Tornado Fuel Saver for $69.98

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Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,920
2,161
126


<< I would agree, I don't see how this thing could work.

However, an online friend who I know to be very knowledgeable about performance and tuning had good things to say about it at:

link

I've met this guy personally and he's very helpful and honest, so maybe this thing really works.

I personally don't think it's worth $70 for what it is though. I might try it for $10 shipped but no more.
>>



This works for the same reason air scoops are put on the hoods of high performance cars...the more air you get into the engine, the more powerful the blast is going to be (more oxygen to fuel the reaction), you so get more power for the same amount of fuel. It WILL work, but I doubt the results will be as dramatic as they state.
 

speed24get

Senior member
Jan 24, 2001
310
0
0
jamarno, what made you think that i'm selling you these? i'm just regular guy like the rest of you. the only reason why i brought this up is cuz someone posted a device that supposed to save fuel and i feel that this device is better than the other one. Also, if i'm selling this device, i'll be running a 1.4gh TB instead of runinng at only a 1ghz duron.
 

earthman

Golden Member
Oct 16, 1999
1,653
0
71
Theoretically anything that increases turbulence in the intake and mixes the fuel better would improve power and mileage, but most late model cars are designed that way anyway. It might improve an old car with a carburetor on it, but it's difficult to see how it would have much effect on something fairly new with port injection. Even if it works a little, it would be worthwhile, but its not worth 70 bucks. You could probably make your own out of sheet metal for almost nothing. Maybe I'll do that and see what happens.
 

caino

Banned
May 25, 2001
953
0
0
that tornado is complete BS.

ask anyone that knows any more about cars than they know their a$$ from a hole in the ground.

caino
 

tommydn

Senior member
Jun 29, 2001
254
0
0
Hah... Anything that is in the way of your air intake will lessen HP and decrease gas millage... I agree with caino. This is BS!!! SCAMMMM!!!
 

KATX

Member
May 17, 2001
104
0
0


<< Guyz, check this out. You can save fuel and increase horsepower with this device. Let me know if it works if anyone tried it. It looks like it does..

http://www.tornadofuelsaver.com/
>>



I would beat that. For $49.95 I would switch my Honda Civic with your Rolls Royce. I would gurantee (or your money -- not car -- back) if you do not save at least 80% in fuel consumption.

I guess again I am on my high horse becasue I am gonna say that I am amazed that ANYONE would buy (into) this. Even CyberRebate was AND is more legit than this.

Just my opinion.

 

ElectricLegs

Senior member
Jun 14, 2000
236
0
0
I washed my car and got 5 more MPG and 60 more HP too! Then I installed new Silicone Plug Wires and did wheelies when I had to push the car uphill before! My new chrome valve covers got me another 10 MPG and soon I won't even have to buy gas cuz my car will actually make it! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!


If this thing really did work every StreetStock and Latemodel racer would be using one. Chassis dyno's can't acurately control the ambient or internal temperature fluctations that occur which can make much bigger power changes than 10hp. 10-20 degrees of increased oil temp will make 10hp on the second dyno run. Those testimonials have soooo many loopholes it's pathetic.
 

Probedude

Senior member
Nov 1, 1999
458
0
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GnatGoSplat

I copied these links from a Usenet news posting that someone else posted.
Yes, he probably was an Amsoil saleman, but it does at least show how K&amp;N performs relative to a stock paper filter as far as dirt filtering capability.

I am not an Amsoil sales person. I'm just one that wants to relay that K&amp;N does let in more dirt into your engine.

I ran a K&amp;N in my 240SX for a few years. It always bothered me from day 1 that when I held the K&amp;N up to the light when it was clean that I could clearly see voids in the cotton gauze that they use. Until I had the ECU upgraded (JWT) the increase in performance with the K&amp;N wasn't useable.


As far as what the Tornado does, it IS a restriction in the intake! There is no way it cannot be one.

What it does is increase the velocity of the air entering the cylinders, because it IS a restriction and because of the vanes. The higher the velocity of air into the cylinders, the better the fuel atomization and the better the air/fuel combustion!

The same thing is true of multi-valve vs single valve engines. 2 valve per cyl engine generally have better fuel economy, and better low end torque than 4 valve/cyl cars. This is also why many cars perform more poorly off the line when intake mods are added. Anything you do to decrease restrictions in the intake tract will slow down the velocity of the charge entering the cylinder.

Ever wonder why some cars have dual tuned runners? (one for low RPM, one for high RPM?)
Ever wonder why some manuf put in a second set of butterfly valves in the intake manifold that opens at high RPM? They're trying to increase intake air velocities at low-med RPM to give smoother idle, more low end torque, and better gas mileage.

This item may work on certain cars. But if you're looking to increase your WOT performance, don't put this restrictor in it.




