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04-21-2006, 09:16 AM | #1 |
Drives: 06 yaris 5-dr le man Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: ontario, canada
Posts: 699
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turbonator?
i have heard different things about the turbonator, some say it works, some say it is b.s.,
has anyone installed one and have some experience as to whether it has improved fuel economy? i have sort of passed them off as a gimmick, because i figured if they worked so well (company claims something like 5-20% improvement in fuel economy), then car manufacturers would install them on all new vehicles, and i assumed this wasn't the case until i saw an ad for a jetta tdi diesel that mentions a vortex-creating air intake system that improves the mixture of air and fuel- sounds like a turbonator to me. any ideas? is it worth the 60 bucks? |
04-21-2006, 10:30 AM | #2 |
Car Geek
Drives: Yaris Liftback Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Ohio cornfields
Posts: 213
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I wouldn't bother. Since I work as an engineer for a major automotive supplier (nothing exciting, believe me), I am familiar with such devices. The bottom line on these kinds of things: they don't really help or hurt anything. Their main value is to the the guy selling 'em.
Believe me - there are TONS of engineers working VERY hard to extract the most from a given quantity of fuel. Huge profits are at stake. At this point in modern engine development, most efficiency losses (based soley on combusion) are thermal. I'm really simplifying things with this statement, but you get the idea. If you want to try a device like this, no big deal - just don't expect much. |
04-21-2006, 10:37 AM | #3 |
Drives: 06 yaris 5-dr le man Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: ontario, canada
Posts: 699
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that is kind of what i figured, but what piqued my interest was the ad for the jetta tdi,
it was the first time i had seen a major car manufacturer advertising something similar. |
04-21-2006, 02:03 PM | #4 | |
Only Happy When it Rains
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Quote:
If you are lucky, an aftermarket device might be able to give you a 1% increase in gas mileage. You'd be better off just checking your air pressure in your tires every week and changing your driving style to be more relaxed. SCC did a test on one of these devices a while back and it did basically nothing.
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06-10-2006, 10:37 PM | #5 |
Drives: 91 cb7 Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Chicago
Posts: 37
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they claim that it causes the air to spiral. Which yes it could.
But force its way in faster? Flow faster? NO. In a tube, like your intake, I think it would be better if the air just flowed in and its done. Not take a longer path. And wouldn't spiraling the air just slow its velocity down? |
04-21-2006, 11:23 AM | #6 |
Hella Smart
Drives: Lexus IS300 Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: SF/SJ
Posts: 81
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^^^wow SUPER NEWB QUESTION....
point is....none of that crap works |
04-21-2006, 11:52 AM | #7 | |
5 Stars, Bitches
Drives: Prius, Silver Yaris Liftback Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Holly Springs, NC
Posts: 451
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Quote:
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04-21-2006, 12:24 PM | #8 |
Drives: 06 yaris 5-dr le man Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: ontario, canada
Posts: 699
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i dont' mind sounding ignorant on issues involving cars.....
because that is pretty much what i am. don't find it shameful at all to tell you the truth. thanks for the responses. |
04-21-2006, 01:37 PM | #9 |
Resident Scion Guy
Drives: 2008 Mazda3 S Sport Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Groveland, FL (Near Orlando)
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It's like pissing down a waterfall.
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Code:
DiabolicJourney_SpaRky |
06-11-2006, 12:47 AM | #10 | |
Drives: '07 Yaris Liftback Join Date: May 2006
Location: LA, USA
Posts: 244
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Quote:
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'07 Yaris Liftback -Red 5spd w/convenience |
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06-11-2006, 07:01 AM | #11 |
Drives: WRX ,Tacoma and Yaris Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 206
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Diesel engines also add more air. Most run a turbo.
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06-11-2006, 07:05 PM | #12 |
Only Happy When it Rains
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Not to mention diesel engine don't have spark plugs.
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