Magnetic fuel saving scams
Too good to be true
You instinctively know what something is too good to be true, don’t you? And things which seem that way almost always turn out to be just that, too good too be true. I am constantly coming across products for sale on the internet which are such obvious bullshit, and yet someone must be buying them.
MagnoFuel
Recently, while researching for my book on bio-fuels, I am coming across loads of magnetic miricles. These things simply attach around your engine’s fuel lines, attached with zip-ties, and enhance the fuel magnetically; reducing pollution, increasing performance, reducing consumption, increasing range.
Sound too good to be true? Well obviously! If these things worked they would be fitted as standard to all new cars, in fact it would be compulsory.
The “science” behind them
Like all con artists, the makers offer very pseudo-scientific language to explain what they do and how they work and then fail to back any of it up with any proof, beyond the dubious and anecdotal, that they have any effect whatsoever. They use an array of techniques typical of confidence tricksters to confuse you into trying their product.
For example, ecozone.co.uk say here that:
- “Magno-Fuel has been tested to give fuel savings of up to 15%, provides better combustion and more power from your engine while reducing pollution.”
Tested by who? When? Where? Or am I meant to just take your word for it? - “Only after a short time will oxygen molecules be embedded between the fuel molecules, ensuring a better combustion.”
What does thins even mean? - “Bloch and Purcell were awarded the Nobel prize for their work on magnetic fields on solid, liquid and gas substances.”
Sure they were, the physics prize in 1952 “for their development of new methods for nuclear magnetic precision measurements and discoveries in connection therewith”, what does thins have to do what the MagnoFuel? Nothing whatsoever, that is what!
Don’t take my word for it
All magnetic fuel savers are thoroughly debunked here.
Other magnetic bullshit
One can also buy magnetic toilet descalers, magnetic washing machine descalers, an amazing array of magnetic jewelery and loads of other miracle magnetic gizmos available to the gullible, from water treatment and fuel treatment to health (for you or your dog or cat or horse); there is tones of it and all of it complete bullshit!
And even more nonsense
EcoFlow and MagnoFlow and BioFlow, BioGuard pendants to protect you from your computer, BioPhone to protect you from your cell phone, Vitaflow for your water, Motoflow for your fuel, Thermoflow for your boiler/furnace and (my favourite) Vinaflow to protect you from your wine!
How can this be legal?
Well how can this be legal? I have no idea, I guess it isn’t. Extraordinary claims demand extraordinary proof, this is blatant modern day snake oil, a scam, a con……. it is complete bullshit, don’t buy it!!
——————–
I recently pointed out to EcoZone, GetEtical, Maplin (I think they may have withdrawn them) & BigGreenSmile that they are selling this lie, and other lies too, and therefore complicit in a scam.
Only one person has had the decency to reply to me, Phil Soulsby from GetEthical responded to me:
Please don’t waste our time these products are all independently tested by government departments as well as our own research people. Your details have been passed on to the authorities for further action. Denial of the truth has been common before – stop destroying the planet by burying your head in the sand.
… a response I am still trying to fully understand. I have asked him to show me the independent tests by govenment departments but he has yet to do so, as for the rest of what he says, I am at a loss to understand.
Pete:
It is bollocks, clearly. You would need to be a moron to buy this shit. Has to be illegal too, as you say.
2 June 2008, 1:00 pmLyle:
I agree with your observations that up to 90% of all magnetic fuel/water/air systems are rubbish.
19 July 2009, 7:51 pmI’ve been installing magnets of vehicle engines for over twenty years, while utilizing a 5gas mini emissions tester and unless you know how to build and apply the proper configuration of magnetic treatment—a majority of these systems do not work and are either plants by oil and auto companies to disuade people from using this system, or are quick-rich schemes fabricated by scam artists.
Email me at ——-@gmail.com and I will send you a complete 3-part system to try and keep—no other obligation on your part.
Lyle Thompson, ———
Jon:
Hi Lyle,
21 July 2009, 7:24 pmI don’t say 90% of these systems are rubbish I say all of them are, and that includes yours. Well made snake oil is still snake oil.
Magnets on the fuel and the coolant and the air, “plants by oil and auto companies”, I’m crying with laughter here! When you have some real evidence you let me know, sending me your kit to test is pointless because I am just as fallible as the next guy. You need cold impartial science to prove your system works, and before you say all i need to do is try it, the responsibility is on you to prove your system works not on me to prove it does not work.
Ed:
I am a retailer of Ecoflow magnotherapy products. I must admit that my testing of their magnetic fuel saving device to date has been disappointing and as a result I no longer sell them.
However, it is a different story with their magnetic bracelets. I have testimonial after testimonial from people claiming that they have experienced miracles with their health after deciding to wear a magnetic bracelet.
Ecoflow offer a 90 day money back performance guarantee that their products work. As a result, magnotherapy products cannot be labelled as a scam. Scammers do not give your money back if you are dissatisfied.
15 February 2010, 9:20 amJon:
Ed:
“testimonial after testimonial”, that is hysterical. You ever heard of people being mistaken or getting better on their own? Do what has to be done with all medicine before it approved, put them through a scientific double blind study. It has been many times before and they have always failed.
http://www.quackwatch.org/04ConsumerEducation/QA/magnet.html
15 February 2010, 7:44 pmmary ann russell:
jon you dont know what you are talking about when you say people are getting bettter on their own.it does not happen.My parents both had arthritis and i bought them a bracelet and they said it worked. When my mothers broke I fixed it and put it on so I would not lose it and in 1 1/2 hrs the pain in my arm was gone and I have fybromyalgia.I have been wearing magnetic jewelery for 8 years now and selling for 7 years and have had many people tel me how well it has worked for them including my own kids who suffer from migrains.
9 March 2010, 8:13 pmJon:
Mary Ann Russel,
15 March 2010, 4:05 amWhat ate you talking about? Of course people get better on their own, it happens to every one of us every day.
Humans are notoriously good and spotting connections where there are none, indeed it is something we do all the time to help make sense of a bewilderingly complicated world, fortunately we invented the double-blind trial to remove humans from the experiment. Magnetic jewellery has been shown, in double-blind trials, to be complete claptrap. Quack Watch has a great deal to say on the subject, all well written, well researched and well cited… http://www.quackwatch.org/04ConsumerEducation/QA/magnet.html
jonjo:
Hey Jon, you are right to a degree, the magnets don’t work because they are magnets, but, they do have a great psychological effect on a great number of users which I suppose means they do work but not for the reasons people believe.
14 August 2010, 5:30 amJon:
No they don’t. Cite one credible study showing that they do. Just one. Go on…
23 August 2010, 8:58 am