By John on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 08:16 pm: Edit

I watched the infomercial for the Tornado Fuel Saver one night when I was up late. It promises beter fuel economy and some extra horse power. Has anybody tried on in a Disco? Is it any good? Website is www.tornadofuelsaver.com

By Kyle on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 08:23 pm: Edit

Hmmm , sounds like fluff,,,, they a sister company of K&N ??

Kyle

By p m on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 09:06 pm: Edit

Kyle, don't say you don't know what a tornado is!
K&N is harmless shit compared to a tornado.
John, go for it.

peter

By Mud Man (Clarance) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 09:10 pm: Edit

i'm curious, i'll be trying it. Hey, money back garantee (HA), what do i have to lose. (besides 69.99+tax.)

By Jaakko Ponsi (Jaakko) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 09:20 pm: Edit

Same thing as Hiclone. I've had it in my 93 V8 now for two years. Been giving approximately 15% saving in fuel consumption, especially freeway and city driving. Not noticeable off-roading with full throttle.
The price of it seems to have more than doubled in two years time.
More info at http://motorcare.com.au/hiclone.htm

By Ed h on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 09:21 pm: Edit

Please let us know how it did.

By Phillip Perkinson (R0ver4x4) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 09:21 pm: Edit

yeah I saw them testing that thing on BWM I think when I was younger..only a few years ago..

By Bluegill (Bluegill) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 10:18 am: Edit

I heard that if you order two or more of those tornados at once, you also get a free sample of that hair-in-a-spraycan to cover bald spots. Either the hair spray or a free bowl of soup, whichever you prefer.

oops, did I say that out loud?

By stecz on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 12:25 pm: Edit

Here's a quote from their website:

"When fuel is not completely gasified, it leads to the formation of carbon deposits and many detrimental effects can develop. The blow-by gas adhering to the throttle valve can also cause engine stall. Hiclone's Carbon cleaning effect virtually minimises these troubles. "

GASIFIED? My techwrite would have a fit. It does come up as a word on www.dictionary.com, but still...

By p m on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 01:02 pm: Edit

Blue, LOL!

it is actually the first time i hear of somebody having it on his vehicle... hehehe

peter

By gp (Garrett) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 01:07 pm: Edit

i'm a little GASIFIED myself currently.

ahhhhh.

By slider on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 01:11 pm: Edit

would it screw up air-flow meter readings??

By Mateo on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 01:51 pm: Edit

IMHO - Looks like BS to me, just something else to impeed the air flow into your intake. I'd steer clear.

By Bluegill (Bluegill) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 01:57 pm: Edit

I would think it would mess with the mass airflow sensor. Remember people....millions of dollars of R&D go into these vehicles....a $2 plastic & tin part ain't gonna eclipse all that R&D...

By Jon Williams (Jonw) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 02:14 pm: Edit

At the most, the airflow sensor tells the computer you're getting a large volume of air, so the computer leans the fuel delivery slightly. On cars, you'll notice an increase in fuel economy (over time). This Tornado job is supposed to swirl the air intake charge (making it more turbulent), the point of which is for the turbulent air to mix the gas vapor into it better for improved combustion, yada, yada, yada.

IF you have a low-restriction intake, where you can really suck in some air, and a smooth runner, the Tornado thing will benefit you. But the ribbed intake runner on a Disco does enough to disturb the air, so once the swirling air coming out of the Tornado beats all the energy out of itself on the inside of the runner's ribs, you've lost the effect.

All said and done, you'll probably waste money putting it on a Disco, but you won't hurt anything.

By p m on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 03:06 pm: Edit

Blue, mind it, it is a $2 tin part, but they sell it for $69.99!

that shit's been around for so long, you'd think people would get educated about it. nope.

peter

By Paul D. Morgan (V22guy) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 03:09 pm: Edit

Gasified? Hell Yes because I had Taco Bell for lunch.

By Bluegill (Bluegill) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 03:32 pm: Edit

Excerpts from the propoganda:

Most 4WD engines are less than 100% efficient when it comes to burning fuel.
huh? I didn't know I had a 4WD engine...I thought I had a 4WD drivetrain...

The special fins on the unit create a swirling effect which atomises the fuel into super-fine vapour particles. This, in turn, allows near complete fuel combustion giving better economy.
oooh - atomises....must be high tech if the discussion is at the atomic level

Do I need Hiclone?
------------------------------
Yes. It seems that new cars do not need one since the improvement in power and mileage can be insignificant with the installation, however, this is not true. In fact, Hiclone helps to eliminate carbon deposits from the start and makes your engine run longer.
I was in doubt as to whether or not I needed one. Glad they cleared that up for me.

this says it all:

Field note: We fitted a hiclone to our demonstrator Pajero, and we found that our gas savings were about 15%

By Bluegill (Bluegill) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 03:34 pm: Edit

yes, I am that bored...

By Discosaurus (Discosaurus) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 03:42 pm: Edit

""Most 4WD engines are less than 100% efficient when it comes to burning fuel.""

HAHAHhhahhahhhhahahahagagchoke

Yeah, right. About 70% less then 100% !
whatabunchofbullshit

keith
discosaurus

By Mr. Practicality on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 03:52 pm: Edit

That is why we must all "blow the carbon out" of our engines from time-to-time. It makes our engines last longer, run better, and keeps us from buying a Hiclone thing

By old4x4 on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 04:10 pm: Edit

I'll admit I WASTED $$$ on one of those stupid things. No improvement on anything. The K&N filter plus a high flow exhaust...that gives results.

By Paul T. Schram (Paulschram) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 04:15 pm: Edit

Sounds like yet another addition to the "Window"!

By p m on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 05:18 pm: Edit

Paul,

i thought only things that are of questionnable usefulness are considered for The Window.

peter