Gas crisis fuels dubious online offers

of these really worked, car manufacturers would be the first in line buying this stuff," Paul says. But, he adds, these types of technologies just don't work.

And wishful thinking doesn't mean that a solution exists; as Paul notes: "Everyone just assumes there has to be a way to save at the pump."

But there is no silver bullet for cutting gas expenses, and you should exercise caution and common sense when you run into these too-good-to-be-true offers. Read the site's terms of service carefully, and run a Google search to see if any complaints have surfaced. A little sleuthing at the BBB's Web site or at gripe sites such as Consumerist.com can also usually help you determine whether an offer is legit or not--and really save you time and money.