M
Martin
Anyone fitted an Ecotek CB-26P on a Zafira? What were the improvements? /
problems
problems
G
Gio
I tried one on our 1.8 and I am just in the process of sending the unit
back.
Gio
back.
Gio
T
Tony Cains
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
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
M
Martin
So why is it going back?
Gio said:
G
Gio
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
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
M
Martin
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
after Christmas purchase if I do go ahead.
Any body else out there got any comments?
Martin