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Pilot Green Fuel Saver


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From Advertising Standards Authority:

 

ADVERTISER: QVC

BROADCASTER: QVC

Date: 30 March 2005

Media: Television

No. of complaints: 2

COMPLAINT:

A product called Pilot Green Fuelsaver, advertised on QVC, consisted of two magnets which were designed to fit around the fuel pipe of a vehicle. The advertisement made the following claims:

"You will see a 10 to 15% saving on fuel costs. Your exhaust will last two to three times longer. You will see a 30% reduction on pollution and a 40% reduction on carbon monoxide emissions. It will provide the same improvements for both new engines and old engines. It will give you an average of 10 to 15% fuel saving. It is going to improve emissions. It is going to improve power. It will clean up your exhaust. It will clean up your engine. We can prove it. As the fuel travels through Pilot Green, all the atoms begin to spin in the same direction. When the fuel enters the combustion chamber an amazing thing happens, the time of the combustive explosion is shortened and that is the key to good combustion."

Two viewers, one a research engineer and one who worked in the motor trade, complained that the advertising was misleading because they did not believe the claimed improvements in performance and emissions were possible through the use of the product.

The advertisement suggested the product would make significant improvements for a relatively small cost (£19.21 for engines less than and £26.68 for engines more than 1600cc) which we thought would influence people’s decision to purchase the product.

ADJUDICATION: Complaints upheld

QVC provided scientific evidence intended to demonstrate the improvements in fuel efficiency and emissions for a range of type and age of vehicles. The evidence included tables and graphs showing the comparisons along with testimonies from various research centres around the world. It also provided a response from the manufacturer who said the tests had been carried out by various people to show the products work everywhere, in different climates and under different conditions.

The claims were based on a relatively small number of tests. We considered this insufficient to substantiate the definitive claims made about Pilot Green Fuelsaver's effects for all vehicles.

We noted that tests on the product had not been peer-reviewed, which might have supported the evidence from the manufacturer. We also noted one of the major testers (Hong Kong Polytechnic) commented in all its tests that fuel efficiency was only observed after a minimum of 1200 kilometres (745 miles) of driving. There was no indication in the advertising that the product would only start to work after this amount of driving. We felt that, should the performance of the product be proved, this would be a significant condition which should be made clear in the advertising.

The evidence did not demonstrate the apparent spinning of atoms as claimed in the advertising. No evidence was presented to show that a combustive explosion occurred in a shorter time with the device fitted or that this would result in the stated improvements in performance and emissions. No evidence was presented to support the claims relating to exhausts lasting longer.

We felt a reasonable viewer would expect that a range of tests had been conducted under laboratory conditions on a large number of different types of car and that an industry-wide recognised testing body conducted the majority of the tests.

We found the claims were not satisfactorily substantiated and therefore the advertising was in breach of CAP (Broadcast) TV Advertising Standards Code Rules 5.1 (Misleading advertising) and 5.2.1 (Evidence) and should not be shown again in that form unless satisfactory evidence can be provided.

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  • 2 years later...

A magnetic device which sounded like this was publicised in Australia some years ago.

Nobody seemed to have invited motor journalists to drive several similar cars, half with and half without the device, and identify the "improved" vehicles without looking under the bonnet. Should be easy to spot, with the claims made.

BTW, the OP claims to have "ooked" into it. Surely, that's what Terry Pratchett's orang-outan Librarian would have done. (OK, my keyboard misses the odd letter too!)

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Also, the Gainex site above doesn't mention the precisely engineered slotted fins, just the magnets.

Have many competition cars (Formula 1, etc) been fitted with this device? or is it banned in their rules as an unfair advantage?

If it goes so much good, surely the racers would be using it!

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hi,

Being a non-moving turbine shaped device, the Tornado Fuel Saver creates a vortex or swirling effect to the engine of your car, truck or SUV. This swirling effect helps in atomizing the air and fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. You can get more information from www(dot)gainex(dot)co(dot)uk.

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i found the best way to save money on fuel as i was running 2 vehicles,merc 2.8 petrol and trooper 3.1 diesel was to sell them both and drive round in a 1.6 escort estate.my street cred is poo but can run all week on £15.00 and no one tries to steal the badge ,nick it or scratch it lol

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