Does that "turn out the lights in cities" thing bother anyone else?

[Manedwolf]

If you want slightly better mileage from some cars, it takes some work.

Mine has better mileage than stock, thanks to a 4-2-1 header I put in, as well as a short-ram air intake that sucks in more air. It doesn't need to work so hard. The reason why those are not included stock with cars is that they're a lot louder when you accelerate, the roar of air being sucked into the tube. The stock "family car" sort of intake has a heavy de-resonator box beneath it.

There are no miracle solutions, only some elbow grease that gives some better fuel efficiency in exchange for a bit more noise.

Also, change your oil on time and put in a bottle of fuel injector cleaner every dozen fill-ups.

[Firethorn]

"Mythbusters"? You mean Mythbusters as seen on TV?. The Discovery Channel - like the History Channel - turn out some very good and interesting stuff. But I would not attribute to them the last word on the truth of any matter.

My friend does alot of driving - once in awhile some very long crosscountry trips. Not only is his gas mileage significantly increased - the fuel system stays super clean.

Ok, how about we discount mythbusters; and I'll throw consumer reports and popular mechanics into the fray.  They've also done studies and found that they either did nothing or even reduced mileage.

The simple fact remains; if increasing gas milage was so easy as adding a sub $100 device or 'tablet' to the car, the manufacturers would already be doing so.  Honda would do it to be able to slap better numbers on that MPG sticker on new cars in order to sell MORE cars, and the rest would follow* to stay competitive.  Not to mention avoid having to pay the government money because their fleet doesn't get the required CAFE MPG required.

As for the engine staying clean; I'll say that MY car's engine has stayed clean.  All gasolines today have required detergents and cleaners.

If automakers were that honest we would not have so many cars that turn into so much junk in such a short space of time, and they wouldn't mostly be making basically variations of the same thing.

In actuality cars are lasting longer today than they ever have, with less average maintenance.  Heck, a car today is more likely to be totalled out in an accident than any other reason to take it off the road.  As for the Tesla Car - You realize that $100k is nearly 5 times the average price somebody pays for a NEW car?  Cars are often similar today because the engineering problems are the same - there are only so many shapes that perform well in a wind tunnel, and that's an important component for highway milage.  So just like planes end up looking the same; so don't cars as you increase performance requirements.

*Well, maybe not so much follow, as slap them on their own cars as soon as they can complete testing in an attempt to beat out the others.

[Tuco]

I still say yer afraid of the dark.

[RocketMan]

What is it about people and their belief in the supposedly magical power of magnets?  Despite being disproved again and again, people still fall for the scams.  Barnum was right.

[roo_ster]

On a similar line; in addition to other stalled or unreleased patents, why are these people not screaming at Congress to force automakers to incorporate HHO demand systems alongside gasoline and diesel fuel systems? That and magnetic fuel system enhancers can as much as double the mpg in many cars, it is also very effective on trucks and about anything using an internal combustion engine.

They store the fuel magnets between the 100MPG carburetor and the carburetor that runs on water.  Right down the aisle from the unicorn and across from this:

[K Frame]

"If automakers were that honest we would not have so many cars that turn into so much junk in such a short space of time, and they wouldn't mostly be making basically variations of the same thing."

You're confusing two things.

1. Corporate honesty in facing the consumer

2. Corporate accountability in dealing with Federal requirements.

Missing CAFE requirements can mean HUGE penalties for automakers. There have been numerous devices put forward through the automotive industry that have considerably enhanced fuel economy, and have been done so largely in response to Federal CAFE requirements -- direct fuel injection and computerized controls being two of them.

If slapping some magnets into the fuel system could allow a car to significantly beat CAFE requirements, automakers would sieze on it in a heartbeat if for no other reason than it would allow them to decrease their rate of R&D burn.

Your statement also makes absolutely no sense from the corporate advertising/marketing to consumer standpoint, either.

In this day and age, how do you think consumers would respond to an ad built around the following premise:

"Using an inventive new technology, we've increased the MPGs on our 2009 Blumpkin by 50% but haven't sacrified any of the handling or performance that you want in your auto. Best of all, it's the same price as the 2008 Blumpkin!"

You don't think consumers, who are now paying an average of $3.35 a gallon for regular unleaded nationally, would respond to that? Your 30 mpg family sedan now gets 45 mpg?


Sorry, your arguments don't make any sense, because the "technology" is a complete and total scam.

