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Turbonator?

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MgKid1974

MgKid1974

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Look at this: Turbonator I am confused, is this a joke? If not, does it work. I dont plan on buying this for my B, I just ran across it and am curious. Its been featured in a number of rice rocket magazines, but those magazines have a bad habit of advertising things that are all show and no go (kind of like the cars the feature too! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif )
 
I second Steves comment. These things have been around for 50 years. The idea may sound good to the unwary, but doesn't do a thing except take your money.
D
 
sounds gimickie to me. However, some of the information seems to make sense. On the other hand, with Zenith Stromberg carburetors, and probably SU's as well, I don't think it'd have too much effect. I think this because these carbs have that huge air piston in the middle of the carburetor disrupting the air flow, negating most if not all of the "swirling" action created by the "Turbonator".

Additionally, on the ZS systems, there would be no place to install the thing that would be of any benefit. I mean, the stock intake on ZS equipped Bs runs the air multiple different shaped passages and thrrough several unsmoothed 90 degree turns... You'd have to custom fabricate your own intake to be able to install that thing on a ZS carb, and if you're doing that then you might as well make your own turbonator from scratch.

Whether or not it would actually do anything for certian... well there's only one way to know for sure, now isn't there. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
On the practical side consider this: the "fan" is supposed to produce a swirling effect in the "combustion chamber" but it is mounted in the air intake just after the air-filter. Ok, so logically we can assume it might "swirl" the air and thus, logically, we might assume there could possibly be some strange benefit to how swirled air produces a better fuel/air mixture. Problem is they're marketing this garbage to owners of newer automobiles that typically have fuel-injection directly into the cylinders...so all that swirled air dies in the "combustion chamber" before it ever gets hit with a mist of fuel. Another flaw in that logic is that the air typically (unless you're running multiple carbs which would probably make this thing impractical anyway) has to go through a couple of gentle bends in an intake manifold which - no doubt - will kill any or all of the "swirled" benefit too.

On the "think about it a second" side consider this: if the car manufacturers could add 35hp and improve fuel mileage by shoving a cheap fan in the intake - wouldn't they? That pretty much sums it up.
 
On the other hand the website says "Satisfaction Guaranteed". /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

I agree with Steve, if it worked, the manufacturers would be doing it.
 
"I purchased two Turbonators for my Chrysler Sebring and immediately noticed the increase in power. It was more than I expected. I am already noticing the improved gas mileage. I like them so much, I am ordering two more for my brothers. Now, it feels like my car has a turbo charger." - Dr. Brian Coyle

lol, I wonder how much they paid that guy to say that.
 
Look at it this way, if Detroits "big" three could raise the average fleet fuel economy (CAFE) by adding a ten cent piece of tin to an SUV they'd have done it long ago.
 
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