Tornado Fuel saver... Anyone? anyone? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

bill96ab · 10-26-2004, 07:18 AM

I have a dodge pickup and i get very very bad gas milage. has anyone ever tried this seen on tv device? I was thinking of picking one up because a 20% savings in fuel these days would be very nice.

Thanks.

Killer95GT302 · 10-26-2004, 08:25 AM

I find it very hard to believe that this thing works, as in gaining power or saving fuel. Here is my explanation: A 20% fuel savings can be achieved just by a change in driving style. Also, I called the company up and explained my theory of why this product is bogus.

The tornado is placed in the intake tract before the throttle body in just about all applications that I can think of. It is supposed to achieve its fuel savings and power gains by "swirling the air" into the combustion chamber causing a better mixture. However, under normal driving conditions, the throttle blade is almost never WOT, and is most of the time under 60% open. So, the "swirling" that the tornado produces runs into a nice big wall, or in other words, the throttle body plate losing its effect. The representative I talked to had no answer for this, and he couldn't find anyone that did so take that how you want.

On the other hand, there are people who use it and swear that it works, and people who use it and say its crap. Personally, I think its all psycological. When the user installs it and sees a small change in fuel economy (which could be attributed to driving style) he becomes an instant believer.

My opinion is save the $70 and buy a bike for short trips instead

pocon1 · 10-26-2004, 08:43 AM

If the auto industry could achieve a 20% increase in fuel economy instantly, don't you think they would? Just noodle it through, and you will see that the Tornado is a piece of foil junk.

soccerchamp76 · 10-26-2004, 08:56 AM

IF it worked, all cars would have it installed before you even got it.

merkerguitars · 10-26-2004, 11:09 AM

Buy a K&N filter assembly and that will actually increase your gas mileage. The tornado things are a joke.....it's all profit...a piece of 50cents stamped metal that sells for $60...just remember PT barnums famous saying.

Redjake · 10-26-2004, 12:18 PM

The people on the infomertial really, really seem to think it works. Moreso than the Showtime Rotissery BBQ by Ron Popiel. And those were on the same channel. Hmm.....

seriously though, I'm not sure. My dad (owns a body shop) says they don't work as well as everyone thinks because of the reason Killer said above (or something along those lines). I'm too poor to spend that much on it. God knows I need it if it actually works though........

I'm sporting a '87 Caprice Classic Brougham

1slOwCD8 · 10-26-2004, 12:46 PM

Ive actally heard that it does work a little, from an owner of one. The mpg saved depends on the car. The tornado would work better on a truck or suv rather than a car. Although im sure it doesnt save a lot of gas, it sould save a little. Hp gains, i have no idea, if any 1 or 2 hp.

telekinetic · 10-26-2004, 01:26 PM

Placebo. Pure placebo.

If you want to save on fuel, don't stick your right foot into the gas pedal as hard or as often. And stay on top of maintenence of your air filter, spark plugs, and injectors.

irseg · 10-26-2004, 03:33 PM

The tornado thing is junk. In a modern fuel-injected car, the swirling effect would have to be sustained through the throttle body, into the intake manifold, then split up into a mini-tornado for each runner (cars have 1 and sometimes 2 runners per cylinder), then keep spinning as it passed through the fuel injector spray, through the intake valve, and into the cylinder. Yeah, right. I guess it's possible that it could help on an old car with a carb or throttle-body injection since it would be placed close to where the fuel/air mixture takes place, but I doubt it. Like someone else already said, if mileage could be increased with a 50-cent piece of metal, every car in existance would have it from the factory.

When all the gas stations in Florida kept shutting down because of the hurricanes, I decided to try doing the speed limit and accelerating as slowly as I could possibly stand (like a normal person, and with upshifts at 1800 rpm or so rather than 4000+). Gas mileage went from 16 to 20. I was impressed, but quickly lost patience.

Changing your driving style makes a pretty major difference. I suspect that anyone who thinks they've seen gains from the tornado gimmick are actually doing so because they drive more conservatively to "maximize" their mileage gains.

1slOwCD8 · 10-27-2004, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irseg

When all the gas stations in Florida kept shutting down because of the hurricanes, I decided to try doing the speed limit and accelerating as slowly as I could possibly stand (like a normal person, and with upshifts at 1800 rpm or so rather than 4000+). Gas mileage went from 16 to 20. I was impressed, but quickly lost patience.

Changing your driving style makes a pretty major difference.

I actually tried that today. I kept all the RPMs under 2500, it was a little annoying, but i bet more annoying for the people behind me. I hope it actually does save gas this way.

Vortex22 · 10-28-2004, 05:44 AM

It's junk... DONT waste your money. I wouldn't be suprised if cheap crap like that broke while the engine was running and caused major damage.

