Gas prices seem to be on the decline following the hefty increases we experienced last summer. And yet with all things cyclical, we can expect price hikes to appear at some point in the future. Don’t fall prey to some of the latest consumption reducing gimmicks, some of which are questionable at best, while others border on “scams.”
(NewsUSA) - With reports of dwindling oil reserves and volatile gas prices, the average motorist is looking for ways to save at the pump.
But Jeff Stokes, vice president of World Energy Solutions (symbol WEGY), an energy services company based in St. Petersburg, Fla., warns motorists not to fall prey to gas-saving scams that seem to crop up when gas prices peak.
“While some emerging technologies do look very promising, high gas prices always seem to bring out some less-than-reputable firms with the latest gas saving gadget,” Stokes said.
Automotive experts are warning consumers to be wary of these and other claims for enhancing fuel performance:
* Some products and procedures are patently fraudulent, such as magnets that are supposed to be placed on the fuel lines.
* Others claim to be the result of some “secret” technology suddenly available after years of suppression by carmakers.
* Some actually work, but minimally so. Fuel additives promise better mileage by removing buildup and deposits but so do the detergents already blended in gasoline.
* Still others actually decrease miles per gallon. “Vortex generators” promise to mix the fuel and air in such a way that it burns better, but the added turbulence causes incomplete burning and lower mileage.
At present there are no magic bullets. Sensible driving habits and regular vehicle maintenance are everyday ways to improve gas mileage.
Meanwhile, vehicle manufacturers and legitimate aftermarket companies are working on improving old technologies or developing entirely new ones.
Carmakers are introducing continuously variable transmissions and engines that use all cylinders under acceleration but step down to fewer cylinders during highway speeds.
And some companies are working on technologies that will stand between today’s gasoline engines and the hydrogen-powered cars of the future. World Energy Solutions, for example, is developing a hydrogen-oxygen system that could have both industrial and automotive applications. Currently in the prototype stage, the technology uses water to create hydrogen-oxygen gas that is then injected into the car’s combustion systems along with gasoline to enhance mileage.
For more information on this and other energy-saving approaches from World Energy Solutions, visit http://www.wesinc.net/.
There are some proven steps you can take to actually reduce fuel consumption: make sure your tires are inflated to the proper PSI, avoid excessive idling, and open those windows rather than run the air conditioner on hot summer days.
