Misleading Claims about the Benefits of Gas-Saving and Other Energy-Related Devices

Consumers Should be Wary of Questionable Claims

As gas prices creep higher and higher heading into
travel season, you can see more and more websites
io the web with deceptive marketing of products
that purportedly save energy making questionable
gas saving and other energy-related advertising claims.

This kind of questionable products involves the following types of products:

    * Fuel-Saving Automotive Devices and Additives:
Numerous Web sites make implausible claims for
various aftermarket automotive devices
(fuel-line magnets, air bleed devices, and
other retrofit gadgets) and additives that supposedly
increase gas mileage (and sometimes reduce
emissions) for automobiles.
For example, FTC staff found claims such
as "saves thousands of dollars on gas!"
or "increased mileage up to 300%."
The staff's experience with these products
suggests that many of these claims are either
false or grossly exaggerated.
In addition, the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) has evaluated or
tested more than 100 purported gas-saving
devices and additives, and has not found any
product that significantly improves gas mileage.
      
    * Instantaneous Water Heaters & Home Water Purification
(or Softening) Systems: Some distributors
are making exaggerated claims about the
performance and the energy savings associated
with instantaneous ("tankless") water heaters
and home water purification or softening systems
(e.g., "save 50% on hot water costs").
The EPA previously challenged similar claims for water purification systems.
      
    * Transient Voltage Surge Suppressors:
Although these products can protect equipment
from power surges, in the past the Commission
and the states have challenged claims that these products
provide significant savings for consumers' energy bills.