BX: need vacuum pipe for fuel-saving device

AdrianO · Unread post by **AdrianO** » 25 Jan 2003, 00:55

My attention has been drawn to a fuel-saving device for petrol engines, called Ecotek. Here's some stuff from their Web site (www.ecotekplc.oom) about it:
>>>> qoute starts >>>>>>>
Conventional combustion theory is based on the smooth flow of induction and exhaust gasses. In the old days if you wanted to improve your cars performance you might have your head ‘gas flowed’ – this basically involves polishing the inlet and exhaust ports to make the gasses flow faster. More recently however, F1 engine development has involved what has become known as ‘swirl’ technology. This contradicts old notions by suggesting that turbulence in the induction gasses creates a better suspension of fuel molecules and thus more effective combustion.
The Ecotek CB-26P can be fitted directly in the inlet manifold or to a vacuum servo/breather hose close to the inlet manifold. It is a non return valve with a Venturi construction which injects minute quantities of agitated air into the manifold at certain specific pressures.
<<<<<<<<< quote ends <<<<<<<<<<<<<
Sounds plausible to me, but then so does twin spark-plugs, and look what Alfa have done with those now...
This gizmo costs about £50, or about £100 fitted from some places (see the Web site).
I thought I'd try it, but my BX does not of course have a brake servo vacuum line, the prefered mode of attachment. Does anyone know if there any other vacuum pipe/hoses in the 1.6 engine (1991) with Solex carb I might use?
Else fitting looks like entailing a modified carb seating gasket, or tapping the inlet manifold.
There's a suggestion that its effectiveness depends, among other things, on the vacuum line pressure, so it all seems a bit hit-and-miss.
BTW does anyone else have experience of this device? thnx

David W · Unread post by **David W** » 25 Jan 2003, 01:07

Send me the £50 and save yourself the trouble of where to fit it, you'll get the same result and I'll be better off.
Win-win situation.

David

Dave Burns · Unread post by **Dave Burns** » 25 Jan 2003, 01:20

Yep, save your money and if you want your fuel pound to go further, get a nice little diesel <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>
Dave

alexx · Unread post by **alexx** » 25 Jan 2003, 01:41

There is a vacum pipe, leading to distributor, so you could connect that 'device' there, but you'd better invest your money into something usefull, maybe get your carburettor checked, as a few of them on BX are in perfect order.
About TS engine, my father has a car fitted with one, but ...

jeremy · Unread post by **jeremy** » 25 Jan 2003, 18:21

Adrian - save your money and dont bother.
Swirl etc have been known of for years and there have been gauze devices, inward pinting fingers and numerous other devices made over the years which have not been adopted by the manufacturers or received general acceptance.
Citroen have built very good engines for years and mor at least the last 25 years fuel economy has been ma major selling point. If a significant advantage could be obtained by something as simple oas increasing swirl in the manifold they would surely have done it and reaped the benefit in increased sales! After all in the BX they gave us fuel injection, state of the art 16 valves, state of the art naturally aspirated diesels and turbo-diesels etc. if you think they were in any way cynical look at the lifespan of these engines and the whole hearted approach to the turbo-diesel and 16 valve with their numerous modifications from their standard cousins.
Having said that I believe some Range-Rovers use a spring steel device with inward pointing fingers under the carburettor to improve atomisation and that I have seen them sold as an after-market accessory.
jeremy

roscopervis · Unread post by **roscopervis** » 25 Jan 2003, 20:59

So how many of you have tried it?
I have and well, surprise surprise it works! Its on my Xantia and I attatched it to a blanking plug on the manifold. I cant help the BX owner as to where to fit it but I can say that it works and surprisingly on these very good engines, the device works very well! Of the four examples I know of (mine, brother's and two friends) each one has made a difference. Most noticeably on mine and my friends Toyota Celica 1.8 non VVTI. He gets an extre 30-40 miles out of a tank of fuel, I get an extra 1-2mpg and a more driveable engine and my brother says that his Volcane is far more eager to pull from low down, especially in 5th.
I believe that the new Focus has incorporated a device to do the same thing on their new petrol engines.

alexx · Unread post by **alexx** » 26 Jan 2003, 02:09

A few years ago, a friend of mine mounted it to his Skoda. He told me that 'consumption is maybe a little lower, but the engine is much more powerful'. Don't know about the consumption, but we measured acceleration from 60 to 100 km/h in 3rd and 4th gear, with and without, several times, and found no difference (within the tolerance 0.1-0.2 s or about 1%).

bencowell · Unread post by **bencowell** » 26 Jan 2003, 17:20

I have fitted one of these to my 1999 1.4 Xsara, it makes the engine pull slightly better at low revs, very little change to fuel economy.
I wouldn't buy one for another car, as a replacement would be a HDI!
Ben

roscopervis · Unread post by **roscopervis** » 26 Jan 2003, 21:44

The device doesnt add power, but it definately makes the car feel more tractable and irons out flat spots. I wouldn't expect performance to increase but it should definately feel nicer to drive.

alexx · Unread post by **alexx** » 27 Jan 2003, 02:38

Well, I agree that it's not totaly impossible that a device, which will lower the fuel consumption during relaxed drive, without altering the performance, really exist.
But, since that 'swirl' technology comes, as stated, from F1 world, I would expect that it was used to add some power and get better results, instead of saving the money on the fuel during the race. Don't we have a little contradiction here?