FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  August 23, 1989



             FTC CHARGES "FUEL SAVING" DEVICE MAKER
         WITH MAKING FALSE AND UNSUBSTANTIATED AD CLAIMS;
                CONSENT AGREEMENT SETTLES CHARGES


     The Federal Trade Commission has charged Nutronics Corp. of
Longmont, Colorado, with making false and unsubstantiated claims
in advertising its fuel-saving device known as the Alter-Brake
System (ABS).  The company has agreed not to misrepresent the
device in the future.

     The ABS is an "automobile retrofit device" designed to
disengage the automobile alternator during acceleration, thereby
momentarily decreasing the load on the engine, and resulting in
claimed fuel savings and increased engine performance.

     According to the Commission's complaint, advertising for
the ABS claimed that: ABS increases gas mileage from 12-28
percent; through increased fuel economy, ABS "will pay for
itself in only a few months"; the ABS has been endorsed for
consumer use by the Departments of Energy and Commerce; and  
the DOE and DOC have conducted scientific tests which
substantiate a gas mileage increase of 24 percent.  All of these
claims are false and misleading, the complaint charges.

     Under a proposed consent agreement placed on the public
record for comment, Nutronics has agreed to have "competent and
reliable" scientific research to substantiate its increased fuel-
savings claims, and to cease misrepresenting that its ABS device
has been approved by the government for sale to the public.   
Nutronics has also agreed to include the following disclaimer in
any of its continuing ads: "Reminder:  The actual fuel savings or
level of performance attained may vary, depending on the kind of
driving you do, how you drive, and the condition of your car."

     The Commission's complaint also names Gary Kelsay, president
and CEO of Nutronics Corp.  The investigation was handled by the
FTC's Denver Regional Office.



                              More




     A consent agreement is for settlement purposes only and does
not constitute admission of a law violation.  When the Commission
issues a consent order on a final basis, it carries the force of
law with respect to future violations.  Each violation of such an
order may result in a civil penalty of up to $10,000.

     The consent agreement appeared in the Federal Register on
August 22.  It will be subject to public comment for sixty days,
until October 23, after which the Commission will decide whether
to make it final.

     Comments should be addressed to the Office of the
Secretary, FTC, 6th St. & Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington,
D.C.  20580.

     Copies of the agreement, the complaint, and an analysis of
the agreement are available from the FTC's Public Reference
Branch, Rm. 130, 6th St. & Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington
D.C.  20580;  202-326-2222; TTY 202-326-2502.

                              # # #


MEDIA CONTACT:      Howard Shapiro, Office of Public Affairs,
                    202-326-2176

STAFF CONTACT:      Claude C. Wild III, Denver Regional
                    Office, 303-844-2271



(FTC File No. 882 3248)

(nutron)