefficiency of the engines of the day (running the mixture rich, for example) and boost efficiency by correcting them.  Later, automakers designed even better systems into their engines to take the improvement to the practical limit (e.g. Chrysler's Lean Burn engine).

Those devices are obsolete; either the car already takes full advantage in the design, or it's incompatible with the pollution controls.

Magnets and similar devices are frauds.  Gasoline isn't magnetic, and the law of conservation of energy means that a gadget putting energy into the fuel would lose energy itself and eventually run down.

There is one possible exception to the list of frauds, and that is hydrogen injection.  Some of the difficulties with engines are caused by the rate at which gasoline burns.  Hydrogen burns much faster, and a bit of hydrogen may be able to modify the properties of the fuel mixture in a way which improves efficiency.  I am skeptical, but this has been reported by enough different people and has a plausible enough mechanism that I am suspending judgement.

Answer 2

ah, feet?

bicycle?

bus?

that's about it.

there is no evidence that there is any truth to the rumor that the oil companies bought up all the ones that worked.

Answer 3

No.

Car makers live for better mileage.  They compete with each other tooth and nail on this.  Anything that worked would be snapped up by them fast.  And not hidden away, either.

You have to REALLY believe in conspiracies to think otherwise.

Answer 4

I use environmentally friendly Friction Free 3000.  It reduces oil consumption and increases gas mileage by 1-2 miles per gallon.

Great stuff.

*Lee*

Answer 5

Most of that stuff has been around for a hundred years.  If it worked, the auto companies would have it installed as standard equipment years ago.  There was a "Mythbusters" segment some months ago that tested them all.  BUSTED!  Dont waste your money on these things, save your money to buy a Prius.