Anyone fitted an Ecotek CB-26P on a Zafira? What were the improvements? / problems
General consensus on the Ecotek and other similar "fuel saving devices" is that they are basically snake oil. As an industry professional with ten years' experience in developing fuel-efficient engines, I am deeply sceptical of the claims. I have tested the methods their valve claims to use (turbulence, atomisation, etc) and have never seen results that could be regarded as significant. And if something so cheap and simple could improve economy, emissions and power, we'd fit them to every car! For more technical details, see http://homepage.ntlworld.com/cains1/Fuel_saving.htm Tony
Because I did not find a reduction in fuel consumption during various types of driving While I acknowledge that the ambient temperature was dropping during the testing period, I expected the possible gain of up to 10% to offset the deterioration. But the saving did not happen and I found a slight deterioration. Compared to last years mpg figures the consumption did not show any gain. Being an auto, the gearbox was out of our control although I did try a few fill-ups and driving using the 'sports mode' setting so that the gears changed at higher rpm. (but not using a heavier right foot). I fitted the unit by replacing the black plastic pipe that runs from the rear of the throttle actuator to the purge valve mounted on the rear of the air box. I used some standard industrial pneumatic pipe and fitted the CB-26P as close to the rubber elbow as I could I found reversing the elbow assisted fitting / routing of the replacement pipe. The pneumatic pipe was then secured to the large airbox to throttle pipe. Tuning was carried out as instructed although I have to say, finding the cut off point was not so black and white as the companies online Proton video clip. Having set it, revving the engine to 3K rpm then letting it return to idle produced the 'rasp sound', with is becoming almost silent at 1.5K rpm. I was expecting perhaps better results the faster the car went compared to our normal consumption because the publicity material indicated to me that was the case. Again I did not see a benefit. If it was a manual car then perhaps the higher rpm at motorway speeds may have helped the induction process through the valve. Ours <3K rpm compared to almost 1K more with a manual g/box. The company seem to be fair, although once I receive my refund and my bank balance receives its much needed boost, I will be able to confirm that. Looking back, I must admit that the official tests seem rather strange since they were measured over such a small distance and if I recall correctly use the cars standard mileometer as a measurement device over limited distances. (I know the new car figures are measured over equally small distances) Give it a go Martin, perhaps you will find a benefit in mpg, quite a few report a benefit. I did find a bizarre benefit though and that was with the ability of the car to maintain a steady speed. Sounds daft I know, but ever since I had the car, maintaining a steady 30 or 40 was difficult due no doubt to the lock up of the transmission not happening until 45mph or so. The speed would creep up / down a little and you became conscious of it when in a speed camera zone. During testing though, the car was different. (Noted by wife who had not been told of the modification and she picked up on it again when it reverted back to its old fluctuations once I removed the CB-26P). Gio
Gio, Thanks for the detail, I will canvas more opinion as it will be an after Christmas purchase if I do go ahead. Any body else out there got any comments? Martin
