Ron Hatton's "gadgetmen" use a Dremel tool to cut a groove in the throttle body. The modification takes about an hour and is reversible through epoxy. Somehow, the air turbulence that is set up by that groove has the effect of increasing horsepower, torque, and mileage, while decreasing emissions.
 A groove is made in the throttle body from my Dodge Caravan, by Dave Richardson. |
Ron Hatton ("Gadgetman") says he has come up with a simple way to significantly improve the mileage in normally-aspirated gasoline engines. All he does is use a Dremel tool to cut a groove of specific dimensions, around 1/8 inch deep, in the throttle body. The modification takes about an hour and is reversible through epoxy. It shouldn't affect the vehicle's warranty.
Somehow, the air turbulence that is set up by that groove has the effect of increasing horsepower, torque, and mileage, while decreasing emissions. Perhaps it is another manifestation of the famous Schauberger effect.
Simulation of air passing by the
grooves, creating turbulence.
The mileage increase is typically between 25 and 35 percent, though some reports are much higher than that; and a few show little, if any change. So far, it seems that older cars achieve better improvement than newer cars, because the computerized controls of the newer cars usually tend to work against the effect. Ron said that approximately 85% of the vehicles that have been modified with this groove have had mileage gains in excess of 20%. So far, the best results apparently have been found on 1996 - 2004 Fords.
Ron says he has filed for patents on the design as well as on the bits; and that he is training dealers/installers from all over the globe to make this modification. He himself has modified around 200 engines.
On Dec. 2, 2009, I had one of Ron's dealers in Salt Lake City, Dave Richardson, do the modification on my Dodge Caravan, 2005; 3.3L, V6. It took him about 55 minutes. I noticed a definite kick in acceleration when first starting out, though that could be a function of the more immediate air volume coming in due to the grooves.
Dave showed me his before and after dynamometer test results from the modification he made on his own truck. It shows a 15 horsepower increase and 8 foot-pounds of torque increase across the board.
On Dec. 5, 2009, I finished the first full tank of gas since the installation, and calculated that my mileage for that 392-mile stretch, using 16.6 gallons, came to 23.6 mpg. During that time, most of our travel was highway, but some (approximately 15%) was city driving. According to FuelEconomy.gov, my vehicle typically gets 16 mpg city, and 23 mpg highway. (With my recent move, I've misplaced the baseline data I accumulated last summer.) So our improvement in comparison to the average rating, was roughly in the region of 10% -- nothing to brag about, but still significant and worth while.
One thing that is admirable about the Gadgetman site is that it publishes all mileage reports, including the mediocre ones, as well as a few that actually saw their mileage get worse.
At this early phase, they are still anxious to increase their database; and they are still making decisions about how much to charge for the modification; so you are likely to be able to get a good deal on your install. Dave did mine for free. He personally wants to accumulate more data before going all out on this venture.
The installations come with a satisfaction guarantee.
See our coverage at http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Gadgetman_Groove
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See also |
Comments
Look at the pictures of Donna Scott (from testimonial page). The 2 pictures are obviously showing 2 different women.
Also J. Shelby Christian-Goodyear, AZ-1999 GMC 1500. It is not a GMC (as noted by Ecomodder community).
Also, the 100% warranty doesn't add up with the "I make no promises...".
Maybe Sterling you can help shining some light...
I was not responsible for the erroneous identification in the photos. They were submitted by my team in South Africa exactly as they were posted.
Gadgetman
I wold like to know moor about your gadget. wold you give me a call I am not much on p.c. 870-500-3090 home 870-305-1177 please call soon RICK
This is not a Gadgetman Technologies page, so is not monitored by Gadgetman or crew.
Please refer all requests to www.GadgetmanGroove.com.
Ron Hatton
Gadgetman
The December 7, 2009 report (on the peswicki-Gadgetman) page of getting less fuel mileage in the winter because of denser air, makes no sense.
I normally get better mileage when the weather cools off. Racers sometimes use ice packs on their fuel and intake systems so the incoming air will be denser, creating more power.
The reduction in mileage is a common occurrence in most areas. This is due to the BTU content of both the fuel and the intake air.
Modern engines rely mostly on BTU transfer to facilitate combustion. With the drop in temps, it takes more energy to vaporize the fuel prior to combustion, resulting in reduced mileage.
Why your vehicle gets better mileage may be due to the unique configuration of your engine's controls and the change in fuel chemistry. I would like to know more about his event. Contact me via www.GadgetmanGroove.com so we can explore why this is happening.
