On Tuesdays, WTAE-TV Call 4 Action reporter Susan Koeppen tests household products and gadgets that are sold on television commercials.
Today: Tornado Fuel Saver, www.tornadofuelsaver.com

With gas prices rising, some drivers might jump at the chance to save fuel and boost engine power. A small piece of metal called the Tornado claims it can do just that.

"This goes on the intake side of the engine," said John Marasco, of No. 1 Cochran. "As the air flows through the air box, as it comes through this and swirls down into the engine."

That swirl is supposed to provide better gas mileage and make the engine run better.

Koeppen asked the experts from the Cochran dealership to help her test the Tornado. They put one each in a new Hummer, a pickup truck and a sport utility vehicle, and technician Tom Bowman then took the cars out on the road.

"The pickup truck had better performanace, the Hummer had better gas mileage, but overall there was no great difference," Bowman said. "I can't see using the product, really."

The testers said the Tornado may work well on much older cars, but new cars don't need it.

"They (new cars) are so fuel-efficient -- and computers, and the way the fuel is regualted -- you are getting maximum performance and maximum gas mileage out of these vehicles," said Bowman.

Koeppen gives the Tornado a "thumbs down."