Ecotek Results

[J Moore]

A week ago I posted an article on fitting an Ecotek to my 1.6SX Bravo (1998 manual transmission).

Well I've now gone through a tank of fuel, following similar driving patterns as without the device fitted. To my suprise it has actualy saved fuel. Not only has the device improved throttle response, but I now find that a tank or fuel is lasting 50 miles more than before.

At the fuel guage half way mark, I had travelled 225 miles. Which is approx 25 to 35 miles more than I normally get. At the point when the yellow warning light came on, I had travelled 403 miles.

So from my experience the device is well worth fitting, and will repay for itself within 4 or 5 months or so.

Even if I had not seen a reduction in fuel consumption. The improved throttle response has grown on me, to the point I wold of kept it on the car anyway.

 

[gcol]

225 miles at half way mark!

that's way, way better than my hgt. i know bravos aren't the most economical of cars, but i didn't know any would be that good. i bet i only get 225 miles to a tank full! can you fit these ecotek jobbies to any bravo (even hgt?) how much do they cost? are they easy to fit? where do i get one from?
Cheers

 

[Briggsy]

Re: 225 miles at half way mark!

Hi

YES, YES, cost just under £50, YES. You order them from the net at www.ecotekplc.com

Briggsy

 

[J Moore]

Take a look at their web site for fitment details. I'm certain you can attach one to any of the Bravos. You just need to locate the rubber hose from the inlet manifold, going to the vacuum assist for the brakes.

On my 1.6SX there is loads of clearance to fit the device. Its easy, once you have found the hose.

If you get one I would also recommend fitting a filter too. Although the device has a wire gauze fitted, water could still get in. I actually bought a filter from Halfords, a pippercross crankcase filter. Which although I don't think its as good as the one they sell on their site, is good enough to give me piece of mind, and was slightly cheaper. Its probably even cheaper if you surf the web for it.

On my inlet manifold, there are about 4 hoses in total I think. I have a Haynes manual which doesn't point the one to use out, but a German manual I also have did identify the exact hose (I luckily studied German enough to be able to read it!). Its was the thickest hose fitted to the inlet manifold on my 1.6SX, so maybe yours is the same ? Make sure you know before you start cutting ant hose !

When I drive my car, I don't bother racing around, and keep a steady pace going. I have a motorbike for fun, which I'm sure is miles better than any car (unless you have 300,000 pounds plus to spend anyhow !). My main journey to work is approx 35 miles. 25 of which are on the motorway, so that helps my fuel consumption in the first place I think. Its easy for me to keep a steady pace.

I was suprissed by how much fuel I had saved. I didn't think it would work so well. I'm still trying to understand the theory behind the device. I can't see how it can make so much difference. But then I'm not an engine designer !

One tip to add. When tuning the device in for the first time, mine made two sounds. It whistled first, then made the slurp slurp sound ! You have to tune the device so the slurp slurp sound doesn't happen at idle. The whistling goes away as the device beds in. I think I should check the tuning on mine again now.

Good luck

 

[Tipo16v]

?

give it a couple of years with the ecotek and you will probably have a dead engine

 

[J Moore]

Re: Re: Ecotek Results

What evidence do you have for such a suggestion ?

If you can supply solid reasons, then please post them.

I do intend checking plug colour within the first 1000 miles to see if the engine is running way too lean. But this process is difficult in itself as you can't cut the engine at different revs to see how the engine is fueling at different engine speeds.

As I'm not racing around in the car, and mainly motorway cruising, its getting an easy life in all. Unlike my R1 motorbike, which takes a right hammering !

So long as plug colour stays OK, I'll stick with the device.

I do approx 12,000 miles a year, at approx 350 miles a tank without the device costs:

12,000 / 350 x 35 pounds = 1200 pounds in petrol

If I regulary now get another 50 miles extra to the tank with the Ecotek device fitted:

12,000 / 400 x 35 pounds = 1050 pounds

Which is a saving of 150 pounds a year.

Or to put another way, assuming beer costs upto 3 pounds a pint worse case .....

150 / 3 = 50 free pints of beer, meaning a night a month sinking 4 pints for free !

