1. Welcome to 4Runners.com!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all 4Runner discussion topics
    • Transfer over your build thread from a different forum to this one
    • Communicate privately with other 4Runner owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

How many of these fuel/power gadgets have you been fooled by?

Discussion in 'General 4Runner Talk' started by Das Capitolin, Nov 26, 2020.

  1. Nov 26, 2020 at 2:34 PM
    #1
    Das Capitolin

    #1
    Das Capitolin [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2020
    Member:
    #16651
    Messages:
    12
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2019 4Runner SR5
    In my nearly 30 years of wrenching on autos of all sorts, I've been fooled by two from this list. The 'Tornado' air intake gadget, and a pair of magnets for the fuel line from a J.C. Whitney catalog. Both were circa 1997, and both were thoroughly cross-tested to be confirmed as purely marketing hype. At least it was a relatively inexpensive lesson.
     
    Das Capitolin, Nov 26, 2020
    #1
    Thatbassguy likes this.
  2. Nov 26, 2020 at 2:44 PM
    #2
    Mass4runner

    #2
    Mass4runner New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2018
    Member:
    #7416
    Messages:
    545
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2023 TRD ORP
    Proud to say zero. If it was this easy and cheap to boost mileage the car manufacturers would be all over this junk.
     
    Mass4runner, Nov 26, 2020
    #2
    Han4Run and Thatbassguy like this.
  3. Nov 26, 2020 at 3:28 PM
    #3
    mynameistory

    #3
    mynameistory New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2017
    Member:
    #5208
    Messages:
    1,158
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Tory
    Vehicle:
    The same 4Runner everyone has
    Not me and not for efficiency, but something that always brings me a laugh is remembering a neighbor near my dad's shop who bought a salvaged Ferrari 360. It ran fine but he disconnected the factory airbox system (which scoops air from behind the windows) and stuck on a double "cold air" K&N cone filter from AutoZone. It was the silliest damn thing I'd ever seen but he insisted that it was faster. Thought himself something of a tuner.
     
    mynameistory, Nov 26, 2020
    #3
    4Runner fun, Thatbassguy and gunsnob like this.
  4. Nov 26, 2020 at 4:38 PM
    #4
    gunsnob

    #4
    gunsnob New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2019
    Member:
    #9708
    Messages:
    1,289
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Vince
    Vehicle:
    2019 4Runner TRD ORP
    Kings Shocks, SPC UCA’s, Method MR702 rims, Toyo AT III’s in 285/70/17, Gobi Roof Rack, various Baja Designs lights.
    None, but I love the enthusiasm of the tornado sale person.
     
    gunsnob, Nov 26, 2020
    #4
    Thatbassguy likes this.
  5. Nov 27, 2020 at 8:39 AM
    #5
    Firefly21

    #5
    Firefly21 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2018
    Member:
    #7073
    Messages:
    338
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Duane Frazier
    Vehicle:
    18 off road premium trd
    Hid lows 3500 drl / high Led interior Led reverse Led oem fogs Sequential blinker Trd intake Unifilter pump mod Apex recover points BF Goodrich KO2 (matching trd spare) Kicker front tweeters Tvd overlays S2 yellow wide fogs Apex black sequential rear tails Cartrim home blue convex mirriors
    Tornado
    2006 wrangler had 1 after the filter and 1 at the throttle body haha
    Eventually removed both
    Embarrassing
     
    Firefly21, Nov 27, 2020
    #5
  6. Nov 27, 2020 at 9:16 AM
    #6
    MeefZah

    #6
    MeefZah ------------

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2015
    Member:
    #1122
    Messages:
    2,842
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mark
    Lexington, Ohio
    Vehicle:
    GX460
    I had a neighbor who had about 6000 of those stick on things that are supposed to make the air more turbulent so the car can slip through it easier... or something. All over the leading edge of his roof, hood, on the sides of the doors... I was embarrassed for him. He wasn't a fool - the dude was like a metallurgy engineer (?) for GM - but he was a sucker.
     
    MeefZah, Nov 27, 2020
    #6
    Han4Run likes this.
  7. Nov 27, 2020 at 10:20 AM
    #7
    Ironguy

    #7
    Ironguy Kind of New

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2019
    Member:
    #12421
    Messages:
    7,345
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ralph
    Bisbee AZ
    Vehicle:
    2020 Black 4Runner Venture 1967 FJ40 Land Cruiser
    New pine scent hanger, new sun shade
    Maybe that was early stealth technology!
     
    Ironguy, Nov 27, 2020
    #7
  8. Nov 27, 2020 at 12:46 PM
    #8
    Toffees

    #8
    Toffees Stuff and things

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2019
    Member:
    #9616
    Messages:
    450
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Micah
    LA
    Vehicle:
    16 LE
    Vortex generators, they move the boundary layer/increase laminar flow* about the surface and reduce drag. They're legit if properly placed... at least as tested in wind tunnels on airfoils. I suspect your neighbor was a bit mad in a good way and just didn't care. Unless you're driving a top end car, the most appropriate way to reduce drag is to slow down...

    *actually, I think they disrupt flow and create turbulent flow earlier but bypass the beginning of turbulent flow, which increases drag... in any case, your neighbor has been testing too many heavy metals in the lab I think.
     
    Last edited: Nov 27, 2020
    Toffees, Nov 27, 2020
    #8
    MeefZah[QUOTED] likes this.
  9. Nov 27, 2020 at 12:47 PM
    #9
    Toffees

    #9
    Toffees Stuff and things

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2019
    Member:
    #9616
    Messages:
    450
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Micah
    LA
    Vehicle:
    16 LE
    If he was an engineer at GM, the only thing stealthy is the actual technology... get it?

    [​IMG]
     
    Toffees, Nov 27, 2020
    #9
    newtotoyota, MeefZah and Ironguy[QUOTED] like this.
Register FREE to Reply!
To Top