This one may come across as a longshot – and for that matter, it may sound like a commercial for a product. I assure, it is not [ "I'm not a real shill, I only play one on my blog"].

First, a little background. I used to own a Subaru WRX. For those not familiar, the WRX is a ’stealth’ performance car. It looks like just another compact Japanese sedan, but it sports a turbocharged motor that is an absolute kick in the pants to drive – extremely fast acceleration, amazing all-wheel-drive handling, etc.

For someone interested in conserving energy, it would surely seem like a poor choice. On balance though, compared with such delights as the Hummer and ginormous Cadillac Escalade – vehicles that sport miles per gallon ratings in the single digits – the WRX is practically an economy car. In the three or so years I had it, I averaged about 21 miles per gallon, and that was driving it very hard. The downside though was that it required Premium fuel, preferably 92 – 93 octane or higher.

Shortly after I got the car, California reduced the mandated octane rating for Premium to 91 octane. While the car could handle that fine, I really wanted to maintain the performance. After much searching on the internet, I ran across a product called "GTA Fuel Enhancer". Unlike the majority of fuel enhancers, it’s not a cleaner, or an alcohol, or any sort of direct octane booster. GTA is a hydrocarbon viscosity modifier. Put in the most basic terms, it’s this slimy, snotty ‘fluid’, you add a couple of ounces to a tank of gas, and it increases the uniformity of the fuel droplets that are injected into either the carburetor or directly into the cylinder. That makes for a more uniform burn, and reduces detonation – ‘pinging’ – so in other words, it increases the effective octane of the fuel.

I’ve used the GTA for a couple of years now, and can attest that it does seem to restore the octane. Its easy to experience the Placebo Effect with such things, so I won’t say in unqualified terms that it does do what it says it does – but it certainly felt like it. As well, my wife recently started using it in her 1986 Toyota Pickup, which has 216,000 miles on the original engine. It has a tendency to ping when at highway speeds and under some load. The use of the GTA eliminates that.

The cost, when bought in bulk (gallon), amounts to about $1.00 per tank. when filling a tank can cost upwards of $45, that’s a small cost.

Does it increase fuel economy? No idea. I enjoy the feeling of acceleration, so I’m a bit of a leadfoot. I never know what my mileage for a tank will be. However, the GTA folks claim it increases gas mileage, and they have quite a bit of non-sensational info on their site to back it.

Oh, I no longer have my beloved WRX. The cost of the premium gasoline, plus the fact that I work from home – meaning it sat gathering dust in the garage more than six days out of seven - led me to sell it recently. I bought a Subaru Forester instead. Haven’t gone through the first tank of gas yet, so i don’t know what kind of mileage it gets. I presume it’ll be slightly better than the WRX, but the fact it takes regular grade gasoline will save a good chunk of money.

I would encourage others to try GTA. I will note for the record I have absolutely no association with them. I bought their ‘goo’, and that’s the extent of it. But other, less lead-footed, may be able to report back whether it increases their gas mileage.