Busted/Confirmed Mods

[chesspirate]

I know this belongs in the "busted" category, but a new air-swirly thing is out there.

http://vortexvalvenw.com/home.php

and they are offering a 100% money-back guarantee. Any testers?

[95metro]

A 110% money-back guarantee actually. I'm certain there's some small print in the contract to allow them to weasel out of repayment.

At $69.95 USD I couldn't afford to test it.

I just love some of these "testamonials":

"On average I would fill my tank every 3-4 days. Now I fill it once a week."

?My Toyota usually averages 233 miles per tank. Now that I've installed the Vortex Valve? I get 320 miles per tank. This is a 37% improvement in gas mileage."

"... it's fuel-efficient [increase of 13% in mileage on units in regular use], there's more horsepower [7 seconds 0 to 20 MPH] and lower emissions. I've actually driven behind another unit equipped with a Vortex Valve? and noticed that there was hardly any smoke coming from the tail pipe."

One thing I've always wondered...where did the people offering these testamonials find the product in question when it's relatively new on the market??? It's especially confusing when they say they've been using it for years yet no one else has heard of it...

[zpiloto]

[quote=95metro]A 110% money-back guarantee actually. I'm certain there's some small print in the contract to allow them to weasel out of repayment.

At $69.95 USD I couldn't afford to test it.

Don't forget the shipping. to get it and return it 30 days later.

[95metro]

That's right! They'd charge you for shipping it to you and for sending it back! I wonder if there's a "restocking" charge on top of that?

[LincolnW]

Has anyone ever done testing on low boost forced induction applications?

I remember my FE going UP after I installed my turbo on my last car. It seemed like even when I was driving conservatively the turbo would help the car maintain speed.

It could have been a placebo effect. But I took it up to the redline time and time again and still got really good mileage (like 33-36).

It would be interesting to see if a low boost (5-7psi) turbo setup would increase FE. I've also heard of superchargers increasing FE but I've never owned one myself.

[95metro]

I think you're right about this. I did read this somewhere before and I have heard that (in the case of the Swift-clone lineup) the Sprint and Firefly turbo models get better FE at high-speeds (110 km/h +) than their naturally aspirated cousins.

I would like to test this as well, but I know it will be a long time before I can get a hold of a turbo and exhaust manifold for the Metro.

EDIT: http://www.autozine.org/technical_sc...h_engine_3.htm Scroll partway down the page until you see "Light Pressure Turbo (LPT)". Looks like it could work. I'm not certain which vehicle year to look up on the EPA's website, though the 1993 Saab 9000 could be one of the EcoPower LPT motors.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbocharger Scroll down until you see "Fuel Efficiency"

Lastly, the efficiency of the turbocharger itself can have an impact on fuel efficiency. Using a small turbocharger will give good response and low lag at low to mid RPMs, but can choke the engine on the exhaust side and generate huge amounts of pumping-related heat on the intake side as RPMs rise

[95metro]

Added LPT (Light Pressure Turbo) to the list. Thanks for bringing it up 90CivicStandard!

[SVOboy]

Some online auto magazine made a prius turbo and claimed a 6% increase in FE, someone around here will help me with the link.

[The Toecutter]

Never seen a Prius turbo. I have heard of an Insight turbo. Slightly increased fuel economy above 70 mph, but otherwise the same FE, but the biggest change is the 0-60 time dropped to 7 seconds!

[JanGeo]

eh - I can get 60mpg on my BMW and do 0 to 60 in about 3.4 seconds - there is like no place you can accelerate that fast in normal driving so what's the point.