Or my insurance is 170 something a year TPFT. Its nearly covering my insurance, or road tax

 

[Tom]

There must be something very wrong with my 1.6! I'm lucky to get just over 300 from a tank. How much fuel does your tank hold?

I get about 33MPG. (~300 miles from ~42ltrs) If you are getting 403 miles from the same fuel tank, over 40MPG, then something is majorly wrong with mine!!!

I tried an ecotek, no change in throttle, no improvement in MPG.

I'm starting to think the cat on mine is blocked.

 

[Dillinger]

Capacities

From my 1.6ELX (96) manual a 1.6 should have a 50ltr tank (including a reserve of 7 ltr)

Dill

 

[Tipo16v]

.

I cant give you solid facts im afraid, but i will explain why or try to :

Your car (without the ecotek) is mapped to the correct air / fuel ratio, via MAF or Map sensors (dunno which engine versions of the bravo use which) to give the correct fuelling at the correct points. What the ecotek is doing is basically creating a leak past the butterfly which results in more air entering the engine without the fueling being adjusted hence running lean, although on N/A it isnt so bad, but on turbos its very dangerous.

I hope you understand what im trying to get at.

Tipo16v

 

[J Moore]

Re: Capacities

Yes, I agree with the possibility that the car could run too lean. But also its fitted with a Lambda sensor in the exhaust, hence within small limits it should be corrected - I don't know the operating envelope of the closed loop system metering fuel using the lambda sensor.

Ecotek state on the web site under their FAQs that is not an issue (well they probably would !). Also that cars which are fitted with a lambda control system, won't show much fuel benefit unless at motorway speeds

I intend on checking plug colour to see how things go.

I've not noticed the car showing symptoms of running lean so far.

 

[riclemus]

laibility

i just bought one and am fitting it tonight, the accompanying leaflets state that the device comes with a £5 million pound liability insurance so if it does kill your engine then you can sue the bastards!

will report on any difference experienced.

riclemus

 

[Tom]

Re: Capacities

The 7ltr reserve is included in the 50ltr tank.
ie 43 + 7 = 50.

I qeueried this one with Fiat and they confirmed it.

 

[riclemus]

fitted

well it was easy to fit but i havent tried it yet as my car is still in lots of bits at the moment. will report as it goes. i got the one with the blue piperx filter on as well.

riclemus

 

[TOM]

I will take the liabilty please!

"the accompanying leaflets state that the device comes with a £5 million pound liability insurance so if it does kill your engine then you can sue the bas....!"

From the quote above, never mind the ecotek device give me the £5Million, that will pay for a few gallons (petrol and beer).

 

[Nick]

Re: I will take the liabilty please!

If its public liability insurance then you're only covered if the device actually does damage to you (or somebody else.) If it shafts your engine then that is NOT covered.

 

[Brad]

You'd be mad to fit one...

The device works by bleeding air past the butterfly so the engine runs much to lean.
Does anybody out there think that Fiat would map the engine to consume too much fuel! So why try to make it run leaner than Fiat think is safe?

 

[J Moore]

Re: You'd be mad to fit one...

Check out the FAQ section on the Ecotek site, they cover this one.

I will be checking my plugs over Xmas to see how they are getting on.

They state that the air that is bleed in is not a significant amount. I'm no expert, and don't trust totaly trust devices like these either. But I have to admit that it has worked on my car. Better fuel consumption, and beter throttle response.

One thing in the back of my mind, is that the fuel injection system contains a lambda sensor. If the car runs too lean, then this must be picked up and corrected for automatically .......

Anyone else fitted one and checked their plugs ?

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Re: You'd be mad to fit one...

The plugs will reflect the state the engine was last running in, usually idle. If its running rich or lean at speed then by the time you have stopped the plugs will have lost any signs of that.

Its only an indication of something majorly wrong like oil in the cyl or detonation.

Get a gas analyser if you are really interested in your mixture.

 

[Tom Two]

Too many Toms

Just noticed a lot of Toms on this thread, I better call myself Tom Two from now on so we are not confused.

 

[Tipo16v]

.

a lambda (baa) sensor will only work within set limits, although im sure it should be able to account for the valve.

Also checking the plugs wont show anything if you use a lambda (baa) sensor as it has open and closed loops (dunno what they mean before you ask!)