Full Throttle
The Throttle Body Spacer Debate
On many automotive forums, questions abound about throttle body spacers and their potential to deliver serious performance gains. For an easy installation and relatively inexpensive part, it may seem like a no-brainer. However, many remain skeptical of the hype and denounce them as expensive paper weights.
Before we get into the debate, let’s first describe how the throttle body works. The throttle body is part of the air intake system in a fuel injection engine. The throttle body regulates the amount of air that flows into the engine based on input from the accelerator. Throttle bodies are most often located between the air filter and intake manifold. The throttle body is also often attached or near the mass airflow sensor.
Inside the throttle body is the throttle plate. This is the largest piece inside the throttle body. It is the butterfly valve that controls the airflow into the intake manifold. When the accelerator is pressed, the throttle plate opens and allows air to rush into the intake manifold. The more air that flows into the intake the better, since this allows the engine to produce more power.
The throttle body spacer is a metal piece that is installed onto a throttle body. The piece is designed to increase the speed of the air within the throttle body assembly and change the airflow so that the fuel can “atomize more efficiently”. Throttle body spacers also claim to house a larger amount of air within the throttle body assembly so that the engine doesn’t have to work as hard to suck air into the engine. These modifications in the air intake assembly supposedly allow for performance gains such as higher horse power, torque and fuel efficiency.
While the benefits sound impressive and the product is fairly inexpensive and easy to install, many have stated that the gains don’t live up to the claims. Some throttle body spacers claim an increase of up to 18 horse power, 4 miles per gallon and 25 lb/ft of torque. This sounds a little too optimistic.
Opponents of the throttle body spacer movement point out that if such gains were possible from this simple installation all major auto manufacturers would implement the piece into their vehicles. In some forums, members reference university projects that have tested the performance gains from throttle body spacers. One experiment included a small block V8, which required the throttle body spacer to be about a meter long for any measurable gains to be present. A smaller engine that didn’t require as much air would need an even longer throttle body spacer.
Even if the big performance gains aren’t present for your vehicle, there may be some additional benefits from the throttle body spacers. Some say it can act as a heat sink, which will keep the throttle body cooler. Others declare that the lengthening of the throttle body may increase low end power. The shiny metal may also add an attractive accent under the hood if you are concerned with aesthetics. It has been observed by some that the throttle body spacer may create a faint whistling noise, which could be very useful if you are interested in tricking people into thinking you have a turbo setup.
As with any performance product, results will vary. Go to a forum dedicated to your specific make and model and see what kind of results others are reporting with their throttle body spacer install. If enough people are raving about the benefits, you may want to throw a throttle body spacer into your rig next weekend.
Follow these links to see a Throttle Body, Throttle Body Spacers and Air Intakes.
About the Author
Jeff Hensel is an automotive enthusiast with a broad range of interests.
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