Techno Torque 2
 

Has anyone installed a Techno Torque 2 from Pedro's Garage. The price seems reasonable, $260. If you did, did you notice any difference in performance?

Eric

I believe it's comparable to this...

Sorry, I couldn't resist!

Eric-

Yes, I have installed the TechnoTorque in my '99 (approx 2 months ago) and ABSOLUTELY there is a noticeable increase. Pedro has details on his site w/ data to back up. TechnoTorque2 is for later MYs of the 986 but results are same.

Bottom line, I don't have a dyno, but I can tell you based on the car's reaction after installing, it took some time for the ECU to adjust to the increased airflow. Not just at WOT but also starting around 2800 RPMS. Once adjusted, there is definitely more pull/torque throughout. Plus the extra kick we're used to feeling when hitting the power band comes earlier - now in the 3300 RPM range.

The technoTorque replaces the OEM Plenum Tee (takes ~ 1hr to install). His insert eliminates turbulent air flow into the plenum and thus into the cylinders. In layman terms, think of it kind of along the lines of DFI but for air (yes I know it's not 100% correct as it would be more forced air induction but I'll use it as an example since most people understand DFI and the results of it).

Anyhow, I won mine at this years BRBS but I would definitely pay for and put one in my Boxster now knowing the positive results and minimal cost.

Go for it!

:)

I would be very interested in Dyno before and after install. Even if you have to wait for you software to catch up to the change. I just hate to feel like a sucker.

My friend did put a vornado or what ever in his ford. He swears by it. I didn't have the heart to show him the true data on it. I think its similar to those magnets you put on your wrist or those pads you put on the bottom of your feet. :D

I have the utmost respect for pedro as his "free" site has saved me a small fortune. Anybody that goes to that much trouble to help other Boxster owners, has my vote for man of the year. :cheers:

Following Pedro's postings, hacks, explanations etc. for a number of years, I can tell you he made the switch to 10W30 for a good reason. If I recall correctly, it had to do w/ stopping the weeping from his RMS. Plus, the first # in the oil rating doesn't apply as much to his climate - south FL as the first # in the oil's weight rating is it's cold flow rating. Cold in south FL is just a tad bit different than cold here in PA (or OH) for 50 weeks or so of the year... ;)

:)

Oh man......I'm buying it. Just give me a month or so.

I don't see what the point or porting and polishing the piece would be,wouldn't it make sense if the throttle body was ported and polished with it?

Does anyone know if the 3.2L S and the 3.4L 996 engine share the same plenum?

I looked at the link you provided, and its an upside down bottle of 15W-50 in the picture. I don't get what you're talking about.

http://www.pedrosgarage.com/Site_3/C...s/PICT0016.jpg

BC.

I stand corrected, I might need a monitor upgrade as It looked like 10W30 on my itty bitty screen. Thanks for the corrections, I will edit accordingly. :cool:

I'd be very interested in seeing some independent dyno testing of this thing. Items like this always make me think of the millions and millions of dollars that Porsche spends on engineering... if it is actually beneficial, why didn't they do this in the first place? It makes sense on a basic level, but does it actually do anything measurable? Seat-of-the-pants testing doesn't count.

All of that said, screwing around with cars is what makes them fun. Way to go Pedro.

It's far from The Tornado.
There's data on my website to back my claims.
Also wait a few days and I'll have a short video which shows how much more efficient the piece is.
I'm working on it right now. Should be up towards the end of the week.
Happy Boxstering,
Pedro

I made the switch from 10W40 ....
 

... (I've never used 10W30) quite a few years ago, as Burg says.
When my car developed an RMS leak, I decided to try a heavier blend (15W50) and it completely cured my leak.
I've been using it ever since.
Happy Boxstering,
Pedro

On my car I have the throttle body polished ...
 

... and ported. I highly recommend everyone do it.
My goal in making the TechnoTorque was to get as much efficiency as possible in the flow of air.
Because the factory "Tees" are left with all of the mold seams and rough surfaces, the first step was to polish to get laminar air flow.

The early 996s (3.4L) from '99 and '00 share the same Tee as the '97 through '99 Boxsters.
The '00 through '04 Boxsters need to go with the TechnoTorque2 which is somewhat different, but works in the same manner as the TechnoTorque.

Happy Boxstering,
Pedro

A few people share your concern...
 

... and that's why I encourage people to test and check and investigate and try before buying.
I even offer an iron-clad guarantee that if you're not 100% satisfied with any of my products you get a 100% refund. No questions asked.

Remember that Porsche made a fun car, a roadster, when the initially manufactured it.
They didn't set out to extract every single pound of torque or HP possible from the engine (they would slowly do that through the subsequent model years).
If that would have been the case, the initial Boxster would have had over 250 HP (100 HP per liter of displacement) which is standard for a super high performance engine, but it only had 201HP. So they left a lot of room for improvement and that's where I've been doing my R&D.
The newer 987s are close to that displacement/power range so they are MUCH harder to get any improvements from and why I haven't offered any performance-enhancing products for those engines.

