Vortex Generator
 

Here is the sales pitch...

"Studies have shown stationary vortex generators greatly increase an engines airflow and fuel atomization for more horsepower (up to 15%) and better fuel effeciency (up to 30% increase). The idea is simple, spiraling air moves with greater velocity and efficiency through a cars intake tract. More air=More power, its that simple. Additionally the spiraling air atomizes the fuel better allowing for more complete combustion. Your cars computer reads the changes and compensates by eliminating excess fuel delivery, resulting in better fuel effeciency. Also, beleive it or not, vehicles with Auto Trans will shift smoother than ever"

Ok....I did this simple little mod two weeks ago. Just for giggles.

Increase power....YES! Especially 1st to 2nd at about 3500 rpm.....

Increase fuel efficiency......Well I did not go from 16mpg to 21mpg...but I have noticed and tracked and increased range of 60miles per tank and an increase of 1.2-1.5 mpg.....nothing wrong with that at these prices....

BTW...gas futures halted trading twice today.....now @70+ per barrel.

aye carumba!!

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

anyone else have any input about this "mod?"

Yes, I am interested in this mod.
Is this a DIY project. How much, and where can I buy? 60miles extra per tank his huge...net savings of $11 if you fill the tank up with premium.

If the x5 gives 15mpg than that equates to 4 gallons of saving x $2.75/gallon for grand total of $11.00

Hard to believe that this little contraption would save you this much money. I am definately willing to experiment.
:thumbup:

is this the tornado thingy that you put on ure intake outlet?

My consumptions reading said 17.4 avg.

:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

I think I have seen one of those "infomercials." I am skeptical of 100% of those infomericals.

Gather more data maybe?????????

more details about the product.....
manufacturer, cost, etc....

I have not seen the infomercial...I found it on Ebay...it was 30 bucks shipping and handling. I spend that on a crappy lunch so I figured what the hell...why not.....so far...it seems to have paid for it self.

Oh...I am not a compensated endorser....just for the record....it is just a little piece of sheet metal that is folded over into the shape.

How is this thing supposed to create a vortex in your intake when you still have to force the air through the intake runners and through the valves before it gets to the combustion chamber. Also fuel isn't even added until very close to the cylinder chamber.
Personally I wouldn't add anything that hampers the flow of air to the motor. Your just adding a restriction, imo.

You could always strap a Dyson vacuum under the hood :rofl:

I dunno
 

I brought it put it in..gas milage went up....I don't drive anywhere under 80mph on the highway and it holds up in the 17.1- 17.7 range...at this point the computer might be wrong ....I am rolling on 20 295/40/20r...so I will take that in a minute.

This might be my last mod for a while....the wifey thinks she is pregnant.

Congrats - exciting times ahead :thumbup:

As for this mod, my feelings are if increasing fuel mileage were this easy don't you think the auto makers would be all over this? Snake oil, IMHO. :tsk:

I noticed this thread on another forum I frequent...

http://www.odyclub.com/forums/showth...hlight=tornado

Is this the same thing??

Roc, Congrats to you and yourCEO!

I'm with most here: if it were that easy for mpg/performance inc., every mfg'er from KIA to Bentley would have them on!
GL,md

Thanks to everyone, but we still have to go the Dr.
 

the wife works out five times a week and has been feeling a little wierd for the last three weeks her hormones are all over the place anyway...I remember the night in question so who knows...but I will not confirm until I hear it from a guy in a white coat....

So anyway.....I drove this SAV back from Dallas Tx, to my home in Ma. The whole way. 16.1-16.3 that was with cruise on 1748 miles. I drop this little dumb tin thing in the intake and I am getting mid 17's.... am I crazy? Am I seeing things? I dunno...I drive like I stole it all the time and that is what I am getting. :dunno: :dunno:

Then again. I filled the tank this morning on the way into the office. I will remove it and see what happens. There also might be a coincidence. I did take out the airfilter and cleared all the crap out of it. :dunno:

I will say this...I changed the intake and the exhaust to a BORLA on the 99 Lexus LS400 and never got below 21.5 mph on a tank. Before that I got 20-20.6. Since I was driving 110 miles per day I was very happy with that. More air can't hurt.

Do you people seriously think that a 2 buck part will improve anything??? If it did, don't you think that BMW would put it on, if it improved things. I am skeptical, obviously. Manufactures spend millions on developement, you spend 50 bucks.....who are we kidding. I believe the drag "cost" of swirling the air out strips any vortex advantage in modern engines.

I tried one on a diesel toyota a few years ago and had it dyno tested.

The results were; less power, rough power delivery through parts of the rev range and a noticable decline in revs at the top end.

I got my money back!

