Turbo 3000 Super Vada Fuel Device

Discussion in 'Storage Trailer' started by BearGator56, Aug 5, 2006.

  1. Duckie

    Duckie Light Load Member

    98
    15
    Jul 21, 2006
    Alabama
    0
    Not to sound like a jerk but a company's age has nothing to do with the fact they sell crap or not. Like I said good luck with it and if it actually works I want to know.
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. TurboTrucker

    TurboTrucker Road Train Member

    861
    276
    Feb 23, 2005
    Rossville, Georgia
    0
    I don't discount a thing you offer, and rather than to get into a debate over it, I will simply offer that I am completely dubious of any product that claims to improve fuel mileage to any degree. One of the biggest reasons why I state this, is much like what someone else offered in this thread.

    If the darn things actually worked, the engine manufacturers would install them, and or endorse them. They might actually buy out the manufacturers to hold right to the patent on them. Why? Because any one engine company that could clearly separate themselves from the pack as one that is more fuel efficient, would sell more engines.

    I'm just more inclined to go with the findings of the FTC on this issue. They have tested many products, and not one to date, has EVER proven itself to offset any cost of the product against the realized savings, when the life expectancy of the product is folded into the equasion.

    I read an article one time, and have tried in vain to find reference to it, that suggested that a scientific study was performed, and exposed the fact that people who buy fuel saving products, subliminally change their driving habits that tend to waste fuel, which accounts for the actual savings that they "discover". In other words, They back off the gas pedal. They WANT to save fuel.

    Let me give you another example of something I discovered just this past month. I had a fuel filter clog up on my truck. I pulled into one of those Pilot Service Centers, and had it changed. The company supplies me with a fuel filter. He took one look at the filter, and informed me that is was the incorrect one for my filtration system. He stated it would work, but that the one I had was designed for Hydraulic filtration. I needed one that was baffled, to allow the free flow of fuel through it all times.

    Long story short, I bought one from them, and my fuel mileage went up, and has consistently remained up for six weeks, TWO TENTHS of a mile per gallon. Between the savings from the APU and the better filter, I am now running a respectable 7.1 mpg on my Freightliner Columbia with a Mercedes Detroit.

    Pre APU and with the improper filter? 6.2 was the best I saw. My average over six months was 6.0
     
  4. Burky

    Burky Road Train Member

    All I can say is this. In the future, there is a relatively strong chance that I will purchase and try one of these. I promise if I do, to make very accurate measurements of my operation and specifics both beforehand and afterwards, and to report exactly what I observed, regardless of what the outcome is. If it makes me look foolish, then so be it. I'll document it and report exactly what I saw in as much detail as possible. Too many times I see something installed during a maint period, and at the same time they ran the overhead or replaced the old injectors with new ones, negating any solid data from the device they installed.

    As I said before, some of the best investments I ever made in my life were the worst ones I ever made. At age 16-17, a carnival barker at the county fair got me set up in a game with a price of $1.00 a throw. By the time he was done, he had me up to 3 balls for 5 dollars. I never was able to thank the man later, but he saved me hundreds of dollars throughout life by immunizing me against sales pitches. The lesson would have been cheap at twice the price.

    By the way, the theory of psychological effect from putting on a fuel saving device altering driving habits makes a lot of sense to me. If I do anything, it will be documented over a long enough period of time to hopefully eliminate this as a factor. But, assuming that to be true, then maybe a 2-300 dollar device does pay for itself if it has that effect on you. If you think you have to drive a certain way and do, then in some strange way the device has done it's job.
     
  5. BearGator56

    BearGator56 "The G stands for GOOD!"

    289
    52
    Apr 11, 2006
    Orlando, FL
    0
    I was just bringing this up because you mentioned that these type of devices come out of the woodwork when the fuel prices creep up. I did do some research before I plunked my money down. No offense taken on either of our parts, I hope!
     
  6. BearGator56

    BearGator56 "The G stands for GOOD!"

    289
    52
    Apr 11, 2006
    Orlando, FL
    0
    I don't think my driving habits could change much. I was "stuck" in company trucks for a long time that were governed anywhere from 60-65. This helped me to realize that 70 isn't all that much faster. It may save you 5-10 minutes in perfect all green light conditions.

    I keep at speed limit in most cases, or 5 over in the 55 zones like I-285 around Atlanta. I usually make 3 stops a day, so there's some city driving mixed in.

    If I slow down any more to save fuel, I may get run over in Atlanta traffic!
     
