[Saab_c900] New web page online today - ITG 'TriFoam' Air Filter Project

Dunno about the air filter, but the HiClone devices are total waste of money. They are about as useful as the TuboZet (the infamous 12 volt PC fan 'turbocharger').

Do a google search on aus.cars for more information on the HiClone.

Phuoc

Yes, just clean out with carb cleaner every now and then.

Pile of useless snakeoil crap.

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I've seen many many many devices to "improve efficency and increase fuel mileage in my time (quite awhile I might add) and very few, almost none, are worth the time, effort and money.

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I live near a large city, you can see dust on the car next morning after cleaning it. Hence you need an effective standard paper air filter, or the engine will be ground to nothing.

I have done extensive searching... The only reason I want to try one is because they are purely passive devices which zero moving parts and are just a fabricated piece of stainless steel.

If they had electric-powered parts or had moving parts, I would ignore them straight away. But they don't - being completely passive is a very big positive factor, even if their effects are difficult to quantify.

Because they're designed and developed in Australia, I take an open mind and will at least try one for myself and sure if there is no difference in the short to medium term I'll probably think they're junk. But I've always been a believer in the theory that if you doubt something can work, you can't truly back up your doubts without actually trying the the thing yourself to get true first-hand experience.

Regards,

Craig.

Yes I've seen these claims before too - but remember that the concept used by the people who make the HiClone's is also being used in the very same thing which is sold in the US and Canada as the 'Turbonator'. Exactly the same thing as the HiClone, at "

". Has anyone provedthat these devices *harm* an engine's performance or cause any short-term orlong-term detrimental effects? Not that I know of. Just lots of talk abouthow they're a con, but very little real-life experience to add weight toeither side of the argument. Despite what everyone might say for or against the use of passive devices that modify the way the incoming airstream circulates through the throttle valve into the engine's intake manifold, I won't side either way until I actually try one out.

And I think almost everyone who is a detractor would be in the same position as me - they have never actually tried one out and therefore cannot back up their claim with hard evidence in the form of first-hand personal experience.

The other way I look at it is this - a car costs masses of $$$ to purchase, insure and keep running. As Saab owners, we are well aware that our cars can cost much more than an average 'pleb' car to maintain. If a simple, passive, device costing under A$150 can improve engine performance, fuel economy, etc. (even marginally) without requiring any electrical connections, without any moving parts, without affecting any other component in the car or aspect of the car's operation in an adverse fashion, and is made so that it will last longer than the average 20 or so year life of a car, I think that's money well-spent.

Regards,

Craig.

That's an interesting observation. Are you saying that foam-based and other non-paper based filters are less effective? Can you expand on what you've said a bit more?

Regards,

Craig.

So to sum up, what you're saying is that you will waste time and money on these devices because a) they are passive, and b) because they are made in Australia. Good argument Craig; very well thought out.

Newsflash - they weren't developed in Australia - there are quite a few companies selling near identical devices in the UK, US and probably several other countries, each of them claiming that it is a local invention (hmm, wonder why).

Absolutely.

Search around for a few of the thousands of discussions on K&N filters for example. Any of the so-called "performance" ait filters get their "additional performance" by being less restrictive to intake airflow. Less restrictive = less filtering as a general rule of thumb.

Also, be aware that the *only* time that a less restrictive filter will improve engine performance at all is at wide open throttle. At anything less than WFO the throttle plate (being partially closed) will present more intake restriction. Hey, that's how the throttle works!

But, a bad filter will be a bad filter at all throttle positions.

The choice is yours...

-Fred W