Despite a recent, short-term leveling in the price of oil, gas prices have continued to angle ever upward. Unsurprisingly, with their rise comes legions of people desperate to save gas, and thus money, in anyway possible. And where there are desperate people, there always seem to be less scrupulous people waiting to exploit them.

Sales of gas-saving gizmos have taken off in recent months. Among my favorites are the Vortec Cyclone, which “creates a swirling mass like a tornado” in your car’s air intake, the Platinum Gas Saver, which allegedly failed EPA tests because the lab ha “no road vibration...to dispense the platinum”, and Magnetizer Fuel Energizer which spun regular gasoline into a “single, potentiated molecular state.”

Many of these companies have recently attempted to give their products green credentials as well, citing cleaner combustion and lower emissions, but the fact remains: they’re all false claims.  A quick-fix solution to your gas needs may seem appealing, but slower accelerations, a well-mantained vehicle, and just plain driving less are by far the best ways to cut down on your gas spending, as well as taking a bite out of your carbon footprint.