Mythbusters: The PROVEN truth about Throttle Body Spacers

[LINY4Runner]

So, I bought an AirRaid TB spacer from johnpsmith on here for scientific testing purposes. I know this has been a hot topic on this and many other forums, but most of the arguements were not backed by anything other than "it just doesn't make sense why it would work" or "it's $100! It has to work!". I decided to bite the bullet and test this myself.

I recorded the 0-60, 1/4 mile, top speed and peak rear wheel horsepower using the DYNOLICIOUS app on my iPhone. For the critics; this app has been tested alongside the infamous GTech meters (which are known for being ridiculously accurate) and was found to be just as or more accurate.
I ran 5 runs before the spacer and 5 runs after, along the same stretch of flat straight road, with the same amount in the gas tank and nothing else changed other than the addition of the spacer.

Here's what I found:

BEFORE
Run 1: 140rwhp
Run 2: 142rwhp
Run 3: 139rwhp
Run 4: 139rwhp
Run 5: 143rwhp

AFTER
Run 1: 141rwhp
Run 2: 139rwhp
Run 3: 144rwhp
Run 4: 143rwhp
Run 5: 137rwhp

If you're wondering, check my mods and you'll see why the HP was so low. Also keep in mind that this is WHEEL HP.

So there it is. Proven tests that throttle body spacers do nothing. I'm still testing fuel mileage but I'm gonna assume there will be no change in that either, but will update in a few weeks on that.

 

[spongerx]

Tell us more about this iPhone app. How does it work? I mean, do you plug your phone into the engine?

Cool test by the way. thanks. :bigok:

 

[Stick Figure]

not to take anything away from your testing, and not that i believe the throttle body spacer does much if anything

........ BUT .......

w/out a full dyno printout, we don't know if there were gains that didn't happen at the peak power level. Meaning if the vehicle makes peak power at 5000 RPM, then there could still be a substantial gain at 4000 rpm, and we wouldn't know it from just a peak number test like that. The other thing that could happen is that your peak power point could be changing RPM, and again we would not see this. That can be a good or bad thing depending on where it is moving, and what you are trying to achieve w/ your "build".

 

[Fo_SheeZy]

I had one on my 02.. I thought it looked cool under the hood and the sound it made was interesting.. not worth $100 though..

 

[RonMAIDEN]

I figured knowing that the 3.4 is direct port injection was enough to prove they can't work since with DPI there is no fuel and air to mix til in the cylinder thus rendering any spinning effects of the intake air produced by the TBS moot.

Just knowing a little engineering is all one needs to know and it's been proven before several times on the import forums I've been on for the last 10 years. TBSs are junk!!!!!.........but people still continue to shell out mpney for them.

I'm sorry you wasted $100.


For further info there are tests out there on the net with dyno graphs proving they don't do what they promise. The Tornado has also been proven to be a joke also.

 

[LINY4Runner]

I figured knowing that the 3.4 is direct port injection was enough to prove they can't work since with DPI there is no fuel and air to mix til in the cylinder thus rendering any spinning effects of the intake air produced by the TBS moot.

Just knowing a little engineering is all one needs to know

I know you're a mod and everything, but it's general assumptions like this that made me buy it and do the test. Someone saying that "it cannot work because it doesnt make sense" just isn't good enough for me.

Now I can say, "TB spacers don't work. I've tested it myself."

 

[LINY4Runner]

not to take anything away from your testing, and not that i believe the throttle body spacer does much if anything

........ BUT .......

w/out a full dyno printout, we don't know if there were gains that didn't happen at the peak power level. Meaning if the vehicle makes peak power at 5000 RPM, then there could still be a substantial gain at 4000 rpm, and we wouldn't know it from just a peak number test like that. The other thing that could happen is that your peak power point could be changing RPM, and again we would not see this. That can be a good or bad thing depending on where it is moving, and what you are trying to achieve w/ your "build".

Yeahhhh I know, but gimme a break, I'm using a damn telephone! hahaha

although I was looking at the graphs, and in all 10 the peak power happens about 6 seconds into the run. It cannot give me RPM because it only goes by G's.

6 seconds is still in first gear, probably around 4200 (us guys with the deckplate mod know that RPM range) :bigok:

 

[RonMAIDEN]

I didn't think I was posting a general assumption and understanding how a TBS is supposed to work and how DPI works isn't an assumption plus I've seen dynos in person over 10 years ago proving TBS are a gimmick many people buy into.

It was a popular mod on the LS1 Camaros/Firebirds in the '90s and a few friends that installed them on their cars noticed no gains and on the dyno some even showed losses but that's probably because of other variables than the TBS itself.

and I'm glad you proved me right. :bigok:


P.S. Also shorten that sig up a bit please. 10 lines,spaces included.

 

[LINY4Runner]

Okay you seeing it being tested is one thing. But you've never said that. It's always "it simply cannot work because of the design of the DPI engine" which is an assumption and is not good enough for me. That's all I'm saying.

 

[Rock Slide]

Tell us more about this iPhone app. How does it work?

x2. I need another reason to buy an iphone

 

[RonMAIDEN]

I've been working on and around cars for over 20 years;if something that cheap did what it promised it would be on my truck plus I spent the 15 years racing import cars and working on them so I do have an understanding of engineering a bit so knowing a TBS isn't worth a $100 was a no-brainer.

