EEVblog #1181 - Car ECO OBD2 Fuel Saver SCAM

[EEVblog]

Dave exposes the ECO OBD2 Fuel Saver as a complete scam.
They are supposed to talk to the car's ECU via the CAN bus on the OBD2 connector, but does it?
Bonus rant on Audiophile Audiophoolery!

[drussell]

Different board layout but basically exactly the same kind of silly light blinking that Big Clive found:



I'm sure there are people that believe these things actually do something, though...

DERP!  It works so much better than the fuel saving magnets!   

[maginnovision]

I can't imagine plugging random shit into the obd2 port, much less something with lofty claims.

[johnlsenchak]

Awesome  video  total  wankerey !

[NiHaoMike]

Hypermilers know about OBD2 gadgets that really can boost MPG - the Scangauge being one of the earliest ones. Quite a bit more complex than a box with flashing LEDs, but not that much more complex.

Of which, what I would like to see is a gadget that uses GPS data and computer vision to learn the timing of the traffic lights and inform the driver to speed up or slow down in order to maximize the chances of getting to it on green. Not at all an easy task but it can save a lot of time as well as energy.

[MrMobodies]

Take a look at their website affiliate program link:

https://www.h8m8.com/#why-work-with-us

WANT INTERNATIONAL WHITEHAT E-COMMERCE? WE HAVE IT

Only In-house Offers & Weekly Payouts
Lightning fast loading times
Any kind of customization you might dream of
All the marketing materials you might need

WHY IT’S A GOOD IDEA
TO WORK WITH Us?

Perfect way to make money
Weekly payouts for higher volume affiliates, always on time

I don't see the Eco Can't bus on their product page:

https://www.h8m8.com/#product

But they have got the same payment thing on their other products that take you to their "checkout page"

Like this Drone:
https://www.blade360.pro/checkout?tpl=dmc3

Edit:
I don't see it "reserving" me one.

[Deodand2014]

Here is Big Clive's second look at the things, with pretty much the same conclusions.



And this video on a car related channel went so far as to put some eBay 'Performance Enhancing' plug in devices to the test on a proper testing rig.

[jonovid]

their is nothing new under the sun 
here is an Australian 1980s original 
the Peter Brock Energy Polarizer     
a box full of magic crystals embedded in tiger snake oil.

$480 Energy Polarizer  is at 2:35 in the video

$480 Energy Polarizer  is at 2:35 in the video

[German_EE]

I bought one.

OK, pause for the laughter to die down..............................................

The OBD port on our car is at a convenient point to power the GPS and it has that handy 12V connection, however the ODB plugs (the proper ones) are about 8 Euro each in one-off quantities. So, I bought a scammy ODB fuel saver off EBay for 3 Euro, ripped out the PCB, and replaced it with a 5V regulator.

The final step was to label the plug as a GPS supply, just in case our dealer thought that we had lost our minds the next time the car went in for a service.

[Barny]

What about the 12V Port (a.k. cigaret lighter port)?
Its an even more convinient way to power GPS, charge phone,....

[SeanB]

What about the 12V Port (a.k. cigaret lighter port)?
Its an even more convinient way to power GPS, charge phone,....

Possibly was already in use, plus they often are switched outlets, while the OBD port is an always on 12V source, perfect for an always on GPS device. Hope you also painted the plastic to match the surrounding dashboard plastic before labelling it, though another thing is that you also get car trackers that are a pass through OBD port, using the 12V power, while at the same time having an all wire pass through to a socket that takes the place of the original purple OBD socket, with the original being hidden back further under the dashboard area, so that to the casual look the OBD port is unused, but there is a tracking system in that is easy to install. Often used on cars under HP to ensure that a buyer, with poor credit score, can be traced if they stop paying, so that the remaining value on the vehicle can be realised by repo. Often when the loan is paid off the device is removed, and yes, in the fine print there is the proviso that the company can and will reposess the vehicle, and that there is a tracking system on there, and the monthly fee for this is also included in the payment lump sum.

Watched way too much Matt Pitman......

[A Hellene]

Oh, yes, of course these cheap little crap-boxes can save fuel!
No less!

After all, this is a well known fact that the kernel-mode (the lower ring, protected) procedures of the modern car controllers would be more than happy to obey any user-mode imbecile commands (or, even, any service-mode commands, intended to be resetting some internal fault flags), to change the injection/ignition mapping in order to save fuel --or to carry out any other factory-protected procedures...

-George

[MT]

The "fake light show" is not fake, its real! 

[tszaboo]

Hypermilers know about OBD2 gadgets that really can boost MPG - the Scangauge being one of the earliest ones. Quite a bit more complex than a box with flashing LEDs, but not that much more complex.

Of which, what I would like to see is a gadget that uses GPS data and computer vision to learn the timing of the traffic lights and inform the driver to speed up or slow down in order to maximize the chances of getting to it on green. Not at all an easy task but it can save a lot of time as well as energy.

No, it is simpler than that. You can optimize a ICE for power, emission or fuel use. Car MF optimizes it for emissions, because law.
And you shouldnt change it, because law.

