Every time fuel prices rise, the ads appear: a tiny plug that "cuts fuel use by 55%". Electronics experts have opened up many of these devices and found little more than a circuit board and a blinking LED, with no connection to the car's engine computer at all.
We think drivers deserve better, and we hold ourselves to the same standard. Here's what to check before you buy any fuel-saving product.
1. Are there real test numbers?
A genuine product shows specific results: which car, which engine, fuel use before and after, and how it was measured. "Up to 55%" with no details is a red flag.
2. Was it tested independently?
Testing by the seller alone isn't enough. Look for results from an independent testing body or lab, and ask to see the documents.
3. Is the claim realistic?
If a $20 plug could cut fuel use in half on every car, car makers would fit it at the factory. Real improvements in efficiency are usually measured in single-digit or low double-digit percentages, and they depend on the car.
4. Does it say which cars it works with?
Engines and engine computers vary a lot between brands and years. A product that claims to work identically on every car ever made should make you suspicious.
5. Who is behind it?
Look for a real company name, an address and a way to contact a person. Scam sites often change names every few months.
6. What happens if it doesn't work?
A fair seller offers a clear refund policy, not a "30-day guarantee" that's impossible to use.
Our promise
Oktane Labs will publish test results per car model and our certification documents on this site, and every order comes with a compatibility refund guarantee. If we can't show it, we won't claim it.
Photo: Tiger Ellis Oatley-Summers on Unsplash