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Volo Performance Fuel Saving Chip
Tests
Last month one of our new
dealers suggested I test out the Volo
Performance OBD Dynamic Soft Flash Fuel Saver that attaches to the OBD-II
connector. Since our Scangauge
also attaches to the OBD-II cdonnector I called
the company that makes the Volo and asked how
it connects and whether I could still use my Scangauge. Come to find out the Volo has four wires that attach to the wires that
lead to the OBD-II connector. I
ordered the FS-1 Volo that is specifically made
for fuel savings, hence the name FS-1. They also make other units made for
performance like increased horsepower.
All their units are vehicle specific so it can’t be used on you
next vehicle unless it is the same model.
I ordered the one appropriate for my 2002 Pontiac Aztek.
The Volo installed next to the
brake release lever.
I installed
the FS-1 as instructed except that I also installed a switch on the power
wire so I could disable the unit when testing baseline mileage. After installation I activated the FS-1
by resetting it as instructed and confirmed it was active by watching the
indicator lights. Then I headed to
the fueling station and filled up with gasoline.
It was a
hot afternoon and perfect weather for best mileage, no wind, and high
temperatures (58-90 degrees Fahrenheit).
I chose a 40 mile highway driving course on Interstate 87 for my
mileage test and used the Scangauge to determine trip mileage. I hit the
start line at 70 mph and hit the reset button for trip mileage on my
Scangauge. The round trip from
exit 18 to and around the cloverleaf at exit 13 and back had a section of
55 mph work zone around exit 16 in both directions. Through these sections I drove 55
mph.
The first
run tested the Volo FS-1 and at the end of the
40 mile round trip the Scangauge read 27.6 mpg for the trip. I immediately got off the next exit
shut off the engine, turned off the switch to the Volo
FS-1, then started the engine. I confirmed that the Volo FS-1 was disabled by checking and seeing no
indicator lights illuminated. I
repeated the 40 mile test loop exactly as before and recorded the
Scangauge indicated trip mileage of 28 mpg. Throughout the trips there were
numerous check points that had exactly the same mileage. It wasn’t until going through the exit
16 work zone that the baseline mileage began to
inch up compared to the mileage during the test with the Volo.
Conclusions: The Volo FS-1
did NOT improve the mileage of my vehicle. The recorded 1.4% drop in mileage
appearing gradually during the last 10 miles of the baseline test is
suspect since the checkpoints during the first 30 miles were spot
on. The slight increase may have
been due to more traffic causing a general air flow in the direction of
flow (less wind resistance), or possibly a temporary local breeze caused
by the thunderstorm apparent on the weather map 10 miles to the
Northwest, after the test. But
there was no wind before or after the tests. The test definitely proves to me that
at least on this vehicle the Volo FS-1 does NOT
improve fuel mileage.
I may
test the Volo again on a vehicle that has
Hydrogen Boost installed and will used it in place of and in conjunction
with our normal electronic control circuit. I do not expect it to do the job of our
electronic control circuit and I don’t expect it to help the Hydrogen
Boost system.
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