The Ecotek CB-26P isn't the only way you can save petrol. The excellent Car Mechanics Magazine recently did a full survey on the various ways you can save on fuel. Here is their article in full - you can click on a page to expand it then click the 'Back' button on your browser to return:

The fact is we're still paying the highest fuel prices in Europe. So check out this guide - it could save you up to a £1 a gallon.

Alan Anderson of Car Mechanics Magazine explains:

"More than 30 years ago Car Mechanics ran a major feature on how to get the most miles from a gallon of petrol, horrified by the prospect that it was costing you the same as a pint of beer! Well, we don't know where you drink but it must be mighty fine ale if it's the same price as unleaded fuel is these days! Having now the dubious honour of selling the most expensive fuel in Europe - possibly the World - who doesn't want to get the most mpg out of their car?

It costs £50 to fill up a Mondeo, yet the sobering fact is that the majority of us are wasting as much as a £1 on every gallon every time we drive our cars - be it by an out of tune engine, bad driving or sheer laziness. Motoring is now reported to be the biggest single expenditure in a household, costing up to £70 a week, most of it as indirect taxation - so let's start clawing some of it back, NOW!

You may think your car is in sound order, but the odds on chances are it isn't. The advent of longer servicing intervals is causing an increasing number to slip out of tune and simply pour good petrol away.

One can't emphasise the savings regular tune-ups make. Past-it plugs, leads on their last legs and clogged cleaners are the main culprits for lost gallons with a modern fuel injected engine, according to leading engine specialist Hometune.

As oil changes become less frequent, then less attention is paid to the breather systems and as they sludge up, it causes engines to run richer as a consequence. Hometune say it's now their most common 'find' when servicing a car. Remove the pipes to thoroughly clean them and replace the breathers filter, if fitted.

Similarly spark plugs are becoming a fit-and-forget component (and hard to get at) yet their performance in a modern computer-managed engine is more critical than ever. At the very least, check them every 6,000 miles for health: remember they can tell you a lot about an engine's fitness and state of tune.

Ignition leads have a service life of around 50,000 miles. Thanks to higher powered ignitions and tougher under bonnet conditions, these take a real hammering. Worse still, they can unknowingly break down under load and cause an undetected misfire, which not only affects performance but can seriously damage a cat, if fitted.

Modern fuel injection systems are usually extremely robust and stay in tune for long periods. There's little to do other than check that the cold start system works properly, plus see that all the connections and Iinkages are free from corrosion and there are no leaks throughout the fuel line.

Hometune is a firm believer of dedicated system cleaners to purge the fuel line of gum deposits and tarnishing, especially in the injectors. Periodical use of pour-in solvents can really revitalise performance and economy, on petrol and diesel engines alike.

It's a myth that air filters can last for years. The stated long service intervals often found in handbooks only relate to "normal driving conditions" of which there's no such thing! Take a regular look and replace them if they are even slightly suspect.

Even the choice of oil can have a benefit on fuel consumption. Modern engines require a light grade due to their tight working clearances - a too heavy brew affects engine performance and can cause valve-stick. Mobil claim that by using their Mobil 1 fully synthetic oil, motorists can gain a couple of extra miles per gallon as well as added long-term engine protection.

There's no denying that an annual proper diagnostic tune-up is well worth the money, even for owners who take pride in their DIY ability. It's certainly the best way to check and adjust mixture and timing settings, plus detect faults under load.

Older carb-fed engines are much more prone to being out of tune. Vauxhalls, Fords, Citroens and Peugeots are notorious for drinking petrol at an early age due to their poorly designed carburettors. The best bet is to junk them for a Weber straight replacement with manual choke. Although they cost on average £200-250, it's money well spent if you intend to keep the car.

Making a car fuel efficient isn't simply about keeping the engine sweet. Precious fuel can be wasted by something as innocent as binding rear drum brakes, incorrect tracking, under inflated tyres or an overweight tool box stashed in the boot!

Start with the cooling system. An aged, sludged thermostat will cause the engine to take much longer to warm up than it should. Nothing's more wasteful on fuel, particularly on a cat-equipped car where the fuel mixture is deliberately set to run rich to help warm up the catalyst.

On an average car, attaining 30 mpg, it can drop as low as 10 mpg on the first few miles from a cold start up. The quicker the engine reaches operating temperature the better; if you do a lot of short runs it may even pay to blank off a small section of the radiator to aid this - but keep an eye on the temperature gauge.

Out of alignment steering geometry can nick a couple of mpg as well as prematurely wear out expensive tyres. As just an innocent brush with a kerb can knock the tracking out of true, it pays to have it checked annually.

Even tyre choice can save on fuel costs. Special energy-saving tyres are proving increasingly popular. Michelin claim their Energy tyre is some 20 per cent freer rolling over a conventional design and thus can save up to six per cent in fuel use over 12,000 miles, equating to approximately £70 a year in the trouser pocket!

Even if your tyres are in good order, under-inflation will create more drag and sap fuel. Don't over-inflate, but you can run them at their highest recommended pressures.

If you need new covers, why not consider opting for a slightly larger tyre, or a higher profile type to raise the gearing and help mpg. Naturally, check that they will safely fit on the rims and not foul your car's steering, suspension or brake systems, but it's worth a thought. Speak to your local tyre specialist for further advice.

And that ton of tools? Formula One designers spend millions to shave just a few kilos off their cars to maximise performance yet motorists lug around all sorts of weighty junk in the boot. Have a clear-out and take that roof rack off if it's not needed.

Have you considered converting your car to run on Gas? As our April edition showed, LPG can slash your fuel bills by half. However, it's expensive to install and the gas tank steals a lot of luggage space. It's only really viable if you cover a lot of miles and intend to keep your car for a long time. For fuller details, obtain a back copy from our offices (plus check out our July 2000 issue, Ed).

Fuel saving devices have largely been viewed as gimmicks ever since the year dot. However, one product we've recently been testing is the new Ecotek CB-26P. Primarily its job is to clean up emissions by helping the combustion process, but there is a notable economy spin-off.

It's not particularly cheap at nearly £45 (or a £79.95 twin pack for engines above 2.6-litres), so you need to cover a lot of miles to break even, but it could also be a real boon to improve flagging emissions come MoT-time. Again, more details are in our April issue.

Finally, your driving. Now we won't go into detail here - after all it's not us who drive badly - it's all the others! But remember the basic rule that the harder and faster you drive, the more fuel you'll burn up. And just a little thought to reading the road ahead using the maxim "more speed - less haste" will get you there just as quickly, but with less stress and a fuller fuel tank. Okay?"

Car Mechanics Magazine - June 2000

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