Fuel Doctor – Initial Impressions

>> Be sure to check our official Fuel Doctor review post to see if it really works!

Guest Post By Toby of Tundra Fuel Economy blog.

Our Fuel Doctor Test Unit

February 15th, 2011 – The Fuel Doctor arrived at my house securely packaged in bubble wrap. It is a compact device with no wires or connecting cables. Installing the Fuel Doctor was simple and straightforward – it plugs into the cigarette lighter. I was surprised by how small the Fuel Doctor is but it turns out that the small size is a good thing as it does not stick out far enough to get snagged on anything that I am constantly throwing in the little tray beneath the cigarette lighter.

Prior to the arrival of the Fuel Doctor I did some research on the internet – most of what I found disputed the efficacy of the product. I found You Tube videos in which self-proclaimed electrical engineers dissected the product and gave lengthy and involved technical explanations as to why the Fuel Doctor could not possibly work. A simple Google search on the Fuel Doctor returned a mountain of websites ranging from “does it work” and “how does it work” to “Fuel Doctor scams.”

I also visited the Fuel Doctor website and found the following explanation as to how it is claimed to work.

“The FD-47 increases a vehicle’s miles per gallon (MPG) through power conditioning of the vehicle’s electrical systems. Conditioned and clean power allows the vehicle’s electronic control unit (ECU), fuel injection and engine timing equipment to operate more efficiently. When the vehicles engine runs more efficiently it will require less fuel, produce more power and have reduced exhaust emissions (reduced CO2). As a vehicle matures, the power systems tend to generate and experience more electrical noise or electrical interference.  This noise can have many detrimental effects on the vehicle’s systems and decrease their efficiency.  The FD-47 simply plugs into the lighter socket/power port and the power conditioning qualities of the FD-47 help to reduce and remove this noise and to restore your vehicle’s efficiency.”

There is a ton of information on this website along with various tests a few of which can be seen here:

• Kett Engineering
• Test Car Results

The instructions for the Fuel Doctor state to install the Fuel Doctor into the cigarette lighter receptacle and leave it installed. To be honest I had my own doubts as to how something I could plug into a cigarette lighter could better my fuel economy. In my years of testing and research it has been very rare that a device returns an improvement of 10 percent or more – even more rare when that improvement is sustained. Even so, I was open to giving the product a fair test and honest review.

The Fuel Doctor installed in the test truck

Current Data at time of installation:

• Odometer 200,380 miles
• Average MPG 14.5 per tank as established from my residence to work and back
• Known maintenance issues include a burnt front driver’s bearing – other than that truck is mechanically sound
• Gas used is limited to Marathon 87 octane from pump #6 on Michigan Road in Carmel, Indiana