The Tornado--Could it actually hurt performance?

[mattgyver]

Hello all! This is mt first post at AF!

Anyways, I recently bought a '98 Toyota Avalon. It seems to be getting about 25 mpg, but most people seem to be getting almost 30 mpg. I do about 80% highway driving. So I mention to the guy I bought it from that the mileage seems to be a little low. He then tells me that a friend of his gave him a Tornado and installed it (guy worked for a big auto parts company).

I know they don't help--but could it actually hurt performance? I want to remove it if so.
Kind of a dumb question, but I wondered if anyone had any thoughts on this.

[Polygon]

My thoughts are that the device is worthless, and I would remove it if I were you.

[Rufe]

Originally Posted by Polygon

My thoughts are that the device is worthless, and I would remove it if I were you.

I would have to agree.

Especially if you feel the car should be getting better mileage.
I would want to get the car to where it should be performing
normally, first, in stock trim/tune.

Then, you can evaluate it for yourself, and know the real deal.
Covering up a problem will not make it go away.

Disclaimer: your individual mileage may vary...

[sierrap615]

i've gone over this a million times in my mind over the last to years. i know people who dyno tested the tornado on several cars and so no change. in my mind it may work depending on where it is located. right on top of the intake valve? sure. up by the airfilter? no. the chevy vortec and honda CCVC(or was it CVCC?) were designed to do the same thing the tornado does, but they work. difference? chevy and honda put it in the combustion chamber, the tornado is placed before the throttle plate. with is that far up, any special 'swirling' mixture would be demineshed by resrictions in the intake(throttle plate, runners, ect...)

if you want, it shouldn't be to hard to take it out, try it with and without for a week and see what happens

[Kven]

the air swirls in the cylinder from the valve timing and head shape. since air is swirling in the intake manifold doesnt mean itll swirl all the way through the ports and into the cylinder. the design of the tornado looks very restrictive. it may work in lower rpms where the "restriction" will increase air velocity but in higher rpm itll just be a bottle neck.

[drdisque]

ya, the tornado will definitely reduce power, especially on the top end, but I don't really see how it would have much of an effect on fuel economy either way, might actually improve city economy at the expense of throttle response as a factory intake silencer does.

[MagicRat]

This device is a scam. The commercials for this product rely on 'anecdotal evidence'. That is, the 'proof' that the item works as claimed are just people's opinions. Even the reported improvement in mileage are just opinions, in the strictest legal definition.

Engine manufacturers have been using 'swirl' techniques in combustion chamber design since the 1920's. Many millions of dollars have been spent on research over the years. If GM or Toyota could see improvements by placing a 25 cent bent piece of tin in their intakes, they would have already done so.

BTW back in the 1970's there was a product called 'Swarup', which was identical to the Tornado. That was proved to be a scam and the legal issues at the time closed the firm down.

[solaris=amazing]

Hey mattgyver, i bet you didn't check your air filter-now did you..?? Cause if thats been in there for some time, say bye bye to mpg.. Checkit, if it's not WHITE (or clean) replace it, i use fram air filters myself-good fit.

BTW, a bottle of chevron with techron always does wonders for the injectors..

[mattgyver]

Thanks for all the info guys. I meant to check in earlier but I had a really busy weekend. I did decide to remove the Tornado; I haven't noticed any difference yet. I did check the air filter and it's brand new. The guy had just had it serviced before I bought it. He also told me he had the "injectors cleaned" at the local Toyota dealer recently. I know there are gas treatments, but he said they did more than that, but he didn't know exactly. Anyone have any idea what the dealer may have done?

[SaabJohan]

If it is consuming more fuel that it should let the shop check it with their computer. It's possible that something causes it to run rich or with a retarded ignition which could increase fuel consumption.
Also, check the tire pressure, a low pressure decrease mileage.

Tornado and all other products of these types are scams, in best case they don't do any damage to your engine or have a negative effect on performance and fuel consumption.
Gas treatments are also scams one way or another. Either the product doesn't work and if it do it typically contains simple chemicals at a price which can be 10 if not 20 times as expensive what you should pay for it.