Hi: Being a new member with a 2005 Mini cooper,I have a basic question about the fuel saver chip sold on Ebay for the Mini...Does anyone know about the TSL Engineering fuel saver chip..The cost is only $ 9.00...the claim is for fuel saving without affecting performance...any experience by any member....Joe Cannizzaro

 

On the slight chance that this isn't completely spam, Joe, here is my answer:

If it were that easy to make more mileage and not affect performance, why wouldn't all of the major manufacturers be doing this already?

The answer, obviously, is that the 'fuel saver chip' is a scam.

 

Here are a few gas saving tips:

1) Inflate your tires to the highest psi reccomended by tire manufacturer not MINI
2) Accelerate smoothly and coast to lights and stop signs
3) Use cruise control religiously
4) Keep windows rolled up
5) Do not use A/C, limit its use if needed use lowest setting
6) Most important shift gears early (short shift) if you got automatic pay more attention to #2
7) Drive the speed limit on HWYs and Interstates (practice lane dicipline, jabs to throttle to change lanes wastes petrol)
8) Use good petrol ie; Shell and Chevron/Texaco (I go online and find cheapest petrol- I use Shell V 93 at $4.11 gal.)

Hopefully that advice saves you more gas than the fuel chip.
This advice is meant for daily driving and commutes, so for spirited driving lower tire psi.

 

Howsoonis now1985.....Thanks for the tips on saving gas.I will religiously try it out...Just got the "chip" in an envelope....It looks like a simple capacitor that is supposed to be attached to the " IAT sensor"( air temp sensor)... I don't think I will try it.. I bought it on pure curiosity....There are to many "if's) if it doesn't work, etc.....Thanks again for the sound advise..Joe C.

 

That sounds like a resistor that's supposed to fool the computer into thinking it's always a certain temp. in order to lean out the fuel mixture (I think) thus supposedly saving gas. Certainly not a good idea (especially if used on a forced induction motor) and I wouldn't think it would pass emissions tests, either!

 

Suzanne's Chili Red S...... I think you are right...that's all it can be doing...it is only a resistor....I won't experiment to find out what happens...They said it can be removed to pass emissions...Thanks for the confirmation....Joe C.

 

Yep, using one of those on a forced induction car is a good way to melt a piston.