do ecotek valves work?
Discussion
does anyone have any thing to say about the ecotek valve? i already know how they work i just want see if anyone has actually had the gains in power and economy that is claimed.
am thinking of getting one for my 106 xsi. anyone got one of these valves or indeed fitted one to a 106 xsi i would be grateful of your input
chees
am thinking of getting one for my 106 xsi. anyone got one of these valves or indeed fitted one to a 106 xsi i would be grateful of your input
chees
Mattyboy101 said:
If I remember correctly there were Trading Standards cases against them!
They work SO WELL that they banned me from their forum for having the temerity to question their "physics".......well kinda....
Of course they dont bloody work.
PS, and they didnt send me a christmas card either....tossers.
>> Edited by deltafox on Monday 20th March 21:42
No direct experience with these valves but hav worked with other similar "something-for-nothing" devices and they don't work. I certainly wouldn't be cashing out for one. Honestly, when you look at the millions that major manufacturers spend on getting another 0.5 MPG out of a car,it really says it all!
I fitted one to an Astra GSi I had years ago. To sum it up:
Acceleration improvement - none that I recall
Throttle response improvement- questionable, probably more imagination than a real difference
MPG improvement - yes, got about another 20-30 miles from a tank
I got 7 in a group buy and other people fitted them. The results varied, from no change at all in one case, to a few minor MPG gains, and one guy got a noticeable amount more from a tank. Not conclusive, I know, but the one I had worked for me. Whether it did it via the supposed 'venturi effect', by weakening the mixture or simply by a 'placebo effect' which made do something different in my driving, I don't know.....although I got consistently more from tank regardless of whether I spanked the car or drove sedately.
Acceleration improvement - none that I recall
Throttle response improvement- questionable, probably more imagination than a real difference
MPG improvement - yes, got about another 20-30 miles from a tank
I got 7 in a group buy and other people fitted them. The results varied, from no change at all in one case, to a few minor MPG gains, and one guy got a noticeable amount more from a tank. Not conclusive, I know, but the one I had worked for me. Whether it did it via the supposed 'venturi effect', by weakening the mixture or simply by a 'placebo effect' which made do something different in my driving, I don't know.....although I got consistently more from tank regardless of whether I spanked the car or drove sedately.
These devices do nothing but add a small air leak under part throttle. If you think it has improved performance then with respect I think you're kidding yourself, it only works under part throttle. If you car had a fault which made it run rich, then the fuel economy will have suffered. Adding an un-metered air leak could restore some of the lost fuel economy, that doesn't mean that it is the best way to do it. In any case if you have a remotely modern car it will run closed loop most of the time and compensate for the fault you have introduced.
They really are just a way to seperate gullible or inquisitive people from their money.
They really are just a way to seperate gullible or inquisitive people from their money.
Alright, don't 
the messenger.......I'm just saying what I saw, which was an increase in miles from a tank, something I didn't kid myself about every week for two years when I had to fill it up.
There's a good chance mine was over-fuelling slightly and the unmetered air corrected the balance, because for whatever reason my lambda system (or other) wasn't. That would explain why it didn't work (and hasn't) for other people who've tried it. It's not the correct way to sort it, I wouldn't argue that, I'm just recounting my experience with Ecoteks as there was a post asking for it.
the messenger.......I'm just saying what I saw, which was an increase in miles from a tank, something I didn't kid myself about every week for two years when I had to fill it up. There's a good chance mine was over-fuelling slightly and the unmetered air corrected the balance, because for whatever reason my lambda system (or other) wasn't. That would explain why it didn't work (and hasn't) for other people who've tried it. It's not the correct way to sort it, I wouldn't argue that, I'm just recounting my experience with Ecoteks as there was a post asking for it.
If you want to save money of fuel :
Buy from cheaper stations
remove xs weight from car .. (spare wheel), tool kit etc
only ever part fuel the car
and finally learn to drive more fuel efficiently : I'm no expert here as 20mpg is a right result for me
but I believe you have to coast down hills, do not brake harshly or accelerate hard.
Buy from cheaper stations
remove xs weight from car .. (spare wheel), tool kit etc
only ever part fuel the car
and finally learn to drive more fuel efficiently : I'm no expert here as 20mpg is a right result for me
but I believe you have to coast down hills, do not brake harshly or accelerate hard.Sticking it in a low gear when going down hills gives me excellent value for money. Pop pop pop bang... Worth every penny 
BTW there are no widgets that magically give better performance and economy. Unless you count a new set of plugs oil and air filter.
Who was it that said there's no such thing as a free lunch?
Mr flapper
Worth every penny BTW there are no widgets that magically give better performance and economy. Unless you count a new set of plugs oil and air filter.
Who was it that said there's no such thing as a free lunch?
Mr flapper
Frik said:Most modern EFI systems cut injection under coasting conditions but obviously need fuel to idle.
When you say coast, I asume you mean leave it in gear and take you foot off the throttle as putting it in neutral and then free wheeling is not very economical!
leorest said:
When you say coast, I asume you mean leave it in gear and take you foot off the throttle as putting it in neutral and then free wheeling is not very economical!
I'm not sure if its this or Direct Injection etc but it creates a vacuum which causes greater engine breaking so to get the best economy and to keep speed constant on hill I find if you just rest foot lightly on the accelerator it only trickles enough fule in to keep the valves opening.
rev-erend said:
only ever part fuel the car
are you saying the fuel used carrying the extra weight of fuel for part of the time outweighs the extra fuel used in the extra stop/starting or waiting in queues and detour of going to the cheapest petrol station 2 or 3 times?
i find that hard to believe
plus, the price of petrol only ever goes up, right? so you buy as much as you can at the lowest price you can
hugoagogo said:Have you got a tanker then
only ever part fuel the car
are you saying the fuel used carrying the extra weight of fuel for part of the time outweighs the extra fuel used in the extra stop/starting or waiting in queues and detour of going to the cheapest petrol station 2 or 3 times?
i find that hard to believe
plus, the price of petrol only ever goes up, right? so you buy as much as you can at the lowest price you can
Part filling the tank is following the lotus ethos of not carrying weight that is not doing anything. Actually a part is deemed to be badly designed if it is only doing one thing. I would imagine the difference is small though. If youre after these gains then best to have a jimmy before every journey and while your at it why not go for the ultimate weight saving and have a jodrell No Luv I'm only doing it cause it's good for the environment
leorest said:
only ever part fuel the car
are you saying the fuel used carrying the extra weight of fuel for part of the time outweighs the extra fuel used in the extra stop/starting or waiting in queues and detour of going to the cheapest petrol station 2 or 3 times?
i find that hard to believe
plus, the price of petrol only ever goes up, right? so you buy as much as you can at the lowest price you can
of course that would make sense if you wanted the fastest or most economical 3 laps for example, but we're talking fuel economy and i'm saying 2 or 3 stops/detours/queues for petrol uses more than carrying a few kilos extra fuel and not making those stops
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