[Kleinstein]

There is a good reason to have the solder mask over the pads - this way the chip is less likely to interfere with the cars operation.  So it's not that stupid.

[JPortici]

Argh! You beat us.
This is somewhat related to our line of work and my boss wanted to make a video too, where we would disassemble one of these POS and demonstrate once and for all that they are garbage. He already bought a couple of them (from ebay of course) and they should arrive next week

I fear that this scam is of a global scale
A bit of fun for my italian pals: https://www.butac.it/davide-bianchi-e-il-dispositivo-ecofuel/
This came out a couple of weeks ago, but it's the same shit every few months.

The video talks about this young engineering student at University of Bologna. During some experiments he found out a way to reduce fuel consumption and in turn emissions for all vehichles. He tried to publish his research but one day he found out he was being expelled from university, with no apparent reason. Then, with the aid of his uncle (another engineer) he decided to create and market this tool for the good of mankind.

The story gives me the shivers

[ejeffrey]

Oh, yes, of course these cheap little crap-boxes can save fuel!
No less!

After all, this is a well known fact that the kernel-mode (the lower ring, protected) procedures of the modern car controllers would be more than happy to obey any user-mode imbecile commands (or, even, any service-mode commands, intended to be resetting some internal fault flags), to change the injection/ignition mapping in order to save fuel --or to carry out any other factory-protected procedures...

-George

It is definitely possible to remap many cars ECU via the OBD-II port.  Just because this devices is a fraud doesn't mean it is impossible.  There are semi-reputable companies that do make devices that can do this.  They will either provide you with a standard "known good" maps for your particular car, or allow you to individually change fuel parameters which is obviously a good way to totally f-up your car.  Depending on where you live and what you actually change this is often illegal, as it is changing emissions related settings from what the manufacturer certified.

[ejeffrey]

The video talks about this young engineering student at University of Bologna. During some experiments he found out a way to reduce fuel consumption and in turn emissions for all vehichles. He tried to publish his research but one day he found out he was being expelled from university, with no apparent reason. Then, with the aid of his uncle (another engineer) he decided to create and market this tool for the good of mankind.

You can decrease consumption and emissions by, for instance, braking the engine so it doesn't operate.  Zero emissions and zero fuel consumption!

There are also new engine technologies that can improve both -- such as HCCI or variable compression ratio.  However, for a given engine, you normally have to trade off emissions vs. consumption vs. power.  Leaner, hotter burning high pressure mixtures are more efficient but generate more NOx.  Rich fuel allows more power but increases consumption, etc.  It isn't like the car makers don't know what variables affect those parameters, they choose an engine map that is a good compromise between those three. 

[German_EE]

What about the 12V Port (a.k. cigaret lighter port)?
Its an even more convinient way to power GPS, charge phone,....

This would mean a 1.5m USB cable that passes over the pedals, along the side of the transmission tunnel and then past the gear shift. The OBD port option is a 40cm cable that is out of sight for all but 5cm of it's length.

[nctnico]

That box is a poorly covered up a scam indeed. I guess they isolated the CAN signals on purpose so they can get away from legal trouble in case something goes wrong.

BTW: I made my previous (turbo diesel) car run 5% more efficient using a 1.5V zener diode. Bonus points to the first one who figures out where I put it!

[JPortici]

The video talks about this young engineering student at University of Bologna. During some experiments he found out a way to reduce fuel consumption and in turn emissions for all vehichles. He tried to publish his research but one day he found out he was being expelled from university, with no apparent reason. Then, with the aid of his uncle (another engineer) he decided to create and market this tool for the good of mankind.

You can decrease consumption and emissions by, for instance, braking the engine so it doesn't operate.  Zero emissions and zero fuel consumption!

There are also new engine technologies that can improve both -- such as HCCI or variable compression ratio.  However, for a given engine, you normally have to trade off emissions vs. consumption vs. power.  Leaner, hotter burning high pressure mixtures are more efficient but generate more NOx.  Rich fuel allows more power but increases consumption, etc.  It isn't like the car makers don't know what variables affect those parameters, they choose an engine map that is a good compromise between those three. 

i take it that you're not getting that it was a publicity video with conspiration theory overtones to promote this very same scam?

[nali]

BTW: I made my previous (turbo diesel) car run 5% more efficient using a 1.5V zener diode. Bonus points to the first one who figures out where I put it!

Wedged under the accelerator pedal?

[Lockon Stratos]

@EEVblog
Even if that thingy wanted to program the ECU the car needs to be a very old one because most new ones wont talk to devices that arent running the official SW from the car manufacturer(aside from a few basic things OFC)....

[Mr. Scram]

I can't imagine plugging random shit into the obd2 port, much less something with lofty claims.

Let's give dodgy equipment what's essentially root access to the valuable vehicle you drive around at high speed. What could possibly go wrong?

[sokoloff]

BTW: I made my previous (turbo diesel) car run 5% more efficient using a 1.5V zener diode. Bonus points to the first one who figures out where I put it!

Disable EGR and use the zener to keep the ECU from figuring it out?

OM606?