10-26-2004, 07:18 AM	#1 (permalink)
bill96ab Crazy Location: Heart o' Texas	Tornado Fuel saver... Anyone? anyone? I have a dodge pickup and i get very very bad gas milage. has anyone ever tried this seen on tv device? I was thinking of picking one up because a 20% savings in fuel these days would be very nice. Thanks. __________________ Bill Ctrl-Alt-Del - works for me!

10-26-2004, 08:56 AM	#4 (permalink)
soccerchamp76 Go Cardinals Location: St. Louis/Cincinnati	IF it worked, all cars would have it installed before you even got it. __________________ Brian Griffin: Ah, if my memory serves me, this is the physics department. Chris Griffin: That would explain all the gravity.

10-26-2004, 11:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
merkerguitars Buffering......... Location: Wisconsin...	Buy a K&N filter assembly and that will actually increase your gas mileage. The tornado things are a joke.....it's all profit...a piece of 50cents stamped metal that sells for $60...just remember PT barnums famous saying. __________________ Donate now! Ask me How! Please use the search function it is your friend. Look at my mustang please feel free to comment! http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=26985

10-26-2004, 12:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
Redjake I'm a family man - I run a family business. Location: Wilson, NC	The people on the infomertial really, really seem to think it works. Moreso than the Showtime Rotissery BBQ by Ron Popiel. And those were on the same channel. Hmm..... seriously though, I'm not sure. My dad (owns a body shop) says they don't work as well as everyone thinks because of the reason Killer said above (or something along those lines). I'm too poor to spend that much on it. God knows I need it if it actually works though........ I'm sporting a '87 Caprice Classic Brougham __________________ Off the record, on the q.t., and very hush-hush.

10-26-2004, 01:26 PM	#8 (permalink)
telekinetic zomgomgomgomgomgomg Location: Fauxenix, Azerona	Placebo. Pure placebo. If you want to save on fuel, don't stick your right foot into the gas pedal as hard or as often. And stay on top of maintenence of your air filter, spark plugs, and injectors. __________________ twisted no more

10-26-2004, 08:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
Killer95GT302 Upright	I find it very hard to believe that this thing works, as in gaining power or saving fuel. Here is my explanation: A 20% fuel savings can be achieved just by a change in driving style. Also, I called the company up and explained my theory of why this product is bogus. The tornado is placed in the intake tract before the throttle body in just about all applications that I can think of. It is supposed to achieve its fuel savings and power gains by "swirling the air" into the combustion chamber causing a better mixture. However, under normal driving conditions, the throttle blade is almost never WOT, and is most of the time under 60% open. So, the "swirling" that the tornado produces runs into a nice big wall, or in other words, the throttle body plate losing its effect. The representative I talked to had no answer for this, and he couldn't find anyone that did so take that how you want. On the other hand, there are people who use it and swear that it works, and people who use it and say its crap. Personally, I think its all psycological. When the user installs it and sees a small change in fuel economy (which could be attributed to driving style) he becomes an instant believer. My opinion is save the $70 and buy a bike for short trips instead

10-26-2004, 08:43 AM	#3 (permalink)
pocon1 Banned	If the auto industry could achieve a 20% increase in fuel economy instantly, don't you think they would? Just noodle it through, and you will see that the Tornado is a piece of foil junk.

10-26-2004, 12:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
1slOwCD8 Psycho Location: chicago, illinois	Ive actally heard that it does work a little, from an owner of one. The mpg saved depends on the car. The tornado would work better on a truck or suv rather than a car. Although im sure it doesnt save a lot of gas, it sould save a little. Hp gains, i have no idea, if any 1 or 2 hp.

10-26-2004, 03:33 PM	#9 (permalink)
irseg Junkie Location: Florida	The tornado thing is junk. In a modern fuel-injected car, the swirling effect would have to be sustained through the throttle body, into the intake manifold, then split up into a mini-tornado for each runner (cars have 1 and sometimes 2 runners per cylinder), then keep spinning as it passed through the fuel injector spray, through the intake valve, and into the cylinder. Yeah, right. I guess it's possible that it could help on an old car with a carb or throttle-body injection since it would be placed close to where the fuel/air mixture takes place, but I doubt it. Like someone else already said, if mileage could be increased with a 50-cent piece of metal, every car in existance would have it from the factory. When all the gas stations in Florida kept shutting down because of the hurricanes, I decided to try doing the speed limit and accelerating as slowly as I could possibly stand (like a normal person, and with upshifts at 1800 rpm or so rather than 4000+). Gas mileage went from 16 to 20. I was impressed, but quickly lost patience. Changing your driving style makes a pretty major difference. I suspect that anyone who thinks they've seen gains from the tornado gimmick are actually doing so because they drive more conservatively to "maximize" their mileage gains.

10-28-2004, 05:44 AM	#11 (permalink)
Vortex22 Upright	It's junk... DONT waste your money. I wouldn't be suprised if cheap crap like that broke while the engine was running and caused major damage.