The surrogate
It begins with a woman who yearns for a baby and another who is willing and able to give her one. You can imagine the motives of the prospective parents. But what about the woman willing to carry a baby, give birth and then walk away?
Friday Night Rewind It doesn't matter which team you cheer for. We've got video previews of every high school football program in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando County.
Every time there's a spike in gas prices, consumers want to know: Do mileage boosters work?
"No," said Dale Kemery, spokesman for the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection. "The EPA has tested over 100 of these gadgets, and they don't work. You are better off buying yourself a tire gauge."
The Federal Trade Commission offers similar warnings about all the gizmos and potions now flying off store shelves. Only a few of the dozens of innovations out there show gains of just 1 to 2 miles to the gallon. That's often not enough to justify the high price and the unknown consequences for your engine. The short answer: Keep your money in your pocket and put the savings toward a tuneup.
Kemery, who estimated that the agency gets hundreds of calls about mileage boosters, asked with a perceptible level of exasperation, "Don't you think if these things worked, car manufacturers would be putting them in cars already?"
Wishful thinkers continue to pursue the promise of huge mileage gains. Not all customers are satisfied with the results. Since January, the Florida Attorney General's Office has received 15 complaints about Altamonte Springs company Fuel Freedom International, makers of the MPG Caps.
Kevin Butler, manager at Advance Discount Auto Parts at Hillsborough and Nebraska avenues in Tampa, said at least 10 customers a day ask him about improving mileage.
"It really started about six months ago, when it started getting ridiculous," Butler said.
His advice, like Kemery's, is to stick with the proven-but-unsexy methods of getting the most for your gallon. At $2 for a tire pressure gauge, there's little to lose.
Asjylyn Loder can be reached at aloder@sptimes.com or (813) 225-3117.
[Last modified: Jul 14, 2008 07:34 PM]
Comments on this article
by John
Jul 14, 2008 7:34 PM
"Don't you think if these things worked, car manufacturers would be putting them in cars already?"
Come on. The car companies are in cahoots with oil companies. Otherwise we'd have cars that get better mileage now.
by Ken
Jul 12, 2008 8:38 PM
wow - what a surprise.
Now let the government conspiracy theories begin.
by Jose
Jul 12, 2008 8:38 PM
I would like to disagree completely with this statement. I personally have been using the MPG Caps product and I have documented performance with an increase in efficiency of 18.18% Consumer and distributor for Fuel Freedom International
by John
Jul 12, 2008 8:38 PM
Huh, let me guess: someone watched a rerun of "Mythbusters" from TWO SEASONS AGO that covered this? Not only is it common sense, Mythbusters tested something lik the "10 most popular products" on the market. All of them FAILED to provide ANY gains.
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