Does it really do anything? (throttle body spacer)
#1
Does it really do anything? (throttle body spacer)
I have a question regarding throttle body spacers. How do they work (or supposed to work)? I have looked at some different ones and am skeptical that they would really help anything. What is the theory behind their operation and are they really beneficial? Are they supposed to help swirl the air charge like all those snake-oil "vortex generators" in the info-mertials, or do they work by creating a space for a larger volume of air/fuel to be available between the TB and combustion space. I would think that the later of these claims would be the only way that it could help anything - and it would be a very small help. Perhaps by increasing this volume, there would be a greater amount of "surge" space for sudden load changes, thus a more readily available air/fuel mixture for better throttle response.
I am curious about this contraption and would like any insight that anyone might have as to how/why they do or don't work. I was wondering if it would be worth getting for my new V10 (supposed to be delivered in June). Thanks.
I am curious about this contraption and would like any insight that anyone might have as to how/why they do or don't work. I was wondering if it would be worth getting for my new V10 (supposed to be delivered in June). Thanks.
Last edited by MattamiscontisME; 04-18-2005 at 07:18 AM. Reason: incomplete
#2
Swirling the air before it is mixed with any fuel is pie in the sky advertising Hype!
A throttle body spacer can only do one thing.... increase the post throttle body butterfly area before the intake valves (called the plenum) by the the total amount of square inches it adds.
As a proportion of the total plenum volume, the 1" thick spacer is only a very minute percentage. The net effect will be to increase or decrease the air flow dynamics, and the total plenum volume and maybe, increase OR decrease throttle response, and torque.
$15-$20 to experiment with OK ....but for $60 or more for a half pound hunk of aluminum with some holes in it? In my book they are mostly hype and snake oil... I pass.
A throttle body spacer can only do one thing.... increase the post throttle body butterfly area before the intake valves (called the plenum) by the the total amount of square inches it adds.
As a proportion of the total plenum volume, the 1" thick spacer is only a very minute percentage. The net effect will be to increase or decrease the air flow dynamics, and the total plenum volume and maybe, increase OR decrease throttle response, and torque.
$15-$20 to experiment with OK ....but for $60 or more for a half pound hunk of aluminum with some holes in it? In my book they are mostly hype and snake oil... I pass.
#3
Originally Posted by Fredvon4
SNIP
A throttle body spacer can only do one thing.... increase the post throttle body butterfly area before the intake valves (called the plenum) by the the total amount of square inches it adds.
As a proportion of the total plenum volume, the 1" thick spacer is only a very minute percentage. The net effect will be to increase or decrease the air flow dynamics, and the total plenum volume and maybe, increase OR decrease throttle response, and torque. SNIP
A throttle body spacer can only do one thing.... increase the post throttle body butterfly area before the intake valves (called the plenum) by the the total amount of square inches it adds.
As a proportion of the total plenum volume, the 1" thick spacer is only a very minute percentage. The net effect will be to increase or decrease the air flow dynamics, and the total plenum volume and maybe, increase OR decrease throttle response, and torque. SNIP
I have one made by UMI Performance. I prefer the soft swirls in their unit. The pics on their web site and ebay are of my truck. I helped them tweak the bore size for max flow. I have no interest in the company. I paid for the unit but I was not 100% happy with it.<O</O
They were very interested in improving the product. I agreed to use my truck as a lab rat with a couple of spacers they sent me. The one they sell now is the one currently on my truck.<O</O
#4
Originally Posted by MattamiscontisME
I have a question regarding throttle body spacers. How do they work (or supposed to work)? I have looked at some different ones and am skeptical that they would really help anything. What is the theory behind their operation and are they really beneficial? Are they supposed to help swirl the air charge like all those snake-oil "vortex generators" in the info-mertials, or do they work by creating a space for a larger volume of air/fuel to be available between the TB and combustion space. I would think that the later of these claims would be the only way that it could help anything - and it would be a very small help. Perhaps by increasing this volume, there would be a greater amount of "surge" space for sudden load changes, thus a more readily available air/fuel mixture for better throttle response.
I am curious about this contraption and would like any insight that anyone might have as to how/why they do or don't work. I was wondering if it would be worth getting for my new V10 (supposed to be delivered in June). Thanks.
I am curious about this contraption and would like any insight that anyone might have as to how/why they do or don't work. I was wondering if it would be worth getting for my new V10 (supposed to be delivered in June). Thanks.
#5
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Bimmerboy1989
Small Block V8 (221, 260, 289, 5.0/302, 5.8/351W)
7
10-05-2006 09:57 PM
Boss300
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
11
11-18-2004 08:18 AM