Drivers Try Tricks To Increase Gas Mileage

WMUR has a great article on some testing that has been done on testing some of the gadgets that are suppose to increase gas mileage. Here is what they said. Now that $2.30 for a gallon is considered a good price for gasoline, some drivers are using unorthodox methods to squeeze extra mileage out of their cars.

Special devices claim to improve mileage, and some fuel additives also promise greater efficiency. But do they really work?

First up is the Tornado Fuel Saver. The small metal device is placed into the air-intake system and claims to channel air better to increase mileage. Driver Brad Fyfe installed the Tornado and tried it out for a few weeks. He calculated that he was getting 18.5 miles per gallon before it was installed, but achieved 19.5 miles per gallon afterward. The $47 device appeared to result in an additional one mile per gallon.

Next up is acetone. The claim is that adding a couple of ounces to a tank of gas will help the fuel burn more efficiently. Driver Joe Bourke added it to his tank and calculated that his mileage went up from 28 miles per gallon to 30 miles per gallon. Acetone is available at hardware stores and costs $4.50 for a quart. The downside is that experts warn that it could wear down engine parts and may not be a good idea in the long run.

Some mechanics are offering another way to boost mileage by filling tires with 95 percent nitrogen instead of regular air at a cost of $5 per tire. The claim is that nitrogen doesn't leak as quickly from tires, yielding better gas mileage. The results are hard to measure because simply having properly inflated tires is one of the best ways to keep cars efficient. Studies claim that drivers could see an improvement of one mile per gallon because the nitrogen can keep the tires properly inflated for longer.

Experts said that any car owner who wants to improve their vehicle's efficiency should check with a mechanic first.