Page 1 of 2
Hiclone... worth the cash???
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 5:46 am
by mc dave
Has anyone ever fitted one of these?
Do they work or is it all a load of crap?
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 6:54 am
by DamTriton
Load of BS. If it was that cheap and easy to find extra performance/fuel economy/"smoothness", don't you think the manufacturers would fit them as standard???
Go for a better air filter (K&N or similar) if you want to spend your money on something that works.....
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 8:00 am
by Shorty40
GaryInOz wrote:Go for a better air filter (K&N or similar) if you want to spend your money on something that works.....
Same applies to your K&N theory:
"If it was that cheap and easy to find extra performance/fuel economy/"smoothness", don't you think the manufacturers would fit them as standard???"
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 8:32 am
by GRIMACE
My Cousin fitted one to his VR UTE
Exhaust note was changed (better)
Power seemed exactly the same
Fuel economy rose about 2%
All in all not worth it. Thats my cousins 2c worth
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 9:01 am
by N*A*M
they're awesome but you need to use 2 or more to get full effect
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 9:03 am
by GRIMACE
Please explain more about how there awsome..........
I have only ever herd half hearted results about them, please tell us of your experiences
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 9:07 am
by N*A*M
hey, do you reckon you need a sarcasm detector anthony?
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 9:15 am
by ToNkA
N*A*M wrote:hey, do you reckon you need a sarcasm detector anthony?
Damn, on your advice NAM, I went and bought two of them.
Crap.
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 9:21 am
by GRIMACE
I thought something fishy was goin on.........
Suprised you didnt say they were an EXTREME mod
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 9:30 am
by N*A*M
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 9:52 am
by Thor
i based a lot of my opinions on this sites content:
http://www.gadgetonline.com/dyno.htm
guy really knows what he's talking about.
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 10:42 am
by beebee
I fitted a k&N one day and a hiclone the following day. Fuel economy got worse! No power difference.
However I did change my aircleaner box to a surf one but the intake was still in roughly the same spot.
Another urban legend is whether a snorkel has any performance or economic advantages. On my opinion - no. I haven't noticed any.
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 10:44 am
by Guy
At lower speeds with a snorkle a few motors according to the dyno tend to run rich ..
Guy
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 10:47 am
by beebee
I had always thought that but it's too hard to patch the hole!
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 11:57 am
by Area54
In theory, the design provides a swirl effect to the intake air, supposedly promoting better atomisation and distribution of the fuel/air mixture in the combustion chamber.
My opinion is this - there are many designs of airbox/intake hose/manifold/head design/valve position/fuel injection method, as well as the corresponding applications (models) of Hiclones available. I would assume that for the hiclone to be most effective, it would have to be as close to the valves (after ANY bends in the intake hose) so the swirl effect can continue into the chamber and be effective. Any bends in the hose or direction change of the air column would disrupt this swirl, possibly creating vacuum pockets in the manifold/head and furthur resistance to the air column. Each direction change will add drag to the air column, and the hiclone could add more drag in some applications.
Got an old mate that fitted one to his TDi 4 pot Disco, he loves it.
To me, the power gains would be too marginal. You get what you pay for, and if you want noticable gains - turbo or supercharge or bigger donk...
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 12:04 pm
by grimbo
I fitted a snorkel purely for engine insurance with water crossing and dusty driving so in that regard has proven to be effective as to performance I drive a Suzuki, nuff said
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 1:03 pm
by murcod
Shorty40 wrote:GaryInOz wrote:Go for a better air filter (K&N or similar) if you want to spend your money on something that works.....
Same applies to your K&N theory:
"If it was that cheap and easy to find extra performance/fuel economy/"smoothness", don't you think the manufacturers would fit them as standard???"
Not really... the manufacturers would lose money on spare parts as K&Ns are reuseable!
K&N pod filters are also noisy, and most people don't want their new vehicle sounding that loud.
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 1:14 pm
by beebee
Area54 wrote:In theory, the design provides a swirl effect to the intake air, supposedly promoting better atomisation and distribution of the fuel/air mixture in the combustion chamber.
