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Gas Saving Gizmos & Gadgets
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Comments
If automotive manufacturers had a cure all or miracle product or style of designing an engine or fuel system to get better mileage while still delivering good performance, they'd be using it. Also, race teams from NASCAR to IMSA, Billy Bob's Circle Track Team, and me with my autocross club would be all over saving a buck.
The manufacturers are rewarded MILLIONS in government tax breaks when they exceed CAFE standards. It behooves them to do better, to the tune of MILLIONS of dollars.
When I see products like the Tornado or the latest superjuice fuel additive I have to laugh - they may offer a 1 hp increase on a 400 hp motor at 7,500 rpm, but you can gain the same 1 hp by dropping the temperature in the dyno room by 2 degrees - proven fact.
Safeguard your wallet, and like Dad said, don't believe anything you hear and only half of what you see.
Gosh, you guys are no fun! Beat up on Tornado why don't you?
Well if you don't like that maybe I could interest you in some other marvels that the establishment is keeping from you!
How about a magnetic blanket that you wrap around your fuel line? There are systems being sold that claim to keep your water pipes unclogged from hard water. Surely, keeping your fuel lines unclogged will contribute to fuel efficiency!
And how about pyramid power? The mysterious power of the pyramid has been claimed to preserve food, eliminate infection and even sharpen your razor blades! We'd be foolish to overlook this great power and its potential benefits to improving gas mileage. A whole industry could be created to provide pyramidal garages, parking ramps and pyramid tents for storage.
[/tongue in cheek disclaimer] ;-)
tidester, host
tidester, host
Wonder if the tornado crowd is related.
Harry
Steve, Host
Don't suggest that to our Aussie friends! Placing ostrich eggs on the accelerator will cause the vehicle's speed to max out rather quickly! :-)
tidester, host
As for testing gismos, test them on a machine/dyno, since driveing to work is not a good way, because you may hit more signals or heaver traffic on ome day more then another. Also you have to figure in the cost of the devise, such as $60 or so how much gas does thay buy.
Keeping driving habits the same, my first tank of gas post-Tornado was 14.9 mpg, my second 15.3 mpg. I didn't consider this statistically significant or sufficient to justify the $70 investment, so I disconnected the battery longer than they suggest (5 minutes) to "reprogram" the computer, I presume for air-fuel mix. After reconnecting the battery, started and idled longer than they suggest (2 minutes). So my third tank of gas after the battery trick was 15.3 mpg.
I had similar warning bells in my head from reading their marketing material, as previous posters in this forum, but was willing to run my own test under the 30-day money back guarantee. So I still have almost 2 weeks of the 30 days left and plan to remove and return for my refund immediately.
Let's say that the device does allow great improvement for the vehicles listed in their marketing material. Even if that were true, there is not a vehicle of the 2000 Tahoe type with a Vortec engine that's represented on their table of example improvements.
So I won't be installing it on my wife's 1997 Suburban then either, as it has the same engine type.
For Tahoe owners in my area wanting better gas mileage - my advice, cure the lead foot up to your stops and out of your starts. Where are you really going when the light in front of you is still red?
The only way to lose weight is not through some magical pill or supplement, but through proper diet and exercise. Even though most people know this, the diet industry still grosses over one billion dollars a year.
Same for the automotive "economy and performance improvement" market.
Pay attention to the "up to" language when you read the mpg claims :-)
Steve, Host
here's a testing for the chevy 5.3:
http://www.galebanks.com/test_results_AC07.cfm
24 hp and 22 lb-ft at the *wheels* .. and only %2 better mileage.
Fuel-Saving Devices Not Worth The Money
And other stories:
Gas Saving Gizmos (KELO TV)
Bypassing the Pump (Washington Post; reg. link)
Steve, Host
Steve, Host
tidester, host
Steve, Host
www.blueskycleanair.com
David
The title of the headline is "They don't work"
Steve, Host
Steve, Host
Thanks - though I think it's still an open issue as to whether higher voltage can produce more complete combustion.
tidester, host
Motor Kote
Steve, Host
Have anybody tried fuelblast cards?
www.fuelblast.com
How does it work?
Thanks.
I am new to this forum and the above title caught my attention. I do have an item that is NOT available thru your AUTO PARTS SUPERMARKETS. AND THIS ONE WORKS. It is a LOCKING GAS CAP that is made in Germany. It works on the
DURAMAX Diesels and other GMC/CHEVY Trucks.
This little gizmo (for the new low low price of only $197!)is supposed to generate hydrogen (FROM ORDINARY TAP WATER!!!) and then inject the hydrogen into the air intake or air cleaner for added fuel economy.
Question - IF the thing actually produces hydrogen(?), wouldn't the hydrogen react with the oxygen coming into the intake and produce.....WATER?
If this is the case, isn't this just a really, really complicated water injection system?
Grounding Kit
Steve, Host
Even if the hydrogen remains intact before injection there are two fundamental problems with the "device:"
(a) basic physics - you simply cannot get something for nothing! It takes energy to extract the hydrogen and you cannot recover more energy from that hydrogen than you provided to accomplish the separation. (It's called thermodynamics!)
Moreover, the energy required to accomplish the separation appears, from the vendor's description, to come ultimately from the same gasoline whose efficiency he is trying to enhance. That is energy taken away from actually operating the vehicle.
(b) basic chemistry - hydrocarbons (i.e. gasoline) are not deficient in hydrogen. They are rich in hydrogen. The problem is providing enough oxygen to enable combustion of the already abundant hydrogen.
Just in case I come across as appearing "somewhat skeptical," let me put your mind at ease and assure you that you can safely drop the adverb "somewhat!" I won't be offended.
tidester, host
tidester, host
With todays ignition systems, assuming they are properly maintained, I don't think you will see the differences that you would have years ago however.
I agree with one poster that mentioned the possiblility that since you had installed a "gas-saver" that the driver would tend to drive more sedately trying to see if the device actually did work.......sort of a "placebo effect" if you will.
Having said this, all gas-savers and performance enhancers of the "Tornado" sort I have ever seen and tested are pure snake oil
tidester, host
A colder or hotter plug than recommended by the manufacturer can also mess up your emissions.
I never understood why having 4 sparks is better than one when you have an explosive fuel/air mixture sitting there waiting to be triggered. If the plug is appropriately gapped, the spark should fire efficiently and the use of several electrodes or V notching probably isn't going to make a lot of difference. Maybe at Daytona, but not in my garage.
Steve, Host
tell me more about the grounding kit I drive a '89' p-30
gas hog