Can a magnet save you money on gasoline?

Gasoline is way up again — regular in New York State averaged $3.05 a gallon on Tuesday. Wouldn’t it be nice to use less fuel without being forced to drive less?

Close to a thousand fleet owners in the U.S. and Canada now use a device called Fuelmiser on their vehicles, according to its manufacturer. It’s a powerful magnet that is clamped to the inbound fuel line. The magnet helps separate ionic particles in the fuel, the company says, making it burn more efficiently. The results, it claims, are improved mileage and reduced emissions.

School bus operators saw, “a more efficient burn,” said Maury Warshauer, a spokesman for Fuelmiser. Upgrading buses to cut harmful emissions would cost bus companies $12,000-$20,000 per vehicle, he said.

“It can be used on home heating, boats, commercial cars, anything with fossil fuel,” said Warshauer. “We’re quite confident it works. It saves people money, it saves the environment,” he said. So confident that large fleets are allowed to test the device for free.

Developer Steven Sacs and his son hold patents for Fuelmiser in the U.S., Japan, China, and most of Europe. They developed the device 10 years ago; five years ago they increased its magnetic strength by 40-percent.

The Company Car & Limousine service in Cleveland, Ohio, saves about 350 gallons of fuel per year on each of its 28 limos, according to Stephen Qua, president of the company.

Fuelmiser saves 12-percent on the gas bills for Aries Limousine in Southampton, PA. “Overall, I’m pleased,” Philip Jagiela, the company president, said.

But despite eight years of market testing and apparently satisfied customers, Fuelmiser (fuelmiser.com) is not without controversy.

Limousine industry message boards indicate there is a vigorous debate over Fuelmiser and similar products. Do magnets really impact fuel efficiency, some fleet owners question. Prove it, they say. The apparently strong anecdotal evidence wins many customers but not universal acceptance.

The Fuelmiser device retails for $150 and Warshauer insists, “it will pay for itself in 3-4 months.” A car’s warranty is not affected by attaching the Fuelmiser device, he said.