By Linsey B. Knerl

Fuel economy is a hot topic these days, and with experts touting ways to save at the pump, many people are desperate to listen. When a product was sold and marketed under the brand name FuelMax, the FTC had to step in, finding that the marketers made false claims about the effectiveness of the gas-saving device. But what can buyers of this too-good-to-be-true item actually expect to receive?

The class-action lawsuit is just the final stop on a long journey for the now defunct FuelMax. The product (which claims to use magnets to improve efficiency) offered consumers the following “benefits”:

• Increase gas mileage 27%+ by helping fuel burn better;

• Reduce emissions by 43%;

• Smoother engine;

• Pays for itself FAST!!!!

• Gives an extra 10% more horsepower;

• Based on the size of your gas tank you will save $8 or more for a typical 15-gallon gas tank, but larger V8 SUVs and trucks will save up to $20 per tank.

In addition to the largely ridiculous claims (that were later proven to be completely unsupported by poor product performance), the FTC cracked down on the method of “selling” used by marketers and affiliates of the company. Their plan? To spam email accounts to death with their false promises and give “spoofing” a whole new reason to live. The companies involved in the marketing of FuelMax settled on federal charges in May of 2005.

Here we are 3 years later, and a civil class-action lawsuit is close to being settled. Unlike most claims, there is no definite amount that claimants will be entitled to. The only information that disappointed consumers of FuelMax and SuperFuelMax are given is that “the refund amount will depend on the number of consumers who request refunds.”

Did you buy a FuelMax product? Were you dissatisfied with its performance? Are you willing to admit that you spent a bunch of money on a piece of junk in the hopes that it could save you from the rising gas prices of 2004? You can get a piece of this class-action pie at the official settlement site www.fuelmaxlitigation.com.

Hopefully, you’ve learned a thing or two about gas mileage. As the prices go up, perhaps the best way to pay less to big oil is to buy less, carpool, combine trips, or perhaps (gasp) even stay home for a bit -- if you can. Get your fluids, filters, plugs, wires, and tires checked and maintained. Dump the junk from your trunk. Stay as close to 55 mph as possible (without causing hazards for other drivers).

Similar products will pop up all over the web, promising more for less. Perhaps the best defense is to be smart, be careful, and don’t expect something for nothing. (And if you get an icky email from someone you don’t know, junk it.)