I am glad to see somebody helping debunk this myth so do more testing to prove a TBS can be added to the "snake oil" hall of fame. :bigok:

 

[LINY4Runner]

Tell us more about this iPhone app. How does it work? I mean, do you plug your phone into the engine?

Cool test by the way. thanks. :bigok:

it works the same way as the GTech meters. It measures the G forces of acceleration, and uses the iPhones GPS to determine speed and rate of acceleration, and compares it against the vehicle's weight to determine it's values...It's pretty damn cool

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

I love that app.

I tested it before and after my intake.

April = 151 hp (not wheel hp)
May = 161 hp (not wheel hp)

nice nice.

0-60 still takes 14 seconds though.

god damn the 3rz 4Runners are slow as HELL

quarter mile was 19.98 seconds at 70.1 mph

haha thats so bad!

its a nice app though

it shoes all my distance times and mphs...

for example (before intake times)

Acceleration:
0-10 1.35 sec
0-20 2.94sec
0-30 4.78sec
0-40 6.97sec
0-50 10.99sec
0-60 14.64sec
0-70 18.84sec

god awful

Elapsed Time
60' = 3.28 sec @21mph
330' = 8.52 [email protected]
1/8 mi = 13.03 [email protected]
1000' = [email protected]
1/4 mi = 19.98 [email protected]

Misc
Max Speed 70.4 (basically its when you stop accelerating, I didn't want to speed too much)

Max Acceleration - .67 G's
Peak HP (i accounted drivetrain loss so this is not wheel hp) 151hp

its a pretty tight app. you need a good straight road with no cops, which I have yet to find so I havent really tested this app as well as I'd like to

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Here's a timeslip from my 1/4 mile run and remember this is at 5800ft asl so my 1/4 mile time would be roughly a second quicker at sea level.

60' 2.82
330' 8.02
1/8 12.33
MPH 57.04
1000' 15.99
1/4 [email protected]

I would like to see the iPhone app run at the strip to get a real comparison.

 

[Singtoe]

So, I bought an AirRaid TB spacer from johnpsmith on here for scientific testing purposes. I know this has been a hot topic on this and many other forums, but most of the arguements were not backed by anything other than "it just doesn't make sense why it would work" or "it's $100! It has to work!". I decided to bite the bullet and test this myself.

I recorded the 0-60, 1/4 mile, top speed and peak rear wheel horsepower using the DYNOLICIOUS app on my iPhone. For the critics; this app has been tested alongside the infamous GTech meters (which are known for being ridiculously accurate) and was found to be just as or more accurate.
I ran 5 runs before the spacer and 5 runs after, along the same stretch of flat straight road, with the same amount in the gas tank and nothing else changed other than the addition of the spacer.

Here's what I found:

BEFORE
Run 1: 140rwhp
Run 2: 142rwhp
Run 3: 139rwhp
Run 4: 139rwhp
Run 5: 143rwhp

AFTER
Run 1: 141rwhp
Run 2: 139rwhp
Run 3: 144rwhp
Run 4: 143rwhp
Run 5: 137rwhp

If you're wondering, check my mods and you'll see why the HP was so low. Also keep in mind that this is WHEEL HP.

So there it is. Proven tests that throttle body spacers do nothing. I'm still testing fuel mileage but I'm gonna assume there will be no change in that either, but will update in a few weeks on that.

What ever happened with fuel mileage? did it change ?

 

[BOSSIND]

But did your ass dyno feel any difference? I mean every time someone buys one of these they claim they can feel the difference!

Now you need to test the famous cold air intakes - and the K&N filter against a clean stock paper filter.

Thanks for doing this, HP doesn't come cheap. :trophy:

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

If you have an extra fuel injector, like with a supercharger, does this help?

My 3RZ S/C has the extra injector mount on the elbow of the S/C.

Throttle body mounts where it says TRD

 

[BrianSD_42]

reading this post makes me wonder why more wrench heads aren't chiming in to call BS.

I believe that app work by using stock data and statistics to estimate the HP both wheel and engine in its graphs.

None of that data will apply to our modified trucks. Unless you are running 100% stock on a fairly new engine, the HP data is almost surely WRONG.

On a lifted truck the aerodynamics & drive train are going to need to be calculated with different data than stock. They probably need those changes in order to accurately estimate HP.


I suggest someone with access to a real DYNO machine (COB) do this mod on their truck and post before and after results.

:zoom:

 

[SkylineGTRracer]

If you have an extra fuel injector, like with a supercharger, does this help?

My 3RZ S/C has the extra injector mount on the elbow of the S/C.

Throttle body mounts where it says TRD

Yes it does help. For the 1grfe there is a 7th injector kit from APR for both the TRD and URD superchargers, but I'll stay with the TRD unit. With the 7th it helps cool the blower and creates a seal with the rotors and housing of the supercharger from vaporization of the gas.

 

[BOSSIND]

reading this post makes me wonder why more wrench heads aren't chiming in to call BS.

I believe that app work by using stock data and statistics to estimate the HP both wheel and engine in its graphs.

None of that data will apply to our modified trucks. Unless you are running 100% stock on a fairly new engine, the HP data is almost surely WRONG.

On a lifted truck the aerodynamics & drive train are going to need to be calculated with different data than stock. They probably need those changes in order to accurately estimate HP.


I suggest someone with access to a real DYNO machine (COB) do this mod on their truck and post before and after results.

:zoom:

Some of the magazines have dyno these spacers and have found the same results - they do nothing. Also the app in question works on G forces, more power = more G forces.