Vortex valve, anyone hear of it?

[Biffmeistro]

Righto, I saw something about a "Vortex Valve" that is supposed to increase HP and MPG a bit.

What they supposedly do is increase the turbulance of the air coming into the engine, which increases the fuel/air mix quality, which gives for a fuller, cleaner burn.

The physics all check out from what I can tell, I was just wondering if anyone had one and could vouch for them.

 

[Stinger]

Doesn't work...waste of money.

 

[65ShelbyClone]

Man, not the Tornado again!

It is a bogus, overpriced gimmick intended for people who know nothing about engines, cars, or mechanics of any kind. If you think about it, the air will hit many curves and obstructions that will stop it from "vortexing."

Not only that, air flows more freely when it isn't spinning!

 

[Biffmeistro]

Righto! I wasn't buying any of the crap about it vortexing all the way into the combustion chamber, I was just thinking that it might increase the turbulence as the fuel is injected, therefore giving a more thurough fuel/air mix.

But thanks for that tip. Heh, if I really wanted one, it would take about ten minutes to make one of my own...

 

[Red_LX]

Trust me, the factory spends millions developing their cylinder heads and intakes...there's no way some dinky little piece of metal with fins will improve upon this design. Not to mention the fact that anything you place in the airstream is an obstruction and inherently makes it less efficient. I'd still like to know where how what vehicles if any actually SAW a mileage increase from this device, or if they just pulled numbers out of their ass. Years ago I saw a thing where they put one of those on a 2.3L Ranger and it lost 2-3 mpg.

 

[65ShelbyClone]

or if they just pulled numbers out of their ass.

That is what they do when they're too lazy to pad real dyno numbers. I watched a Tornado infomercial out of curiosity a while back and the dyno test was a joke. It was on one of the newish RWD Impalas. They tested it stock and it made like 200rwhp with the driver modulating the throttle. Then they put the Tornado it, but a K&N Fuel Injection Performance Kit magically appeared along with it. Then they ran it wide open for real and spun, I forget, 250hp or something.

 

[Shawneebear93]

That is what they do when they're too lazy to pad real dyno numbers. I watched a Tornado infomercial out of curiosity a while back and the dyno test was a joke. It was on one of the newish RWD Impalas. They tested it stock and it made like 200rwhp with the driver modulating the throttle. Then they put the Tornado it, but a K&N Fuel Injection Performance Kit magically appeared along with it. Then they ran it wide open for real and spun, I forget, 250hp or something.

How do they get away with that?

 

[65ShelbyClone]

I suspect the only way for them to be sued over it is if enough people got burned to start a class action lawsuit. Sad thing is that the cost to sue them would far outweight the $70 someone spent on a piece of fanblade-shaped sheetmetal.