[K Frame]

Yep, they keep it on the shelf above the 110% efficient motor. You actually have to take it to a gas station to have gas DRAINED from the tank.

"Help you, sir?"

"Yep, pump out 10 gallons worth, please"

[K Frame]

""Mythbusters"? You mean Mythbusters as seen on TV?."

As opposed to your friend's GEO Metro, as told by you on the internet? 

OK, speaking of internet...

You'd think that if these magnet thingies worked, there would be a HUGE body of personal testimonials spread all over the web...

There aren't.

That right there should tell you something...

[HankB]

Yep, they keep it on the shelf above the 110% efficient motor.

I remember a newspaper story about a guy who had a fuel-cell powered car . . . he took the exhaust - water vapor - condensed it, and used "special lazers" (spelled with a "z") powered by surplus power from the cell to break up the hydrogen and oxygen so it could be run through the fuel cell and "recycled" over and over as the car drove down the road, never running out of fuel.

He was looking for investors . . . 

[K Frame]

I think for automotive use the fuel cell is really going to be the wave of the future.

[Manedwolf]

Yep, they keep it on the shelf above the 110% efficient motor.

I remember a newspaper story about a guy who had a fuel-cell powered car . . . he took the exhaust - water vapor - condensed it, and used "special lazers" (spelled with a "z") powered by surplus power from the cell to break up the hydrogen and oxygen so it could be run through the fuel cell and "recycled" over and over as the car drove down the road, never running out of fuel.

He was looking for investors . . . 

I'm a charging ma lazer...

[LAK]

Firethorn

Ok, how about we discount mythbusters; and I'll throw consumer reports and popular mechanics into the fray.  They've also done studies and found that they either did nothing or even reduced mileage.

I have seen Consumer Reports leave out entire major manufacturers in it's articles. "Consumer" is a trendy name for economic slaves though. It has really caught on.

If "Mythbusters" wanted to be conclusive and objective, they should have invited several of those businesses selling the devices along, and provided some absolute manufacturer-stock and dealer maintained cars with just enough mileage to be fully broken in and bug free. And test them in a completely filmed exercize with unedited debate on the vehicles, test, and results.

The simple fact remains; if increasing gas milage was so easy as adding a sub $100 device or 'tablet' to the car, the manufacturers would already be doing so.

Why should they? Someone's sole response to my points about the all-loving all clean auto industry was a silly and baseless suggestion about a very respectable man.

Perhaps, as you at least can follow a topic, you could address those points instead. The auto industry is run like the music industry. A fashion show.
 

Honda would do it to be able to slap better numbers on that MPG sticker on new cars in order to sell MORE cars, and the rest would follow* to stay competitive.  Not to mention avoid having to pay the government money because their fleet doesn't get the required CAFE MPG required.

I was driving cars in europe thirty years ago that gave consistant 45 to 55 mpg (imperial gallon). There were a great number of manufacturers all over europe turning them out in the 1960s - and still do.

The idea that U.S. and some other automakers that market their cars here can not produce a small car by now - thirty years later - that can not get similar mileage is unbelievable. It implies that the only people that have done any research on fuel, fuel delivery, combustion efficiency, powertrain efficency etc in the last sixty years are people that have designed light aircraft powerplants, raced cars, motorcycles etc. And that NASA, and a pile of design and research labs have been playing poker with their funds the whole time as well.

These people are honest? What was the first practical diesel engine designed to run on? When was the switch to fossil fuel diesel - and who steamrolled the road for that one? 

As for the engine staying clean; I'll say that MY car's engine has stayed clean.  All gasolines today have required detergents and cleaners.

I see, so you have little or no carbon buildup inside your engine, your oil stays clean, etc? That what you are saying?

Manedwolf

Man, people are gullible

Gullible? I'm not the one holding or betting my future on the dollar. Neither is my friend as it happens. Enjoy the party accompanying the big show while it lasts - and good luck 

Avenger,

I drive a big gas guzzling truck - and I love it. My wife has one too. She loves it too. I couldn't give a rat's tail what anyone else drives - or for that matter what you think defines anyone's character. You have given some indication of yours however.

[Finch]

Back to the original subject.

I think the ultimate testament to control over darkness is when I choose to have it upon me. I could give a rats ass about some hippies wanting to turn off the lights for a hour. Who cares? I personally prefer the dark. It's peaceful and serene.

Turning out the lights means that civilization has fallen.

Ummm no. It means they turned off the lights. I tried, but I couldn't make it any more poetic.