tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15145059.post113959674045960685..comments2024-02-20T03:26:29.516-05:00Comments on predelusional: Diesel PT CruiserStephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03934169832326108710noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15145059.post-1150294618816681292006-06-14T10:16:00.000-04:002006-06-14T10:16:00.000-04:00It may be spam, but it's on topic. I'm leaving it ...It may be spam, but it's on topic. I'm leaving it up, not because I believe in it, but because it is more or less on topic. A previous, nearly identical post was deleted because it was posted to the wrong topic.<BR/><BR/>So i looked at the site. They're selling two things. One is a fuel additive. The other appears to be a 'get-into-sales' pitch, perhaps akin to Amway.<BR/><BR/>Ignoring the sales aspect, what is this fuel additive? They claim 'Immediate increase in fuel mileage resulting is SAVINGS above the cost of the product!!!'. They claim 7% to 19%. So let's say you've got a car that gets 32 MPG. A 7% increase brings you to 34 MPG. 32 * 1.07 = 33.92. A 19% increase brings you to 38 MPG. 32 * 1.19 = 38.08. Two things. First, are you actually computing your gas mileage, so you know that you're getting an improvement? I'll tell you now that you won't notice a 7% improvement without doing the math. Second, one tank of gas isn't enough. You really have to do the math over three tanks. In particular, most people don't fill their tank to exactly the same level each time. There can easily be a 10% change. The more tanks of gas you go through, the better you can average it. Second, the type of driving you do can make a big difference. Getting stuck in traffic one day can ruin your gas mileage for that tank. Doing a highway road trip can boost your mileage dramatically.<BR/><BR/>Second, just reducing your top speed by five miles per hour, say from 70 to 65, which is totally legal in every state (perhaps everywhere in the world) can save you 15%. This is a zero cost, zero hassle change. Using a cruise control at the same speed will generally save you 5%. Remember that using your brake costs you in fuel economy. Engine drag is equivalent to using the brake. So if you just put a little more distance between you and the car ahead, you find you use the brake less often. A little extra distance will enhance your safety as well.<BR/><BR/>What else do they promise? 'Better engine performance!'. How do you measure that? Run a drag race with your car? How much better performance? Who is going to do this? Certainly not NBC or Fox News. And not you or i.<BR/><BR/>What else? 'Reducing pollution in the environment!'. How are you going to verify this? When i lived in Massachusetts, we had a mandatory auto inspection program, including emissions. Adding a little white gas to your tank would get any car through. It makes your car burn hotter, which isn't good for it. Michigan has no such 'service', which means the equipment isn't available.<BR/><BR/>Let's say the product does work. Let's say it saves you 20%. Let's say your car has a ten gallon tank. You'd have to spend less than you pay for two gallons of gas per tank on this additive to break even. If it only saves you 10%, then you better spend less than one gallon of gas per tank.<BR/><BR/>My car is getting an average of about 43 MPG, ranging from 41 to 44. If this product works, and gives only 7%, i'd have to get 46 MPG. I have extensive records. Since 46 MPG is more than any tank of gas has ever given me, it is a good test. Give me a supply for three tanks of gas, i'll run a test under fair conditions. My car seems to have a 12 gallon tank - and i generally put a little over 11 gallons in it per fill up. Go to my profile, there's a link to my web page, which has my email address. Or just look up my resume there and send it via snail mail. I'll post results of any test in a new entry, and add a link to it in a comment here.<BR/><BR/>In summary, i'm quite skeptical about this product.Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03934169832326108710noreply@blogger.com