GTi Reviews

Club GTI Magazine – rabbit

Product Review - Ecotek CB-26P

It's not often that you get an invitation to test a new gadget in the motoring world. So when one was posted to the Club GTI e-mail list, I jumped at the chance to find out exactly what the Ecotek CB-26P device was all about.

I'd heard a few things about the device and read the review in Revs magazine, but I couldn't fathom how such a small "valve-type thing" could do what the manufacturers claimed it could. Such claims as "it reduces harmful emissions by improving the combustion process, this also means that it improves fuel consumption, reduces exhaust corrosion and maximises engine performance".

The whole idea of the CB-26P is based around the Fl "swirl" technology. It allows small air molecules into the engine, via the vacuum pipe leading from/to the inlet manifold, thus providing a better suspension of fuel molecules in the mixture and therefore improving the combustion process.

Now I don't know about you, but I wasn't convinced that this thing could do all that is mentioned above. However I was more than willing to test it out for all the folk out there who want to know what it's "really" like.

A quick phone call to Vince at Stealth Racing (01926) 812259, who are approved fitters of the device, and a time was set to have it fitted. With Stealth located in Warwickshire and me in Dorset, I had an early start on Saturday morning. I got there just before 9am to find the place deserted apart a standard 16v in a parking bay.

Another Mk 2 soon appeared and Vince introduced himself and the car was dropped into the workshop to have the gadget fitted. A cup of coffee and about 15 minutes later and the job was done, easy. Just before I started her up Vince warned me that it would make some noise. Not in my wildest dreams could I have imagined the noise it actually makes. All I can compare it to is the last drop of liquid being sucked through a straw from the bottom of a drinks carton, that kind of slurping, gurgling noise. Not exactly what I wanted having gone to great lengths to perfect the induction noise from the air box.

I was assured though, that this was normal (Footnote: Induction noise goes away after 1-2,000 miles as the device beds in.) and that I would get used to it, and to some extent I have. There was one occasion though, just after it was fitted, when I pulled up at some traffic lights and revved the engine to see how loud the noise actually was, and a passing pedestrian tapped my window and said, "I think there's something wrong with your car mate, it's gurgling"!

My initial impressions once fitted were great. I got back on the motorway and put my foot down and there was instant response in 4th the same as I was used to in 3rd. Pulling out to glide past the car in front in 5th actually turned into "fly past the car in front". It was quite unreal just how much difference this thing actually made! That was the performance factor accounted for. The fuel consumption was also better, getting an extra 60 odd miles more than my previous average off a full tank.

Now that I've had it for just over a week, I'm still impressed with it. I travel about 36 miles, cross country, to work, and then sit in traffic for about 20 to 30 minutes, all in all taking about an hour. Now they do say that the CB-26P works best on motorway travelling, which I agree with, but it also works reasonably for me, travelling back and forth to work, giving me an extra 30+ miles on top of what I usually get.

As for the emissions, well I got a new rear box the day before I had the CB-26P fitted and, after cleaning it on my return from Stealth, it's retained its shiny stainless steel finish so far! So the claim to reduce soot and the like from your exhaust fumes could well be accurate too.

Absolutely everything you could possibly need to know about this product is listed on the Ecotek web site which is: www.ecotek.org.uk

The Ecotek CB-26P retails at £48.99 including P&P and VAT, or £55.50 plus vat fitted. However, Stealth Racing are offering it for £50, including fitting, to all Club GTI members. If you are not happy with it, you can always return it within 30 days. They are guaranteed for 2 years or 20,000 miles, which ever comes sooner, so you have a fair back up!

So what is my over all conclusion? Well, I am exceedingly impressed with the CB-26P. There are so many benefits to it and for just £50, you would be pushed to find something equal to it for the price. You get used to the noise after a while, although I have been advised by Ecotek themselves, that this can be muffled somewhat by putting a foam filter around the valve. These are not factory items, so a bit of DIY is called for! Now that I have had one, I couldn't go back to how the car was before I got it!

Club GTI Member: Chris Richardson No: 110608 January 2000

VWmotoring

"We first heard about the Ecotek CB-26P device after reading several favourable reports about it on the internet and in Club GTi's Rabbit magazine. It basically consists of spring-loaded pressure valve housed in a gold anodised aluminium alloy body.

The unit allows unmetered air to pressure forcing additional air (up to 5%) into the engine, leaning off the mixture. It's claimed that this offers better mixing, improving the swirl effect, and results in a cleaner burn, which in turn reduces emissions. The device is also said to smooth flat spots and improve throttle response.

It's this latter part which we were particularly interested in - numerous independent tests have been done on the emissions side of things and there is no reason to doubt their results. Leaner mixtures are almost certain to reduce emissions.

Stealth Racing, in Southam, were entrusted to actually install the device, with technician Daniel Spacie efficiently carrying out the task. Stealth are actually an agent for the device and owner Vince Saiya comments that "all the customers who've bought one have been chuffed to bits with the improvement."

The test vehicle was a colleague's Mk 2 Golf GTi 8V (Digifant fuelinjection) that was standard apart from sports exhaust and alloys. The unit was attached in line with the brake servo to manifold feed, being secured with four jubilee clips, and then 'tuned'. An odd 'slurping' noise could now be heard when the engine was on the over-run after the throttle had been blipped (Daniel described it best -'the noise you get when you're getting to the bottom of a McDonalds milkshake'!).

With the device in place, the Golf was taken for a test-drive, with owner Stuart reporting that it felt slightly friskier and appeared much smoother on the throttle. That was the subjective impressions - but what would the rolling road say?

To find out, we headed off to visit forced-induction specialists Jabbasport, in Peterborough, to test the Golf on their newly-fitted (and still gleaming!) rolling road. Several power-runs were carried out and the order was varied to ensure that the readings would give a fair representation. With the device active the engine appeared to produce marginally more power – consistently around 1 to 2 bhp.

As the Ecotek device does appear to reduce emissions - according to several other impartial mags who have used MoT-testing gear - it could prove particularly useful for owners of tuned vehicles. If you're running a high-lift cam, for example, and are struggling to get the emissions low enough to pass an MoT, this device could prove very handy. You may even be able to run a much wilder cam than you would otherwise be able to get away with. Food for thought!

VW Motoring Magazine. Peter Rosenthal. Issue: May 2000. Click here for their web site.

VOLKSWAGEN DRIVER

"A NEW fuel saving device, the Ecotek CB-26P, which fits easily to the inlet manifold, is being promoted as a means of improving performance, emissions and economy.

The device is claimed to work by bleeding a small amount of air into the induction system, as well as creating turbulence in the airflow, effects which are known to result in improved combustion.

To test the device in real-world conditions, we arranged to have an Ecotek fitted to a readers car, a Mk 2 Golf GL fitted with a Webber Carburetor, for which there are detailed long-term fuel consumption records.

He reports: "Throttle response is crisper and power delivery smoother, but Ecotek's value for me is as a fuel economy device. I have gained eight per cent - from 37.5 mpg to 40.5 mpg. This is more on long Motorway trips: 45.5 mpg, up from 39.5 mpg, a 15 per cent gain. The pay-back time is therefore only a matter of weeks.

Fitting is extremely easy - about five minutes - the only additional requirement being a 2in straight length of hose and a jubilee clip to fit the Ecotek unit in line between the manifold and the hose to the brake servo. An optional extra is a Pipercross filter, which will reduce induction noise and improve filtration.

I would recommend this device to anyone; economies are made from the first turn of the key, and extra power is there if you need it."

Bruce Purvis - Volkswagen Driver Magazine - September 2000

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