Yes, Thanks Mike for the scam alert. That said, ODB2 readers are a good thing when used for the right purposes. I have several ODB2 scanners that I use to track transmission and radiator coolant temperatures, particularly while towing. They are also great to have along on a long trip (or while towing) to diagnose what’s going on when your check engine light comes on or some other kind of fault occurs. One time the cause was a gas cap leak and another time it was a bad sensor in the emission control system. It is scary when these codes come on while driving but it’s nice to have a code reader when it does happen.
Agencies like the FTC, CPSC, and CFPB (focused on financial issues) fight to protect consumers, as does Consumer Reports (CR). Unfortunately, they are understaffed, and there are so many scams it's impossible for them to keep up.
Just one recent example is the ridiculous little heaters that vendors claim use some crazy low wattage and can "heat an entire room up from 40 to 70 degrees is 10 minutes!" Or similar. Clearly a scam, but no doubt some people fall for it. If the seller(s) are contacted by the FTC, they probably just stop selling that specific unit and switch to a different one.
CR is good about pointing out scams, but I believe people must subscribe to get all of their warnings. Safety-related info is typically free. Also, their resources are limited. As with the gov't agencies, they cannot cover every scam product on the market.
Yes Mike I agree. As a Tire design engineer I worked with a number of different Car Companies where good fuel economy is almost always #1 on their list of performance items they want. The use on Nitrogen in tires is a similar scam and the claims for improved fuel economy is based on the assumption that people never check and inflate their tire to the spec on the tire placard.
I remember the cow magnets on the fuel line. But I had forgotten about the little propellers that mounted under the carburetor to help vaporize the gasoline… ⛽️ Thanks for the reminder!
Years ago, there were devices like that which allegedly worked by being plugged into a 12 volt outlet! It's magic! ;-)
Of course there are 'tunes' that work as claimed, but they generally cost hundreds of dollars and may not be legal in some states.
For example, Cobb Engineering has a good reputation (at least last I heard). They sell tunes for a variety of vehicles. The one they sell/sold for the first generation Subaru WRX makes a dramatic improvement in hp & torque (+~60 or 70 each) and increases mileage slightly (+~1 mpg). A big benefit is reducing the turbo lag. When stock, the turbo didn't spool up until at least 3,000 rpm. After the Cobb tune it dropped to about 2,250 rpm, which made it much more drivable. For example, when stock, climbing the steepest area hills (at the 50 mph speed limit) required downshifting to 4th. After the tune it could be left in 5th. It also pulled away from stops much easier (less revving required).
There are good (and legal) tunes available, but the benefits vary dramatically from one vehicle to the next. It's definitely a 'buyer beware' situation.
Yes, Thanks Mike for the scam alert. That said, ODB2 readers are a good thing when used for the right purposes. I have several ODB2 scanners that I use to track transmission and radiator coolant temperatures, particularly while towing. They are also great to have along on a long trip (or while towing) to diagnose what’s going on when your check engine light comes on or some other kind of fault occurs. One time the cause was a gas cap leak and another time it was a bad sensor in the emission control system. It is scary when these codes come on while driving but it’s nice to have a code reader when it does happen.
Thank you, MIKE for all that you do. You’re always looking out for us. There really needs to be something to stop thieves such as these
Agencies like the FTC, CPSC, and CFPB (focused on financial issues) fight to protect consumers, as does Consumer Reports (CR). Unfortunately, they are understaffed, and there are so many scams it's impossible for them to keep up.
Just one recent example is the ridiculous little heaters that vendors claim use some crazy low wattage and can "heat an entire room up from 40 to 70 degrees is 10 minutes!" Or similar. Clearly a scam, but no doubt some people fall for it. If the seller(s) are contacted by the FTC, they probably just stop selling that specific unit and switch to a different one.
CR is good about pointing out scams, but I believe people must subscribe to get all of their warnings. Safety-related info is typically free. Also, their resources are limited. As with the gov't agencies, they cannot cover every scam product on the market.
Just use good common sense
So true…
Brown's gas - HHO comes to mind. Laws of Thermodynamics nullify this one.
A nightlite for your foot! That's hilarious!
Yes Mike I agree. As a Tire design engineer I worked with a number of different Car Companies where good fuel economy is almost always #1 on their list of performance items they want. The use on Nitrogen in tires is a similar scam and the claims for improved fuel economy is based on the assumption that people never check and inflate their tire to the spec on the tire placard.
Fuel line magnets come to mind. Also those little propellers that go under your carburetor.
I remember the cow magnets on the fuel line. But I had forgotten about the little propellers that mounted under the carburetor to help vaporize the gasoline… ⛽️ Thanks for the reminder!
Years ago, there were devices like that which allegedly worked by being plugged into a 12 volt outlet! It's magic! ;-)
Of course there are 'tunes' that work as claimed, but they generally cost hundreds of dollars and may not be legal in some states.
For example, Cobb Engineering has a good reputation (at least last I heard). They sell tunes for a variety of vehicles. The one they sell/sold for the first generation Subaru WRX makes a dramatic improvement in hp & torque (+~60 or 70 each) and increases mileage slightly (+~1 mpg). A big benefit is reducing the turbo lag. When stock, the turbo didn't spool up until at least 3,000 rpm. After the Cobb tune it dropped to about 2,250 rpm, which made it much more drivable. For example, when stock, climbing the steepest area hills (at the 50 mph speed limit) required downshifting to 4th. After the tune it could be left in 5th. It also pulled away from stops much easier (less revving required).
There are good (and legal) tunes available, but the benefits vary dramatically from one vehicle to the next. It's definitely a 'buyer beware' situation.