  7. TurboTrucker

    TurboTrucker Road Train Member

    861
    276
    Feb 23, 2005
    Rossville, Georgia
    0
    Absolutely no problem at all. And I am sorry if I came across in any manner that would suggest that I consider you foolish. I think that this thread exemplifies the fact that it is entirely possible for people holding contrasting opinions, CAN discuss these kind of things on a rational level and with mutual respect. Through this kind of intereaction, we all learn.

    The higher petroleum prices climb, the more likely that not only will there be many of these products that will hit the market, the more likely that people will give them a try. I'm not likely to be one of them, for the reasons that I have outlined in my posts.

    As someone noted in the thread, if people are willing to purchase these kinds of products, and it doesn't stretch their budgets to check out something for themselves, that's their choice and who am I to trample on that?

    What bothers me though, are that there are so many products out there that clearly are worthless, and so many working stiffs have been parted with money that could have went for better uses.

    And Burky, whom I immensely respect, is willing to give one or more of them the old college try, and that's okay too. When he does, he'll know more than I ever will about the validity of the product that he choses to buy.

    Back in the the late seventies, I worked as a mechanic for a number of years on the side, and I saw car after car start coming to me with those "Water Injecting Systems" installed on them. The premise under which they were sold, was that by adding a little mist of water into the carburetor, the car would run smoother and of course, get enhanced gas mileage. They were worthless, and they absolutely damaged engines.

    "Have you ever noticed how your car seems to run better on a rainy day? Our system will make your car run like a sewing machine every time you start it up...."

    That was my first exposure to one of those products, and the type of marketing strategies that are used to sell them. It's kind of stuck with me over all these years, and it was the basis for much of my doubt, along with other research I have done more recently.
     
  8. Joethemechanic

    Joethemechanic Medium Load Member

    373
    32
    Mar 22, 2006
    Phila Pa
    0
    Water injection does nothing but chemically cut down the volumetric efficiency of your engine. Water vapor displaces air. You need air (more specifically oxygen) for combustion. The only time an engine ran better with water injection was when it was too lean to start with. You get a better effect by just richening the air fuel ratio. If you want to make an engine run more efficiently the goal is to make it displace more air not less air.

    I saw an article in one of the trucker magazines about water injection for trucks. The technical writer for the magazine stated.

    "Water is made of Hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen and oxygen burn"

    I LMAO,, water is already burnt. It takes energy to crack the hydrogen and oxygen apart. Once they are cracked, if you burn them, they produce exactly the same amount of energy that to took to crack them.

    If I remember correctly the article was about a company in Western PA that was hot rodding trucks. It might have been Pittsburgh Power but I am not sure. But in my mind they are suspect. The same goes with what you read in the trucking publications. Don't bet on what they say. I have seen some crazy claims made that defy the laws of physics.
     
  9. PortlandDriver

    PortlandDriver RIP, May You Be Heaventown Bound!

    335
    17
    May 30, 2005
    Pacific Northwest
    0
    If you are operating a performance engine with the compression jacked up the limits of the fuel you are using it would make sence to use a water injection set up under certain situations to keep the parts from melting...

    Several years ago I watched a paid advertising on cable (3 am with insomnia), they were making a sales pitch about an oil aditive that goes into the lube oil. One of the "tests" they showed was with a big block performance engine. With the engine on an engine dyno they ran it up to get the readings then after draining the oil out of the crank case they got an extra 25 hp...Got a good laugh out of that because they were saying the additive gave the boost...Want to bet that the oil pump on that engine uses 25 horses to operate? Also they did not show the engine running after that last test...Wonder what the crank looked like...
     
  10. Burky

    Burky Road Train Member

    Let me state for the record how enjoyable it is to be able to get into a professional disagreement that doesn't include long questionable court citations, extensive use of capital letters, name calling, or the need for anyone to get banned from the board. Readers take note of this one, because this is how it's supposed to happen.
     
  11. BearGator56

    BearGator56 "The G stands for GOOD!"

    289
    52
    Apr 11, 2006
    Orlando, FL
    0
    Amen to that... I haven't been called an idiot yet, so it's all good. :)


    I like to bring up these things that are out there because it educates us all and opens up discussion. Maybe one of us has tried something, and has had success. I generally won't debunk something without a lot of research or hands-on experience.

    If I can spend the money, and come back with real world numbers, it will benefit all of us. If the thing doesn't work, it's getting stuffed right back in the box it came in.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.