The Oldsmobile Connection

speedy266 · Joined: 25 Jun 2003 Posts: 347 Location: Ontario, Canada

Im not sure which engines have coolant running through the throttle body. Im guessing more of the older engines would, not true for the newer engines.

Coolant is directed through the throttle body to heat up the throttle body and intake manifold so it doesnt ice up in winters and for better fuel economy?? Thats what ive been reading online about this "free" mod. Basically you get a hose to bypass the coolant and never let it go through the throttle body. For some engines and cars it has proved to make no difference, others have noticed crisper throttle response and when dyno tested it gave anywhere from 2-9HP and 2-10ft-lbs. Ive noticed my TB gets really hot cant even keep my hand on it for 1 second, so im gonna give this a try. Theres alotta step by step instructions on the How-to if anyone else wants to try it online, just search it up.

metallica_r · Joined: 31 Jan 2004 Posts: 64 Location: corydon, indiana

does your car have a computer in it cause if so here is a hint. no matter what you do to your motor it will run mostly the same as a stock one unless you get a chip for it or have it programed

justinwebb · Joined: 22 Apr 2004 Posts: 314 Location: Pataskala, OH

is there ways to reprogram my ciera or get a new one....... links anyone....

metallica_r · Joined: 31 Jan 2004 Posts: 64 Location: corydon, indiana

click here it's all i could find

speedy266 · Joined: 25 Jun 2003 Posts: 347 Location: Ontario, Canada

well gains wont be significant but i mean it'll only cost me $5 for a by pass hose and if i get 5 extra HP im happy, $1 per HP

88delta88 · Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 2401 Location: Canada

let me know how it turns out. I might be interested aswell... Just for the simple fact that I could be running with cooler air...

speedy266 · Joined: 25 Jun 2003 Posts: 347 Location: Ontario, Canada

88delta88 does ur engine have coolant hoses to the throttle body? I dunno if urs does, but i could be wrong.

88delta88 · Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 2401 Location: Canada

yes it does, i can see the lines

projectheavytouring · Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 10 Location: Nanaimo BC Canada

the ECM won't let it go past it's tuning... but it won't PULL any timing in the tuning either... the early 3.8 FWD are very twitchy to changes, like heat for example.. @ 8.5:1 compression there should be no risk of knock/detonation etc. however it is proven fact that colder air is denser containing more oxygen in the same space... which your car will compensate for with more fuel, thus... more air, more fuel, bigger boom :D ... on a stock car with merely an intake (which I hope is blocked from the engine bay)I would be suprised if you say more then 6-7hp with intake and TB coolant bypass..but what's the point of feeding that nice cooler air into the intake if the TB just makes it nice a hot again

one of the beauties of a self learning EFI car... it will readjust to your mods and make the most of them(within it's program ofcourse)

now add that one with something like a stage2 Jet chip... that engines gonna advance the timing and do everything within it's power to make use of that wonderful cool air your feeding it

Brando · Joined: 06 Jun 2003 Posts: 3051 Location: Michigan, USA

BUMPING this topic up.

I am looking into doing this now. Did any of you guys follow through with this? 88delta88?

It definately wouldn't be hard to do.....seeing as I was planning on replacing those hoses anyways...since they are a little deteriorated. The hoses attach to simple brass hose barbs that are threaded into the throttle body. Can block of the throttle body coolant passages easily...just to keep it closed up, with some screw in block off caps.

TOC Admin
Brando

88delta88 · Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 2401 Location: Canada

Naw, I didnt pursue it past the message board. I was quite interested to start with, but then realized it would be to my advantage to leave it the same. We get pretty cold winters here, and that acts like a throttle body de-icer. I think I'll leave it alone, unless someone does it, and says it makes a difference ;-)

88 Coupe · Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 3:58 pm Post subject:

Hi Brando, 88delta88, hello everyone,

First off, there are light years difference between "cold air" and "ram air" packages. The "ram air" thread is here.

Quote: Coolant is directed through the throttle body to heat up the throttle body and intake manifold so it doesnt ice up in winters and for better fuel economy?........
Any concern with fuel economy might indicate a possible power loss with incoming air below 32*, but not enough to justify the extra plumbing.

Frozen butterflies, however, could be a real problem. Hard for wind chilled air to freeze a warm TB. Because of the minimal heat transfer, the TB stays warm and any air temp rise is small.

Quote: ........ ive been reading online about this "free" mod........
And the link?

Quote: ........ others have noticed crisper throttle response and when dyno tested it gave anywhere from 2-9HP and 2-10ft-lbs.........
Interesting numbers, and no documentation.

Quote: does your car have a computer in it cause if so here is a hint. no matter what you do to your motor it will run mostly the same as a stock one unless you get a chip for it or have it programmed
The small difference would be well within the range of the stock chip.

Quote: the ECM won't let it go past it's tuning.... but it won't PULL any timing in the tuning either......
:?:
Quote: ........ the early 3.8 FWD are very twitchy to changes, like heat for example.. @ 8.5:1 compression there should be no risk of knock/detonation etc........
That's good to hear. :lol:

Quote: ........ however it is proven fact that colder air is denser containing more oxygen in the same space....... Quote: ........ which your car will compensate for with more fuel, thus... more air, more fuel, bigger boom ........
How much more oxygen is gained with a temp drop of a degree or two?

Quote: ........ I would be suprised if you say more then 6-7hp with intake and TB coolant bypass........
I'd be surprised to see 1 HP.

Quote: ...... but what's the point of feeding that nice cooler air into the intake if the TB just makes it nice a hot again
Air temp is raised very little, due to its velocity.

Quote: ........ now add that one with something like a stage2 Jet chip... that engines gonna advance the timing and do everything within it's power to make use of that wonderful cool air your feeding it.
Why would one want to buy an aftermarket chip to do the same job as the stock one?

On the plus side, the mod is cheap and easy, and you may see massive gains when the Placebo effect kicks in.

Regards, Norm

Brando · Joined: 06 Jun 2003 Posts: 3051 Location: Michigan, USA

Here is a site, they did a dyno test before and after the mod and had a noticeable gain.... :huh:

It does get quite cold during the winter here.....so I'm not sure....

Considering that the whole intake and throttle body are made of aluminum...and the intake would still have coolant going through it....I'm not sure that it would really make a big difference.

TOC Admin
Brando

88 Coupe · Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2005 7:11 pm Post subject:

Hi Brando, 88delta88, hello everyone,

88 Coupe wrote: Quote: ........ I would be suprised if you say more then 6-7hp with intake and TB coolant bypass........
I'd be surprised to see 1 HP.
OK, I"m surprised.

SBC with unknown mods, on a chassis dyno that can measure a difference of .2 HP and .2 torque on different pulls?

40* change in actual intake air temp would make a difference. The only reason I see to heat the air that much would be for emissions control. Ice in the TB would be a different story.

Maybe, I'm not so surprised.

Not saying not to try it, the price is right. Just don't expect any noticeable gains.

Regards, Norm

88 Coupe · Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 4:58 am Post subject:

Hi All,

Thanks to RednBlackCutlass Here's a link that seems to agree with me.

Anyone tried it yet?

Regards, Norm