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Comment by larrys | Hacker News Reader

I remember a similar theme way back in the 70's being used in the rear pages of auto magazines to sell some secret additive to getting high mileage in your car.

In a similar way, if something was a great idea, and could improve mileage, the oil companies with their power would kill it. (Or the entrepreneur had different variations). Or that they were in cahoots with the auto makers. Haven't researched it but wouldn't be surprised if history showed this existed literally back to when cars first appeared.

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> if something was a great idea, and could improve mileage, the oil companies with their power would kill it.

This is incorrect by inspection. As my father (Air Force) told me, if there was an invention that substantially improved mileage, the military would be all over it. They would not let anyone stand in their way.

(Fuel consumption is a severe limiting factor in military machines.)

An urban legend for sure, this version also claimed the government was culpable:

(Towards bottom of page)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_saving_device

There are, basically, four things which will improve your gas costs, in rough order of decreasing effectiveness:

1. Move closer to where you work: (http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2011/10/06/the-true-cost-of-c...)

2. Use a bicycle more often, every time it’s possible. (http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2013/06/13/bicycling-the-safe...)

3. Switch your car to a more sensible car, which also should have better mileage: (http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2011/05/02/car-strategies-to-...), (http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/09/04/its-never-too-late...)

4. Learn to drive better. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy-efficient_driving)

"move closer to where you work"

My office is about a 3 minute drive from where I live. The biggest improvement isn't the gas cost it's the fact that I pickup an immediate 1.5 to 2 hours a day in time from not having to commute!)

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