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Many of the gas saving devices being advertised do not work and can actually damage your vehicle.

Tests that were carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency on over 100 fuel saving gadgets showed that most of them did nothing to improve fuel mileage, and for the ones that did work, the results were not that great.

The gas-saving products on the market seem to fall into clearly defined categories. These include, but are not limited to: vapour-bleed devices, liquid injection devices, ignition devices, fuel line devices, mixture enhancers, internal engine modification devices, fuels and fuel additives, oils and oil additives, and driving habit modifiers.

The EPA could only test for whether these devices has any impact on fuel efficiency. The could not examine whether these gadgets would do any harm or impact the vehicles performance over a long time.

For example, if an "air bleed" device actually adds significant amounts of air to the air-and-fuel mixture, it may cause an engine to misfire, a condition which greatly increases the potential engine damage or mechanical failure. This is especially likely to happen on cars manufactured between 1974 and 1982, because their carburetors are pre-set for a maximum amount of air to be burned with the fuel. "Air-bleed" devices will not work at all on many cars manufactured after 1982, because these cars have "feedback" carburetors that automatically adjust the air-and-fuel mixture rendering the device useless.

Many ads feature glowing testimonials by satisfied customers. There are too many variables that affect fuel consumption, such as traffic, road and weather conditions, the car's condition and overall maintenance, and the driving habits of the owner.

In one testimonial, a consumer gave high praise to a fuel saving device. What they failed to mention was that the car had also had a service at the time the device was put in.

There are also cases of manufactruer's claim that their device is approved the a government body. This is never true. No government body would endorse one of these devices. At best it would have been tested by the EPA and then they should be able to show the official test results.

You may have already bought one of these devices. If you are not happy then you are well within your right to ask for a refund. Any honest company will offer a money back guarantee. If they do not, you can file a complaint with the state consumer protection agency.

Keeping your car in tip top condition is the best way to get the best gas mileage your vehicle has to offer. Every vehicle come with an owners manual. Read and follow what the manufacturer recommends.

Three simple steps that will help improve gas mileage in all vehicles:

Get an engine tune-up.

Checking tire pressure.

Removing any excess weight from the car's trunk.