Could this be why?

[Driver]

I saw these displayed and for sale at a motor show years ago - the magnet type. At the time I had a Nissan Pathfinder 3.0 V6 Petrol 4x4 and the mileage varied from 20 to 15 MPG depending on how it was driven (average). I kept a log of petrol used over the full 8 years that i owned it. Having checked that the only components used in this device are indeed only Magnets I made my own device within 2 large Speaker Magnets fitted inside 2 square plastic containers and then fitted over the Fuel line with the line running between and clamped together with large plastic ties. The important thing that I found was fitting the magnets so that they are attracted toward each other made no difference but fitting them so as they were forced apart (opposite poles) actually worked !!!!! The difference being 25 to 20 MPG Average.
When I sold the Pathfinder last year the Guy that bought it asked what it was clamped to the Fuel line and after telling him he said he would try it with and without. He lives local and I saw him a few months ago and asked him how he went on with it he says he tyred it with and without and he came to the same conclusion it WORKS !!! . I don't know how they work although I have read various things and I don't think I would like to spend £40.00 + on one because even though i know it worked I always thought that maybe it was a coincidence and the fuel saving was due to other things like the way I was driving the Truck or just running better like after a service.

[Philip]

Fuel Consumption

Many of you may have seen, adverts claiming to save you up to 25-30% in fuel costs by fitting this or that. Its these adverts which give a good product a bad name. If i could guarantee a 20% saving on all vehicles, i would be living next to Bill Gates and could afford a new Surf. Fuel consumption varies depending on engine condition beforehand. Much of the improvement comes to the carbon cleaning action of the catalyst, so although they start to work immediately, they improve over 500-800 miles. With petrol engines, you can see on many ocassions the oil can go very black, as carbon cleaning takes place. Once you change oil, it will stay cleaner for longer, as you are burning fuel more efficiently. The carbon cleaning action is well proved and the catalyst is good with boilers etc. At present Webasto are testing some on new truck heaters and i have been told so far that test is going good. Eberspacher, another manufacturer of heaters tested about 5 or 6 units last year and were pleased enough to give me a list of all there distributors in UK and told me i can say, that Eberspacher recommend i call them.
To answer question, what fuel saving will i make, i think between 5-10%. Its a very imotive subject and best way to tell is by emission tests, before and after. I can not know how you drive. I have had the comment, that customers car goes like a bat out of hell, but complaining no better fuel economy. For 14 years i have given a money back guarantee, without argument and if i have had 20 back thats about it.
LASTLY BIG FAVOUR anyone know where i can get interior rear and side panels in grey for my series 2 1993. Would be grateful.
Happy New Year to everyone.

[laser_jock99]

Going back to my orginal question- has anyone got a rational AND SCIENTIFIC explaination as to how or why a magnet on an oil fuel should do anything at all to change the oil- let alone change the fuel efficiency of an engine???

Hydrocarbons (e.g. diesel & petrol aren't affected by magentic forces- they contain mainly carbon and hydrogen atoms). Only Iron, Nickel, Cobalt and a few other metals really interact with a strong magnetic field. In no case is the structure of their compounds with other atoms changed in any way by magnetic forces.

A catalyst- on the other hand (e.g. some substance actually in contact with the fuel) may have some effect. Take for the example of the Platinum used to burn up un-burnt fuel in your exhaust catalytic converter. That's real science at work!

There's certainly a lot of bulsh*t on the internet about how these things might work- mainly from marketeers of such devices!

http://www.tinet.org/~sje/mag_fuel.htm
http://www.wholly-water.com/MagFuel.htm
http://www.emanator.demon.co.uk/bigclive/magnet.htm

Basically as soon as your fuel passes the magnet (let alone spraying from the injectors into the combustion chamber) any "alignment" the fuel molecules may have had will be lost. Also you can't apply much electro-stactic charge to a liquid by flowing it past a magnet! So anything about applying 'positive charge' to fuel molecules is blatent nonsense. It isn't even clear in my mind why 'positively charged' diesel should be anymore efficient than 'normal' diesel!!

Maybe I should clamp a big magnet to my air intake as well?

Sorry to be a sceptic everyone but I remain unconvinced.

Here's what the AA had to say about such scam devices:

http://www.chem1.com/CQ/BAAnote.html

Nevillef

[Chillitt]

if these things are such a cheap and effective way of improving emmisions and economy, why dont the factories fit them as standard?

[kitesurf_phil]

I was talked into trying a magnetic and copper bracelet because I am starting to suffer with rheumatism in my elbows. I don't know why but it seems to be giving me some relief. Maybe it is reacting with the iron in the Guinness I drink!

[laser_jock99]

If anyone want's to try and make a 'fuel saving' magnet device for free I have a number of very powerfull Faraday Isolator (see http://www.ofr.com/io-2_function.htm ) magnets available. You just need to be a bit careful with them as they have a tendancy to damage your fingers when brought close to steel!

I'm not sure if it's even legal to put these magnets in the post though?

Now if you REALLY want to save money on fuel bills with a powerfull magnet....

http://www.kinkytshirts.nl/rootdirec...city_bill_.htm

....not that I condone such things of course!

Nevillef

Nevillef