Mat
3.0d sp

16.1-16.3??? :confused: What engine do you have? I drove my 4.4 from NJ to ID and got 18-20mpg. :) Have yet to establish what the Dinan S2 upgrade will give me, but it sounds and feels awesome! :wow: Clean filters(air & gas) do help, as well as staying away from that ethanol crap. Need more info.

01 4.4 IS but I have 20inch rims on the Rig
 

yeah...I have to add a REmus exhaust and change the airfilter. These things have to wait....I have a fam situation that has to sort it self out first.

I think that the 20's have an impact.

There is some theoretical basis for this thing working, as far fetched as it may sound. The vortex doesn't have to continue all the way down the intake to have an affect. All it needs to do is increase the pressure (decrease the pressure drop) along the intake. The increased pressure will cascade down into the cylinder whether the vortex extends that far or not.

However, I'm not convinced the thing increases the pressure at all. If anything it adds an additional pressure drop.

Also, I'd be worried that the flimsy tin contraption could fall apart and send shrapnel down the intake wiping out the MAF and jamming up the valves.

Also, I'd be worried that the flimsy tin contraption could fall apart and send shrapnel down the intake wiping out the MAF and jamming up the valve

This is a solid peice of aluminum. There is nothing to tear off.

Here in Europe,these things are marketed as AIRPOWER.They simply increase the air turbulence before it reaches the inlet manifold.It strangles the air at low revs giving you an illusion that as you step on the gas you get more power!!!!!!This is only so because it strangles it in the first place!!!!After all, if your air-filter is dirty doesnt your car feel slower???
On Turbo-intercooler cars(like my 3.0D) they recommend fitting 2 of these,one before the intercooler(after the air-filter) and another after the intercooler(near the inlet manifold).A friend of mine installed this on a Golf Tdi-150 (against my better judgement!) and lost max boost pressure,and gained more black smoke(proving that the Airpower restricts the air-flow mass!) .He asked for his money back!Each Airpower here costs about 90 Usd!!!!!!!(no wonder they recommend 2!!!!!)Now for some quick effective DIY power gain tip!Try drilling a 2.0" hole in your airbox!I got more boost pressure at lower Rpm,but mine is a Turbo Diesel!On a 3.0-4.8 ,the air-intake sound will bring a smile to your face..........

This mod was quite common on a Toyota Board that i belong to. Deckplate Mod

Are you saying that this thing is milled from a solid piece of aluminum? Can you post a pic? I'm curious about what it looks like. I had assumed the vanes are just folded over sheet metal and riveted or soldered. It's the rivets or solder that I was referring to as potential shrapnel.

It works on all cars.You will see more gains if your airbox is restrictive!We saw a power gain on a Fiat 2.0 Coupe Turbo of 15 bhp!!!!!thats just with the ECU adjusting by itself!No fine tuning involved!

this is the Airpower I have been referring to.........

Ah, that's what I had in mind. A sheet metal ring with 6 smaller pieces of sheet metal attached inside for vanes. All held together by ?

Go to thread...vote for my next mod by ROC3b
 

It is posted there, for some reason you cannot post the same pic twice here. I even renamed it.

http://www.xoutpost.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=1929That one looks quite different. I see what you mean about it being one piece. I'd venture to guess that the cross sectional area open to flow is about half of the intake opening. That's gotta produce a pressure drop.

That might be where this one is different. If you look close at this picture the inside of the peice it is flat. I ran the shop vac in reverse to see if I could see something or feel somthing in my hand...I did not notice any drop off and in the tub it fits flat agianst the inside of the tube.

If you folded the vanes back up it would be just short cylindrical piece of tubing. With a short length of round ducting I could make one of those in 15 minutes. Then I could rig up a test to measure the pressure drop using your shop vac idea. Might be a fun science project.

Have you thought about using some smoke in combination with the shop vac to see if it creates a vortex? You really need to put the thing in a section of tube for a proper test though. The boundary effects are significant for creating the vortex.

I think the Dyson idea has some merit, but I think we should put it sucking the exhaust, not under the hood....

This would be perfect for that TLC show
 

Ya know the one where they debunk things with the two wierd looking dudes. This would be perfect.

Myth Busters - here in MD, it comes on before and after Top Gear :thumbup:

:bustingup That show is a riot. They like working with projectiles, explosives, dead pigs and anything that gets dropped from at least 3 stories. Not enough excitement in this dorky experiment to interest them unfortunately.

Has anyone actually tested this (except Roc3b) or everyone is on the same bandwagon (worthless piece of $h!t)...

Chiming in a year too late but... I bought one :nanana: and will share my findings.

Hopefully my ride doesn't blow up.

:xoutpost:

That's very courageous of you to take one for the team - especially from a new member! :thumbup:

If it doesn't work, it makes a good vegetable chopper!

Dyno tested by member on Explorer Forum. No changes as claimed by infomerical.