[WalterBright]

> if something was a great idea, and could improve mileage, the oil companies with their power would kill it.

This is incorrect by inspection. As my father (Air Force) told me, if there was an invention that substantially improved mileage, the military would be all over it. They would not let anyone stand in their way.

(Fuel consumption is a severe limiting factor in military machines.)

[larrys]

An urban legend for sure, this version also claimed the government was culpable:

(Towards bottom of page)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_saving_device