Vortex Thingy

[AlanAnt]

So what's with this "vortex" air accelerator that you insert into the air passage. I see one for sale on Ebay. Supposedly it increases power & fuel efficiency by accelerating the air flow??? I'm skeptical but know nothing about this. Can any of you weigh-in? Thanks!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/88-91-Bui...005525200QQrdZ1

[Reatta45]

Applying only logic?

The application of good porting and polishing technique is to remove restrictive obstructions and turbulence ? Deliberately introducing both is exactly counter intuitive, and shows you can still market anything to a gullible consuming public. KennyV.

[Guest F14CRAZY]

They don't work. If you google, you'll find actual dyno testing showing it doesnt work.

Put your money for some performance items that will make a difference...

-Switch to a K&N air filter

-remove the restriction in the rear exhaust manifold

-switch to an Accel coil pack or the later Delco

-new plugs, wires, oxygen sensor if you haven't in a while

-Supercharge

[Guest CL_Reatta]

It does not accelerate the airflow, what it is supposed to is make the air flow that goes into your intake manifold go in with a swirling motion instead of just straight in (OOH AHH), which makes absolutely no sense to me how that can suddenly improve horsepower and mpg,but I'm no super smart physicist un-like the seller who obviously is since he can gain 20% MORE POWER. Anyway's its not like the air travels a long way from the air box to the manifold, the intake hose doesn't even curve anywhere so I don't see how that can help even if it did work. Total price is $21.94, offer $.50 and then you will be getting a good deal, you can sell the metal at a scrap yard for about $1.50 <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[Guest F14CRAZY]

I was thinking they're plastic <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

[Guest CL_Reatta]

I think that they do sell plastic ones, but the one on ebay is stainless which is probably the only good thing about it.

[jonlabree]

You can also forget the K&N air filter. They don't do anthing either.

[charlie1]

During the gas shortage of the 70's they started selling something called a Tungsten Hydro Catalist that sat under the Carburator for about $60.00. It was tested by Consumer Reports and considered useless.

Save your money.

Charlie

[padgett]

Carburators are IMNSHO poorly controlled leaks and getting proper atomization has always been a problem. It is possible that in a really bad situation (Rochester "H") the swirling might help make the situation less bad.

OTOH Reattas all have port fuel injection and the honeycomb in the front of the air meter (throttle plate assembly) is designed to smooth the air flow for proper MAF operation.

[Guest spongebob]

the k&n isnt anything either, except for the pain and expence in cleaning and reoiling and the thought of that oil getting on the MAS....

now the magnet............................

[Guest imported_dantm4]

Ok - I had one in my other car and I think all it really did was change the way the air moved through the intake, which in that car might have actually helped a little since it had an elbow air intake from the box. (toyota corolla) I don't really think it did anything for fuel mileage and considered it a waste of money. I think on the Reatta it's probably even more of a waste of money since the path from the airbox to the manifold is essentially straight, and the screen on the side interupts the airflow anyway - why would the "swirling" do anything to help? Save your money, put it into some real improvements like the exhaust system, a new O2 sensor, maybe some rapidfire plugs.

-Dan

90' Black/Tan Coupe

[Guest maybe2fast]

even if the screen wasn't there, that swirling effect would hit a metal wall with the throttle plate in any position other than WOT

[Guest F14CRAZY]

I got thinking...

In gas water heaters, under the little "bonnet" thing for the chimney and the exhaust, there's a metal thing that goes down from the top to the burner, and gets the air swirling. Perhaps I should post a pic of this. Is it intended to promote airflow?

I don't believe in the vortex/tornado thing, but maybe there is a point of getting air in a pipe to travel in a circular motion

[Guest Mike_s]

I dunnow guys, when water goes down the drain it naturally creates a votex thingy because it's the path of least resistamce.

BTW If someone catches you repetedly flushing the throne while observing that naturally occuring vortex, and they ask why you're doing it? i'd have second thoughts about telling them that your trying to figure out how to get increased power out of your engine. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Guest CL_Reatta]

water creates a vortex when draining because of the rotation of the earth, since the water is on its own free axis while the earth is spinning the water will kind be pushed the way the earth's motions will move it as long as there are no other outside forces moving the water in a certain direction which there usually are. if you were exactly on the equator and had a perfect round drain with no other interference's the water would drain straight out.

[Guest MauiWowee]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I got thinking...

In gas water heaters, under the little "bonnet" thing for the chimney and the exhaust, there's a metal thing that goes down from the top to the burner, and gets the air swirling. Perhaps I should post a pic of this. Is it intended to promote airflow?

</div></div>

That baffle is designed to retard the flow of heat and maximize the absorpsion of heat into the tank. Heat up the vent and out the chimney is other wise wasted. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

[Guest F14CRAZY]

Ooooh, oops <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Proves the Vortex DOES NOT work

[Guest Mike_s]

Arn't those same rotational forces being applied to all water both stationary and moving? if so then why does the water not rotate in a round container like a glass, pot or a swimming pool?

[charlie1]

If you are in Australia.

Down Under

Is it not all reversed ?

Charlie

[Guest Mike_s]

Then I'd guess you'd need a vortex thingy that would spin the air in opposite direction? <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Guest CL_Reatta]

Conditions need to be perfect for the water to spin, a swimming pool does not have perfect conditions, currents, winds, and angles all effect it, anyway's it wouldn't spin standing still because the water has no speed, when something drains it has a force to start moving it, as for the reverse spinning on the southern hemisphere, there is lots of argument about whether its true or not, but it is mostly believed to be false because scientist now believe that the coriolis wind effect has no effect on small units of water, which when believed it did have an effect it was believed water would spin the opposite direction in a different hemisphere.

[Guest F14CRAZY]

Don't believe the toilet thing. Being a plumber, it's a no brainer <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />. The holes for the water to come out when flushing are cut that way into the china to make it spin. So, different brands can spin in different directions.

A drain could act differently, but a toilet is not an accurate tool to use in this experiment.

[padgett]

Maybeso

[manikmekanik]

From what I've heard, they ship the Vortex in the flat state, requiring the buyer to bend the tabs into place.

Therefore, it's "proper" operation is effected by the "engineering" expertise of the buyer, at the kitchen table. Without any means of measurement, nor any specs for verifying the angles, all precision is lost, and you have a cool, bent piece of stainless in your intake tube.

At least it won't rust!

[Duke]

I would think since the piston draws the air in much like a pump it would be wise to reduce vacum created by the air being drawn in. IE: bigger throttle body, and less restrictive air cleaner assymbly. As for atomization of the fuel I'd look in to injectors. IE: Timing, pressure, and spray pattern. I seen a nitros plate comparison that has several systems dumping the same amount of nitros yet some proved greatly better because of its spray pattern. Other than that if the air is churning or not only so much fuel will mix with so much air.