EggRollBandit05

iTrader: (7)

I was watching mythbusters yesterday and they were testing out fuel saving devices. Of the devices they tested were a special magnet you attach to the fuel line and another thing they tested was adding acetone to the gas. First they tested the car on regular gas to find baseline mpg. Then they tested each of the fuel saving devices. Long story short the magnet didn't do squat and the acetone didn't improve fuel economy it actually hurt it a little. They did this test on an older car and then a newer fuel injected car same result for both cars.

On the second episode they tested devices used to beat traffic cameras such as sprays and license plate cover. Heres a short summary. Tested a spray which supposedly reflects the light of the flash and overexposes your license plate, failed the test it actually made it look the plate clearer in the picture. Tested a cover that reflects the light similar to the spray, failed as well. Tested a magnifying cover you put over the plate. Also failed only one or two letters on the plate were slightly fuzzy but still could be made out picture needed to be taken at an extreme angle for it to work.

I realize that not everything on mythbusters is 100% accurate but their tests are done by skilled people in lifelike conditions.

DsevenEm2

iTrader: (6)

uh yea.. lol

well i guess those ebay 20hp things are garbage... and i duno who sprays there licensce plates or covers them up with sumthing. thats just plain dumb..hey officer, pull me over.. come on... do it.

EggRollBandit05

iTrader: (7)

I already know these devices are full of crap just posting in case anyone wasn't sure. The spray is clear to and the magnet is supposed to help the fuel ionize and burn better or something like that.
Heres what I'm referring to:
photoblocker spray
reflective cover
fuel magnet

Boggie6868

iTrader: (1)

I think in one of those episodes they test a hydrogen generator. It pulls power from the alternator and uses it to perform electrolysis.

I had a huge argument with someone on this board about the hydrogen generator. And whoever it was kept saying they tested it on myth busters and it didn't work. Well I finally saw the episode of myth busters where they test it. Its key to notice, that they don't add a catalysis to the generator. A catalysis such as potassium is vital in electrolysis and also the concentration is vital in maintain a usable reaction.

This is an example of how myth busters can screw up.

BoneStOck_176

well thats goOD to know because i was on the verge of buying the spray... good timing... what about the radar detectors? those any good .. before i make a bad investment

a4turboss

lol......

AmbulanceMonkee

iTrader: (5)

on the off chance that you're serious, i present the following link.

http://www.radarbusters.com/

Devani

iTrader: (2)

lol..i think many people will not like this thread much...just to find out their money is wasted...on such products.

BoneStOck_176

Well thanks alot buddy... maybe now i can really enjoy the Sprain Brook Expwy!

gearbox

iTrader: (95)

the first part about fuel savers totally true, but the second depends. my bro has the photoblocker spray on his plate and he took pics from every angle and it just came out as a white square every time. at night there is no question it works. during the day, its shiny but you can still take a non-flash pic and have it readable (however, almost every traffic camera uses high intensity flash). the spray was designed to repel flash photography and it does exactly that.

gsniper666

iTrader: (1)

ya.. im with gearbox... ive seen those that do work.. and those that don't.... and ill live and die on my radar detector... jus for the streets i live on... i mean... i no the limits of the roads im on.. and being pulled over for doin 30-35 is a hassle.... its nice to know when the po-9 is around the corner

MMKennedy

It's true that in many states radar detectors are legal right? I'm quite certain that in all of Canada they're illegal

EggRollBandit05

iTrader: (7)

they did do the tests during the daytime with flash and pictures were taken from about 40 feet away with the car in motion.


"The use of a radar detector in a passenger vehicle is legal in all states with the exception of Virginia, Washington DC. and while on military bases. In Canada, the only three provinces that allow their use are Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan." -radarbusters.com

I have a detector as well one of the best things you can get for your car. It pays for itself over time. Just make sure you get a high quality one so you dont constantly get false alarms

gearbox

iTrader: (95)

with a traffic camera? or something you buy at store. camera flash is nowhere near as bright. with a radar detector, what if the cop just points and shoots, then you get caught and its too late. most cop dont tag everyone either so that idea doesnt work of picking it up when they get someone else. they look for fast car and only shoot those. so yea they are useless too. actually its stupid just having it, you get a false security from it. when i had a detector in my car for a month is the time i got my first and only speeding ticket in over 10 yrs.

