Power Boost Valves

[highlander]

Hi all,

Bored @ work and just trawling around the web, I found this product called a "Power Boost Valve" which is supposed to give an extra bit of oomph to a naturally-aspirated fuel-injection petrol engine, allegedly by adjusting fuel flow. The manufacturer's webpage revealed that it is available for the 1.8i 16v 406:

http://www.powerboostvalve.co.uk/fse-pe ... 600391.htm

Are these guys selling snake oil, or is this a product that could actually improve the performance of my engine?

Incidentally, I was also going to ask about a universal supercharger, but I saw another post on another forum saying that, aside from costing the earth, these kits can totally wreck a perfectly good engine due to "engine knock" or "detonation". What's the scoop there?

Much obliged,
Graeme

[StevieboyTD]

No increase in actual power, slight improvement in bottom end responce. It just changes the fuel rail pressure.

[highlander]

Ah, OK.

The 1.8 actually pulls away pretty well; it's only when you get above 45 - 50 that the power kinda bottoms out, and tapers off above 60. It's then that an extra bit of oomph would be welcome.

My brother has a Seat Leon Cupra he's just gushing about at the moment. It's got a 1.8 engine, but his is turbo-charged and develops more than 200 BHP (and you can really feel the difference). I guess a turbo is quite a complex thing to add to an engine too

[steve_earwig]

Not as complicated as the supercharger... New pistons to drop the compression ratio, better con rods, ignition... fuelling... clutch... Oh, and huge insurance 'cos your car is now "modified". It'd be cheaper and much easier to sell yours and get a turbo, or a 2.2, or a V6 even.

[highlander]

Figures

Next car I get will be some form of HDi, I reckon. I'd love to find a mint coupe with a 2.0 or 2.2 HDi engine, and give it a nice remap.

That said, I did see a '97 Mitsubishi Galant 2.5l V6 twin turbo on AutoTrader for £3,000. 280 BHP. Japanese import. It's just about a mile away from me. Fuel economy is crap though