What Obama said is true, no way you cut it or how you try to spin it and I fail to see how people with differing ideologies can not simply say, out loud and to the public: It is true and people should keep their tires properly inflated. Basically, those who scoff at his statement, argue its accuracy, claim he is wrong are lying. Keeping one’s tires properly inflated will result in improved gas mileage and therefore savings; why can’t the goddamn opposition simply agree, with the caveat that maybe it doesn’t go quite far enough?
Yes, if the o2 or maf sensor dies then the computer will drop into limp mode and use whatever other sensors are available to guess at mixture control. Mileage will drop. Absolutely. But you’re talking about a mechanical item that has failed versus something that could be tweaked.
Since the topic is specific to his tire gauge comment I’m addressing that. He made a soundbite that he shouldn’t have and instead of removing his foot he’s still running with it. It’s the first real mistake that he’s made in the political arena of “gotcha”. He has really good writers that could spin him back out but he’s going to ride this one down. Not sure why. He would have been better off if he did a quickie interview where he admitted it was wag on his part and then extol on the virtues of cleaning furnace filters or whatever else works.