mneuls

Illegal in canada? I have never heard of that, you can buy them at any car shop in bc or alberta that I have seen, and no cop has said anything about mine, they seem to be a little bit more mean if you have one though.

gearbox

iTrader: (95)

i know alot of people who think those detector suck, but they have the valentine ones with all the arrows

gsniper666

iTrader: (1)

ya.. but you have to understand.. in sme places... around my town.. and all the way into hartford, ct... cops don't use the new laser guns... they use the older radar detector guns... i get warnings befre i come around crners but mostly before i come over hills around here... it gives me more than enough time to slow down.. that and i no that when im in new hampshire... cops run , even while patroling with radar on.. so its nice to knw when they're around

redrocket600

I agree 100% but not all are fool proof. I think it has to do with age more than anything but my Escort 8500 is throwing me false alarms ALL THE TIME now...ended up getting a speeding ticket because I thought it was a false again

For those asking if the detectors work...YES. One time, I started picking up radar...I slowed down for awhile (still going off) and I'm thinking there's something wrong with the detector. Keep going (still going off)...a MILE to a MILE AND A HALF down the road I meet a copper shooting radar!

Not questioning their validity (Mythbusters) but, I have a feeling on things like the camera flashes they don't tell the whole truth...I mean, they'll call it "busted" so people won't do it and get away with breaking the law...

EggRollBandit05

iTrader: (7)

they used a real triggering system and traffic camera mounted about 10ft high on a cherry picker with a monitor to view the pictures

sounds like laser your talking about and radar detectors do detect those but it will be too late. once your detector picks it up the cop already got you. most states havent switched over to laser yet.

redrocket600

Not gonna deny that's a legitimate argument. My friend's a trucker and runs a detector in his truck...even he admits that it usually only works in (the above stated) situations when the cop shoots a car infront of him, giving him sufficient time to slow down. But, he will also be the first to tell you it has saved his @$$ MANY other times...

DeX

Legal in Alberta. You can buy them at Futureshop.

IronSportster

Another common myth is that "off the shelf" octane booster will turn pump gas into 100+ octane racing fuel! What a load of crap. The best you will get from the above octane booster is about 0.3 points boost...that is; ten gallons of 93 octane gas will go to 93.3 with 16oz of octane booster. Left click on the link below to get some good info on how to home brew your own octane booster.

http://www.gnttype.org/techarea/misc/octanebooster.html

gearbox

iTrader: (95)

haha yea people have told me, ill just put some octane booster instead of buying 93 gas and im like you know that doesnt work right? lol. oh and hmm some of those chemicals dont seem like you could goto the store and buy.

FGCOUPE

yea...i heard about this magnet thing not too long ago and scratched my head, thinkin....BaH Bulls***

IronSportster

I've found through experimentation that the best way to boost gasoline octane is to get 5-gallons of 100 Unleaded or 110 Racing Fuel and mix it with 93 Pump gas. If you are running a street vehicle with catalytic converter check to make sure that the racing fuel doesn't contain lead....many of them do and the lead will trash your converter. Start out at 20% racing fuel to 80% pump gas and go from there. Remember that your engine temps will increase when adding these fuels for street use. Consider changing to colder spark plugs and/or a lower temp coolant thermostat to compensate for the extra heat.

FGCOUPE

really the best results for HP from fuel are:

- Highest Octane at the pumps
- NOS in a bottle (Octane enhancer)
- Race fuel (Not for stock setup/engine)

redrocket600

NOPE! Lowest octane your engine is designed to run on. My 'vic gets 87 octane everytime I fill up.

mneuls

I put half normal gas, and half small plane fuel in my car once, it definitely made it go faster, but mileage wasn't spectacular, especially since the gas is fairly expensive, although i managed to score it for free.

IronSportster

I used to use the Aviation Fuel (aka, 100LL) a while back. And yes, it will lean out your fuel/air mixture and lower your fuel mileage. Found another link that gives details about pump gas and race fuel:

http://www.rc51.org/fuel.htm

garbage

On the topic of Mythbusters: Have you ever noticed that they will NEVER conform a myth which would hinder the law enforcement community or allow evasion of any law?? Think it has anything to do with the fact that the local PD aids them in many, many episodes and they are repaying by airing false information/results? Me thinks so......

There are license plate covers that absolutely work to obscure the number to speed cameras and such. I have a Mercedes that requires very specific care, including high octane fuel so I would never put acetone in my car but so many people say it works, it's hard to believe otherwise.