Happy Boxstering,
Pedro

How are you determining that you have established laminar flow? At what velocities?

:cheers:

I must admit the concept has merit. All my training has led me to eliminate flat surfaces and right angles in an intake or exhaust system to avoid turbulence and standing waves that interfere with ideal flow. Pedro has a product and in house testing to back it.

The next step is to get some unbiased, independent testing done to verify the claims. Logging 50 miles or so before re-testing to allow the DME to adapt to the change in plenum will be important. Other companies have developed their own plenum upgrade and testing results have been very mixed so far. I look forward to the results of further testing.

Well my Pops has a 01' 3.4L....so would the 00'+ TechnoTorque2 work on it as well?

Wow, I must be slow today, I just put it together, PPBON= PEDRO :eek:

Hey, Iv'e gotta give you a big shout out for all your help and your great site. Your next project should be how to "DIY" easily in about 30 minutes replace my IMS bearing!!(with only 1 wrench) :D

Sorry if I offended you by bringing up the vornado(not comparing it to). I too am interested in increasing hp at any "cost effective" way I can.

PS. You must have little itty bitty hands cause I couldn't get the ignition switch done your way. I had to take the side panel and vent off. It was actually "cake" after that!!

All I know is that it is 650$ cheaper than a ipd plenum or rss plenum, what ever you want to call it. It is the same thing with factory parts and I think better because the abs plastic will not hold heat like a metal piece will. There are some real nice midrange gains on the ipd piece. I am not pushing ipd but the results seem great. I was hesitant from there price but I think for 260 I can manage. My .02

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFmLlwKD69w

I just got off the phone with pedro's garage and I may have to pick one of these up for my 3.4 I will dyno it before and after. Gimme a week or so and it will be done. :D

This is similar to the intake manifold "turtles" that became popular on the Mopar Magnum engines. Basically, a small pyramid bolted to the flat bottom of the intake manifold to help direct air towards the runners. Multiple designs are offered based on RPM range.
These have been independantly proven to add a couple hp.

http://www.dakota-durango.com/aftermarket/turtles1.jpg

Yeeeeeeehhhhhhaaaa,ride'm cowboy!

Maybe laminar flow...
 

... is not the correct term, but rather "less turbulent flow".
I'll be posting a video later this week where you'll be able to see the increased efficiency of the TechnoTorque.
Also, the piece is designed for the lower RPMs, where additional torque is needed.
At high RPMs, let's say at 6000 RPM, a 2.5L engine will be sucking in 7,500 liters of air per minute so at this speed, efficiency is out the window. It really doesn't matter that much if the inside of the Tee is smooth or not.
But at idle (800 RPM) it's only sucking in 1,000 liters of air, or 7.5 times less air. Here the smoother the walls are the more efficient the flow will be from the low RPMs.
That's why we see an increase in Torque at lower RPMs and no change basically in the HP curve.
Happy Boxstering,
Pedro

Attached is a picture of a CFD (fluid dynamic modeling) model that I ran to illustrate what's actually going on in the "T". No offense to Pedro at all with the following description, I'd just like to help clear things up a bit.

The center of the air channel from the throttle body will enter the "T" and stagnate (stop) as it hits the back wall. This builds a "wedge" of high pressure air at the center of the "T". This essentially does automatically what the little plastic wedge of the technotorque does.

The shape of the wedge created by the air itself isn't necessarily ideal and will change with flow and time, so the shape of the technotorque may help to slightly improve flow, but without analysis and testing of several iterations (like CFD or a flow bench), it's lucky if it does. It can just as easily impede the airflow and hurt power.

I believe that the polishing of the runner probably has as much (if not more) to do with the power improvement than the wedge itself.

Now notice that the flow as it goes sideways entering the horizontal tube, flattens out. Leaving more than half the tube to useless recirculation. The flow at the "top" of the horizontal tube in the picture actually just flows in a big circle! We call that recirculation. This increases the air velocity, leading to pressure losses in the junction.

The big benefit to the IPD plenum isn't the wedge at the base of the "T", it's the fact that the vertical tube in my picture gradually gets wider before opening into the T and has nice, rounded edges as it transitions to the horizontal. This helps the air to make the 90 degree turn while better sicking to the walls of the tube. This makes MUCH better use of the horizontal tube volume and significantly lowers the overall pressure drop through the "T".

BTW - The plenum is the shape it is for manufacturing simplicity and cost. There isn't enough of a benefit to power or drive-ability to justify the extra cost of optimizing the part from a manufacturer's perspective. Porsche went as far as they saw prudent with cost for performance in mind. So don't think everything's perfect with this car, it's as good as Porsche decided to make it considering the costs of manufacture.

Interesting... thanks for posting!

No offense taken...
 

... as a matter of fact I applaud and welcome these discussions, since they help to enlighten us all.

Your fluid dynamic model of the plenum's Tee is very impressive and most likely correct, if there was no throttle body and butterfly valve controlling the airflow.

