Car fuel saving devices claiming to help people struggling with petrol prices could be fooling consumers, the NSW government has warned.
The Office of Fair Trading has launched an investigation into fuel savers such as additives and catalysts after the automotive industry voiced concerns about the validity of claims by a range of manufacturers and distributors.
"With households feeling the squeeze of petrol prices, consumers may be more vulnerable to claims that they can save money by adding products to their petrol tanks or installing devices in their car," NSW Minister of Fair Trading Linda Burney said on Sunday.
"The Institute of Automotive Mechanical Engineers (IAME) wrote to me with serious concerns about these devices."
Ms Burney said Fair Trading would ask companies to provide scientific evidence to prove that their products do what they claim to do.
The office had already identified at least eight products currently manufactured or distributed within Australia, she said.
If the claims about them are found to be false, public warnings will be issued regarding the products.
The Office of Fair Trading had also contacted the NRMA, Motor Traders Association (MTA) and Choice, all which had agreed to support the investigation.
Ms Burney said many fuel saving products were currently sold over the internet because many automotive retail outlets had concerns over their validity.
She urged motorists to be wary of advertising claims that sound too good to be true and to seek advice from a licensed motor mechanic or the car's manufacturer before adding tablets or devices to their fuel systems.