My opinion is this - there are many designs of airbox/intake hose/manifold/head design/valve position/fuel injection method, as well as the corresponding applications (models) of Hiclones available. I would assume that for the hiclone to be most effective, it would have to be as close to the valves (after ANY bends in the intake hose) so the swirl effect can continue into the chamber and be effective. Any bends in the hose or direction change of the air column would disrupt this swirl, possibly creating vacuum pockets in the manifold/head and furthur resistance to the air column. Each direction change will add drag to the air column, and the hiclone could add more drag in some applications.
Got an old mate that fitted one to his TDi 4 pot Disco, he loves it.
To me, the power gains would be too marginal. You get what you pay for, and if you want noticable gains - turbo or supercharge or bigger donk...
I have tried my hiclone at both ends (filter and carby) of my intake system and didn't notice any difference. The manual for a 22R hilux shows it at the filter end but due to holding the same beliefs as Area54, I moved it to the carby end. It hasn't made any difference but at least it's got more chance there.
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 1:17 pm
by GRIMACE
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 1:33 pm
by beebee
At least it would help the toilet digest some of those larger floaters
Don't know about the swirl effect though.....
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 1:58 pm
by GRIMACE
Whipped Pooh
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 2:38 pm
by alki
I had one in 4.5 Patrol and it made no differance.
Returned it and got my money back
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 3:35 pm
by GRIMACE
So from all the gatherings........it must be pretty sucky.
Yet you still see them at the 4wd shows with there little stand and a clear pipe with a twirly thingy in it
.
Bullshit artists
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 4:38 pm
by Thor
alki wrote:Returned it and got my money back
from what i've read in here and other places, i'm surprised they let you do that!! haha
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 5:13 pm
by slowhilux
Like Area 54 said, the only time the "swirl" effect is ever going to make any difference is when it is as close to the intake valves as possible, with no interferance inbetween. Hence the reason alot of performance car ppl (especially those with turbocharged cars) are now using individual bellmouths welded into each intake port runner in the intake plenum. Air speed is at its highest right at the very tip of the underside edge of the bellmouth. As the air gets sucked (or forced) up around the bellmouth, it causes the swirl effect. It also increases the velocity of the air travelling into the cylinder.
When the new plenum and intake runners got built on the celica, i had this done. Made 21rwhp more at the same boost level, timing, maps, etc. Its cheap power too.....each bellmouth only costs $16 (2" weld in diameter).....6 x 16 = $96.......tell me where u can make 20+hp for under $100
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 7:07 pm
by bogged
Wipe your ass on a $100.. you would enjoy it more.
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 9:29 pm
by Shorty40
Thor wrote:alki wrote:Returned it and got my money back
from what i've read in here and other places, i'm surprised they let you do that!! haha
I bought one for my road car and used it for the 30 day trial period, then rang the guy and told him it was shit. He said keep it on for another 30 days. I did and it was still shit so I sent it back and they refunded my money in full.
They (he) was really cool about it. No dramas at all
Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2003 1:09 am
by David Lovejoy
I've been testing a couple on my Tdi for a few months now. The UK distributor sent them FOC...
They make a hell of a difference to fuel economy - upto 36mpg on the RR.
Problem is you lose bottom end, off turbo grunt. I am going to play with the pump and waste gate for a bit, but if I can't get back the bottom end, then back they go...
Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2003 8:04 pm
by RUFF
slowhilux wrote:When the new plenum and intake runners got built on the celica, i had this done. Made 21rwhp more at the same boost level, timing, maps, etc. Its cheap power too.....each bellmouth only costs $16 (2" weld in diameter).....6 x 16 = $96.......tell me where u can make 20+hp for under $100
So you are saying you built the new plenum and intake identical to what it was before but added these Bellmouths and the bellmouths alone increased the HP?
If the new plenum and intake is of different design to the original one I think you will find this has more to do with the increase in HP than the bellmouths you added.
Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2003 8:37 pm
by OzJeeper
Born and bred for the carby market - supposed to "better" atomise the air/fuel mixture as it departs the carby.
Stuff all use in a fuel injected vehicle.....