Tornado Air Management

[Ultrashock]

Has anyone ever tried these things? Are they actually worth the money or are they just another one of those crappy "revolutionary" gas savers


Just read what it says.........


The easiest way to get dramatic fuel savings and improved horsepower!

The Tornado is a revolutionary device designed to enhance fuel economy. The Tornado is a non-moving, turbine-shaped device, which creates a vortex or swirling effect to the engine. The result is improved airflow into the engine's combustion chamber, causing a more efficient mixture between air and fuel. The Tornado will work in either a carbureted or electronic fuel injected engine. The Tornado's unique airflow dynamics create a swirling, fast-burn effect in the combustion chamber. This creates finer particles (atomized fuel), allowing better flame propagation and more complete combustion. Tornado causes better fuel atomization, resulting in gas mileage increases averaging 1 to 2 mpg. These figures are confirmed by road testing performed at an emissions lab licensed by the EPA. The Tornado requires no maintenance and is backed by a limited lifetime warranty. Installation is accomplished in three easy steps and usually takes less than 10 minutes to complete.

[redwheeler]

these are use less they actually make you lose power gas mileage and if you look at those things they are just spot welded sheet metal and if one off
those fins break off there is nothing to stop it from going into youre engine

[MT-2500]

Do not believe a word of it.
You already have a good full cold air intake OEM system.
Take a look at it it pulls true cold air from fender or grille.
Just replace the air filter with the AC delco oem filter and you will be in good shape.
MT

[Tangent]

Can we sticky a thread that explains the reality of Tornados, Turbonators, etc? I expect to see questions about these every once in a while on any automotive forum but it seems to be unusually frequent here...

Short version of why they're worthless:

Claim: A swirling vortex of air helps atomize fuel and improve power and fuel economy.
Fact: This is true.
Reality: The only place you can induce the swirling vortex of air so it does any good is in the actual combustion chamber by properly designing the head. Any swirl induced further up the intake such as that created by these devices is lost within a couple of inches. On top of that they take up space in the intake, lowering maximum cfm which potentially reduces high rpm power.

[OverBoardProject]

I don't think that it's worth a sticky, but I guess that enough people ask about it.

(Isn't that what the search feature is for)

If there is a sticky made it should also include other items related like K&N Air Filters, electric turbo's, ect.

We should get 1 good explination of the pro's and cons of every item, and keep it at that.

[Brian R.]

Not only any weak vortex created by these gadgets straightened out by the butterfly in the throttle body, but there is no possibly better mixing than that induced by the air screaming into the cylinder past the intake valve. The teeny tiny effect of some little swirling in the air intake is pitiful in comparison.

[Brian R.]

JMO: I think creating a summary of things that are actually harmful to an engine/vehicle would be more beneficial than just warning people about wasting their money on sheet metal and such.

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by Brian R.

JMO: I think creating a summary of things that are actually harmful to an engine/vehicle would be more beneficial than just warning people about wasting their money on sheet metal and such.

Good idea there Brian.

Here is one link that has done a study on air filters and they have some good points on different filters.
home.usadatanet.net/~jbplock/ISO5011/SPICER.htm
Also one on oil filters.
http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oilfilters.html

Here is a summary of what I have found on aftermarket cold air intakes.

There is a lot of different aftermarket cold air intake systems out there.
Most claim more HP and gas mileage.
And some of them are not even true outside cold air intake systems.
But for normal driving I have found it is hard to beat the oem air intake and filter systems.
Most of which are already forced cold air intake from fender or grille area.
Some ford trucks and some cars even have a cone shaped oem filter in them.
Performance people will claim that a add on cold air intake has less restriction
that gives them a few more HP for performance which may be true.
Different engine react different but you also have to consider that the oem intake manifold is also restricted.
And the fact that a lot of add on air intakes pull hot air from engine compartment instead of outside air from fender and grille.
Also a lot of oiled filters require more maintenance and care to keep in proper working order and plus the oil gives MAF sensors a fit.
MT

[OverBoardProject]

I'm just going to point out that when aftermarket manufactors do their dyno comparsions they basicly cheat.

They never use a new factory air cleaner, it's always an old plugged cleaner. That sort of stuff.

Plus the most fair tests would involve a dyno in a wind tunnel.
The way that most factory installed air intake systems are vented basicly turns them into a ram air system, which can only be tested wiile driving or while in a wind tunnel.

[Ultrashock]

Originally Posted by OverBoardProject

I'm just going to point out that when aftermarket manufactors do their dyno comparsions they basicly cheat.

They never use a new factory air cleaner, it's always an old plugged cleaner. That sort of stuff.

Plus the most fair tests would involve a dyno in a wind tunnel.
The way that most factory installed air intake systems are vented basicly turns them into a ram air system, which can only be tested wiile driving or while in a wind tunnel.

Well you gotta hand it to the marketing departments at each of these companies for doing such a good job at misleading the public.

At least I bought my truck with a K&N filter already installed that only makes me half as dumb.

[OverBoardProject]

Originally Posted by Ultrashock

At least I bought my truck with a K&N filter already installed that only makes me half as dumb.

Doesn't make you dumb at all, you can't control what a former owner did.

But you might want to read the article, and decide if you want to keep the K&N.

If I was living in a high dust location I wouldn't. If I was living in a no dust location I would think about it.

[Ultrashock]

Originally Posted by OverBoardProject

Doesn't make you dumb at all, you can't control what a former owner did.

But you might want to read the article, and decide if you want to keep the K&N.

If I was living in a high dust location I wouldn't. If I was living in a no dust location I would think about it.

Nope dont really have a dust problem here, only thing close would be a pollen problem in the early spring. At least the K&n is fast and easy to clean and "recharge".

[Brian R.]

Another good subject for a post in a warning thread would be Slick50 and other potentially damaging additives and solvents. We need a list of snake oil substances for this.

Anyone remember the name of the oil additive that foamed like crazy when added to engine oil? Some guy created a motorized test chamber with gears to froth up some oil and test the anti-foam properties. The oil with this additive became almost white with foam while the unadulterated oil remained fairly clear.

[Brian R.]

AHA

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/images/lucas/lucas.htm

[Tangent]

Just found a great link to an article where Popular Mechanics tested several of these miracle devices: http://www.popularmechanics.com/auto...tml?page=1&c=y

Cliff notes of the results:
All tests were run in controlled conditions on a chassis dyno.

Fuel line magnets: No effect on economy or power.

Tornado: 10% loss of peak horsepower, no change in economy.

Intake Twister (tornado-esque product): 10% loss of peak power, 20% worse fuel economy.

Electronic Engine Ionizer: ~15hp loss, melted and started big fire before economy could be tested.

Fuel Atomizer 2000: No effect on economy or power.

AquaTune water injection: 20hp loss, 20% worse fuel economy