Because we have a throttle body with a butterfly valve, the flow of air into the Tee does not come from the center of the air channel, but through two crescent moon-shaped opening on the sides of the air channel. These variable openings, whose area is dictated by the position of the accelerator pedal, create all sorts of turbulence within the Tee.

When I started with my experiments I took a tee and made a clear porthole on its top so that I could see what was happening inside. Inside the Tee I had attached small streamers (much like those on the sails of a sailboat) which allowed me to see the airflow through the Tee from idle to wide-open throttle.
I also ran other visual experiments which I will document shortly with a short video showing the improved performance of the airflow.

Happy Boxstering,
Pedro

The stagnation and separation will still be present, even with the throttle plate there.

I'm not good at fluid dynamics - but would the analysis paint a different picture for pressure versus suction?

Nope, same thing as far as fluids is concerned.

reason for the question is that with suction, cavitation can occur whereas with push stagnation maybe but no cavitation.

It's more complicated than that, technically.

Cavitation refers to the phenomenon in which a liquid flow experiences local low pressure such that it changes phase to a gas. In this case, we are already talking about a gas, so there's no possibility for cavitation to occur.

Is TechnoTorque wedge providing the necessary solid feature to maintain low Cg and assist air flow?

Blue
That is a good visual of what takes place inside the stock plenum. Adding a small wedge to the center may reduce the pressure zone and improve flow a bit. Testing will confirm this. :cheers:

To add to what you have shown here remember that intake airflow is not a continuous stream but a pulse or wavelets that vary with RPM. As these wavelets stack up against the TEE they produce resonant standing waves which react a little differently than a continuous stream. In a well tuned intake these standing waves will reinforce intake airflow at desired RPMs. Changing the intake design and resonant frequency will sometimes cause these standing waves to impede intake airflow. As you said, testing is the key.

I'll second that. It basically allows a stock plenum to do what the IPD one does. That said, I have an IPD with a 3.4 throttle body bolted onto my 2.5->2.9 and I do think that it made a difference, but Pedro's solution looks just as good (and cheaper).

Thanks Charles...
 

... your comments mean a lot to me.
Happy Boxstering,
Pedro

This product looks promising. Someone needs to buy it and do an independent dyno test!

I buy the overall concept as a lot of people swear by the IPD/RSS/Mike's Turbo plenum that's the same type of design, just higher quality. A couple points of note though:

You've got a GTech windshield mounted device serving as hard data with such a slight difference between the curves.... Why on earth wasn't a real dyno used???

Port and polish.... come on! What exactly are you porting? The part in question is PLASTIC. How on earth are you going to really port that without making the plastic walls thinner and more brittle? Are you maybe knife edging the outlet side?

I've had the T after the throttle out on my '00 Boxster S. I must be really lucky as mine was already smooth inside from the factory.... perfectly smooth inside, no resin flash, no seams, no need for a polish. That's specifically why I had it apart, to look for a port and polish opportunity there and I saw little, if anything, you could gain without likewise porting the throttle body and also potentially compromising the integrity of the part. Because of the way the stock hoses and throttle connect I also saw no gain from knife edging the part. So I'm certainly curious as to what you've done!

Other than these points (and I am very skeptical by nature) I think the product has some real potential.

Kirk

I went on the web for boxster engine and found what was titled as 2007 S engine.
the drawing shows a cutaway view of the intake plenum.
there appears to be left/right fence on the main tube and what I am suspecting as a split butterfly plate that adjusts the angle with air speed?? pic attached

if so, Techno Torque features are quite in-line with latest boxster engine intake design!

Let me try to go point-by-point:

The reason why I prefer the G-Tech is because you get a real-life test, where the vehicle is actually accelerating it's own mass while moving through the air.
If you first establish a base it can be quite accurate as to gains or losses.
I generally do 10 runs, throw out the high and the low and average the remaining 8.

Porting can be slight. I'm not talking 1/8 inch here, just taking out the mold seams.
I can guarantee that there are many of them on the new parts. I purchase the parts directly from Porsche and I have yet to find one without the mold seams.
You must have been very lucky to have gotten a perfect one. I've yet to see one in my 13 years of dealing with Boxsters.
Polishing and sealing is one of the best features, because it prevents oil droplets and dirt to collect on the Tee which normally they do generating air turbulence.

But, as promised, I took the time to prepare a short video on the subject, which I recommend any interested or skeptical person take a look.
I go on to explain the mechanics of the part and show some of the experiments I performed to convince myself that there are true gains of airflow efficiency.

Hope you enjoy it.
Happy Boxstering,
Pedro

You can see it on PedrosGarage.com TechnoTorque webpage, scrolling to the bottom of the page: http://www.pedrosgarage.com/Site_2/TechnoTorque.html

Thanks for pointing that out.
That's one of the reasons why I couldn't get any better performance from the 987s.
Those cars were tweaked by the factory to get the most and just about any change you make will result in a net loss of either HP or Torque or both.

Happy Boxstering,
Pedro

Oh my gosh....I was laughing soo hard at the start of your video. :p

I will be ordering one from you shortly.