Is it all it claims to be? (Ecotek CB-26P)

Member Name: helmet

Product:	Ecotek CB-26P
Date:	25/07/01 (2715 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Saves petrol, reduces harmful emissions, increses performance

Disadvantages: Petrol engines only, can be noisy needing a silencer fitted

I was quite surprised when my Dad pointed out an advert for this 'All Singing, All Dancing' device. He's usually sceptical about things that claim promises of 'better this, cleaner that' but after a few of his motoring magazines had reviewed the CB-26P favourably, he was suitably intrigued and had asked me to look at the company's website to find out more.

The Ecotek CB-26P is a device which, when fitted to your car, claims to improve petrol consumption and reduce harmful emissions by introducing turbulent air into the inlet manifold which suspends the petrol better which then leads to more efficient combustion, thus reducing the bad stuff from the exhaust.

Looks interesting...

Designed for petrol engines up to 2.6 litre (2 are required for larger engines) the CB-26P is simple to fit to most cars and comes with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee and a 2-year warranty on the parts.

By now I'M suitably intrigued, more so with saving fuel but also with helping to save the ozone. So I order a couple from the website and wait for the postie to do the biz.

First impression was great. Nicely manufactured item, solid construction in aluminium. Simply but well presented in a clear Perspex box with fitting/tuning guide and product FAQ. Gold in colour but also available in red or blue at extra cost. What difference it makes under a bonnet, I'm not sure...

Fitting? The Ecotek needs to be fitted on a hose that draws air into the inlet manifold. Dead easy on the Accord, just cut the brake servo vacuum hose and fit the Ecotek in-line with a couple of 'Jubilee' clips (not supplied). You'll have noticed the words 'cut', 'brake' and 'hose' in the one sentence which normally starts alarm bells ringing but as long as your installation is airtight you won't have any worries. As the servo is for 'assisted' braking anyway the worst case, if the fitting isn'
;t sealed properly, is that braking would require more effort from your right leg.

Fitting to some cars without a suitable hose seems to require that you drill and thread a hole in your inlet manifold and screw the Ecotek into it directly. There's a forum on the Ecotek website where you can check if you need to do this on your car. The owner of the site is an active participant in the forum and appears to answer queries regularly.

Once the device is fitted you need to tune it which is nothing more than unscrewing the top until it makes a 'sucking dregs through a straw' noise, screwing it back to the point the noise stops, then turning a further 90° and locating the lock ring to secure. Then when you open the throttle the Ecotek will open at the set point introducing turbulent air into the petrol/air mixture. It'll make the 'sucking straw' noise as it closes which is supposed to get quieter as the seal on the device 'beds' in. You can buy a filter/silencer for it too if you find the reminder of tall glasses of ice-cream in cream soda too much to bear.

Dad's just fitted his to the Golf in the same way as I did; on the vacuum hose and he seems happy it's working as it should. Personally, I've noticed improved performance with the Honda particularly at low revs, less judder under strain, etc. and she definitely seems smoother all round.

As far as fuel consumption's concerned, I can't say I've seen an improvement at all. The first tankful with the CB-26P fitted returned 2mpg MORE than the previous tank albeit I had been doing more stop/start journeys. I suppose one tankful isn't the best result to base an opinion on so I'll reserve judgement meantime.

However, the device squeals as though the car's got a slipping drive belt; like fingernails screeching down a blackboard! Not good for the image at all. (What image? Ed) I wasn't overly concerned at first, su
specting this would subside with time until I heard that when Dad fitted his, it made all the right, quieter slurping noises straight away.

I may have been unlucky and received a flawed one but to be honest I can't see it; there isn't much could go wrong with the Ecotek due to it's simple construction. I did read on the forum that it'll make a slightly different noise on different vehicles but I'm not sure that means a screech that sounds like Chewbacca depilating! I may have to purchase the silencer yet.

I'm not giving up on the Ecotek CB-26P yet simply because of the reviews from the established motoring press but until I see ANY decrease in fuel consumption, I'll be wearing Dad's old scepticals.

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