Myth Watch

The pitch: Boycott a national gasoline brand for a day to help cut fuel prices.

The reality: This is an Internet favorite every time gasoline prices go crazy. Motorists are urged to stop buying a certain brand of gas on a certain day to teach Big Oil a lesson. But a well-publicized boycott day in 1999 was a bust.

Consumer advice: Even if a one-day boycott were to hurt a brand’s gas sales, they probably would be better than ever the next day. A long-term national conservation effort is the only way to scale back fuel prices, experts say. Here’s a start: Slow down, keep your tires properly inflated, clean out your trunk to get rid of excess weight, combine trips and get regular tune-ups.

Final word: In 1999, the U.S. average for a gallon of regular gas was $1.17. Ouch.

-- David Colker