 

Jitterbug050

Member
Jun 1, 2001
28
0
0
This thing does nothing to help the fuel managment in cars at all. The injectors are about 1-2 &quot; from the port of the cylinder head. The air is going to be going in one direction by the time it gets there, no matter what you do upstream.
That said, you can get parts that straighten out the air flow going in to the throtle body or carb, but that is going to help people at higher RPM ranges than most will do. The K&amp;N parts work because they replace parts that restrict air flow. (like the factory puts in dams to make it quiet but looses a little flow) Also, the K&amp;N filters work better than paper by a mile. They also hold the dirt rather that having it fall out as in the case of a paper filter, only to drop in the filter pan. (there is more than a few people that do not bother to clean that up before putting in the new one.)
If you use this thing on a carb, it will make thing worst because it will upset the air flow that needs to be straight at that area. The air bleeds for the idle circuit and high speed bleeds, not to mention what effect it would have on the boosters (downleg or anaular).
Look at a carb that is prepped for use in NASCAR. They remove the choke air horns, and smooth out all the corners. The air needs to be a smooth flow in this area or it will screw up all the metering circuits.
Bottom line on things like this is, if it was a part that worked it would be sold through regular sales channels like Summit, Jegs, etc. The reason they can not sell this way is simple, they will not be able to con people that know this does not work. Like the monkeys that sell this thing that foams up the fuel.
K&amp;N = good stuff
Acme tornado thingy, and storm door company = new fangled &quot;snake oil salesmen&quot;
 

Fireman

Golden Member
May 18, 2000
1,269
0
0
Consumer Reports tests things using exacting standards. When they tested this device, it either did nothing, or actually lowered fuel economy in some cars.

 

Jitterbug050

Member
Jun 1, 2001
28
0
0
One other thing about K&amp;N filters. You can go to a Dodge dealer (and other big three like special performance Camaro Z-28's come with them) buy a K&amp;N and it does not screw your warranty. Do you think Chrysler ( GM Ford) would put up with that if they did not work? Some people have service contracts that are good for 100K miles. If they started getting warranty claims over these filters they would drop them flat. How much do they make selling you the filter? How much would it cost for a short block and labor?
No, they would not be in that business of selling K&amp;N if it had a chance of costing them big bucks like that.
 

larrymoencurly

Senior member
Oct 10, 1999
598
0
0
If anybody really wants to try this gizmo, they can get it at a local parts discounter, like Pep Boys, and get a 100% refund and not be out even the shipping costs.

I've read that people's driving habits change so much when they're aware that something is done to their cars that they can improve their mileage 10-20% even when a perfectly useless device, including a placebo, is installed.

An oil additive expert named Charles M. Fieriesen (sp) used to post in rec.autos.tech, and he said that any API-certified SJ-rated oil was fine, synthetic or conventional, and he used the cheapest he could find. It also seems that cheap synthetic is just as good as expensive Amsoil, including house brands (they're Valvoline or Quaker State).
 

frizzlefry

Golden Member
May 14, 2001
1,711
0
0


<< Today's second $70 SCAM.
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=40&amp;threadid=496824

Buy both and have $140+ less gas money...
...that will never be recovered with today's second spam, for this scam! Sites look shady as all hell.
>>


I've seen both of these before. Tornado I've seen at Fedcos when they were open.

The fuel saver I think I also saw at Fedco. If not there, then it was at a PepBoys.

I havent' heard too many things about these products, but $70?! How long do you think it'll be before you make up that money? I wouldn't get one.
 

ValsalvaYourHeartOut

Senior member
Apr 30, 2001
777
0
0
This thing is pure hogwash. Everyone and their mother knows that the most efficient form of flow is laminar, in which all streamlines are moving in a parallel fashion. A circular air motion is NOT going to enhance flow, even if you hope and wish and pray and really really want it to. What amuses me are the pseudo-claims made on the home page...they make claims of improved gas mileage and increased hp, yet they don't describe HOW they tested or describe the study at all! This reminds me of the whole splitfire spark plug scandal, in which they made claims to improved hp...worked pretty well until they got smacked by the FTC for making such false claims. Caveat emptor, people. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Valsalva
 

WingsOverVirginia

Senior member
Feb 18, 2001
242
0
0
Ok so you've read what some of the competitors have to say about their filters compared to K&amp;N. So, to be fair read what K&amp;N says about theirs versus the others and find out the truth about how the K&amp;N works, hint, the amount of light passing through only applies to non-oiled paper filters.

Oh, and for the guy who works for the heavy equipment company (probedude's last link) and who tested the K&amp;N and found that his company Chevy died after only 85,000 miles (he somehow blames the K&amp;N), I think there were other factors involved. My 1987 GMC has had a K&amp;N on it almost from the time it left the lot and it now has 190,000 miles and is still going strong.

Check the K&amp;N version Here
 

lzpoof

Senior member
Jan 20, 2001
916
0
0
Hydrodynamically , the least frictional head loss is accomplished with turbulent flow , not laminar. As for efficiency , it would take less energy to push with turnulent generally. Cf's are usually inverse with reynolds number, which is higher for turbulent flow. Therefore, lowest Cf and lowest frictional head occurs with high reynolds number, i.e. turbulent flow. Not sure hwo this got brought up , but check out your college fluids texts.

EDIT1: Heh.. I said frictional head loss :)




<< This thing is pure hogwash. Everyone and their mother knows that the most efficient form of flow is laminar, in which all streamlines are moving in a parallel fashion. A circular air motion is NOT going to enhance flow, even if you hope and wish and pray and really really want it to. What amuses me are the pseudo-claims made on the home page...they make claims of improved gas mileage and increased hp, yet they don't describe HOW they tested or describe the study at all! This reminds me of the whole splitfire spark plug scandal, in which they made claims to improved hp...worked pretty well until they got smacked by the FTC for making such false claims. Caveat emptor, people. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Valsalva
>>