Ron Hatton
Gadgetman
This story would be much more interesting if someone in it had cancer.
What you cited is not data-- it's a random guess and likely to be entirely wrong. Want respect? Get two throttle bodies, one modified and one not. Get a mechanic to install either one (you shouldn't know which it is) and run a precise dynamometer test at some constant speed and load for at least an hour. Measure fuel consumption with a graduated cylinder. Then have the mechanic switch the throttle bodies. Again, you don't know which is which. Rerun the test and compare the results.
Running a tank of gas through a car to measure a subtle mileage improvement is a joke. Might as well flip a coin. Comparing it to EPA data is so dumb it's barely worth commenting on.
Will grooving a throttle body give you 35% improvement in mileage? If you can prove it well enough to publish a paper in a refereed journal or pass a test from an outfit like date line, I'll eat a hat and donate $1000 on the spot to your favorite charity.
Put up or shut up and stop wasting everyone's time.
I would love to take you up on your challenge, Mary!
Please e-mail me through my site and we'll discuss it.
Ron Hatton
Gadgetman
My final report on Throttle body groves/Mods
This morning (Wed Sep 09, 2009 1:59 pm) I was able to do a bunch of Dyno runs on the 2000 Ford/Mercury and 3 modified Throttle bodies.
First was the Stock TB results were HP 189 Torque 134 FP which I had been driving on for the past week.
Then a Stock 70 MM and we got same HP and Torque. (a popular mod over the stock 65mm TB.)
The we Tested Ron's Hatton's TB Mod, (Gadgetman Groove) this was one of the three he did on my two cars and one Chevy Van, on the dyno the Mercury had no change…no improvement.
Last my most modified version, this was based on about four versions, so as we were getting nowhere I put on the last one and got: 4 more HP 193 and 135 FP torque.
I did not test MrCarbJB version, as I was unable to drive the ONE he did for me. Your results may be different. The one he did for me was too much, the car could not hold speed, with his the slightest opening caused the car to speed up.
I believe this "Gentleman" is the same gentleman that attempted to steal my technology, if it's Rich Corrigan, long before he understood the dynamics, and even before I had a good grasp on what was happening.
Not a trustworthy source.
I recommend going to www.YouTube.com/GadgetmanGlobal and hear what over 100 of my customers have to say.
Rich, there are always consequences to every action. May you reap the full results of yours.
Ron Hatton
Gadgetman
Sso you had to drive by opening and closing the throttle ALL the time..Cruise control was totally unusable..!!
So far I had more luck with the Dutchman HAFC: at lease out of 5 cars we got some gains..so far I have seen no real improvement, no MPG change on my personal cars: 2000 Mercury, 1991 Toyota, 1993 Chevy Van all got the Gadgetman Grove done by Mr. Hatton himself....
Before this dyno testing of my Mercury, I had helping Ron modified a TB on a 2005 Dodge Durango and a 1965 Chevy Impala with a 4 barrel Carb.
On the Dyno the Dodge with a 5.7 Hemi seemed to gain 14 HP. The Chevy with the Carb got perhaps 2 to 4 HP gain after about 5 runs and some tweaking...
Meanwhile my two cars and Van got no MPG improvement and I have done a couple of gas pump to pump 100 miles testing of EACH car and Van.
The owner of the Dodge truck took a road trip, one he has done a few times before the Mod in the same truck and reported no improvement, no change in driving and no change in MPG.
The owner of the Chevy Impala has not done any testing, we really expected major changes on the Dyno as per Ron's Claims, when none showed up we gave up. Ron had said a normal carbed car will REALLY RESPONCE to his mod... so our expectations was very high on this one...and it was a big nothing..
Bottom line: 5 Modifications all done by Ron himself, 5 cars with no improvement in MPG nor power. 5 failures with not one improvement other that a couple of them getting a slight feeling of a sharper take off.
MORE:
As I was driving Ron around for about four weeks he had plenty of time to offer to make changes or improvements on my Mercury, he never did, it was accepted that there was nothing more to be done.
The only possible change/improvement is the throttle response time, as the body is cut away from the normal flat plain, the drop cause the throttle opening to be faster, and thus gives a fast seat of the pants feeling of a more responsive and faster car off line.
Iin my Van this drops off as I pass the Groove and return to the stock TB Bore....this cause a very notable stumble.
As I had bought about a dozen throttle bodies and tried a bunch of different concepts, I found the only one that gave a smoother seat of the paints feeling was to simply open the back end from the throttle plate to match the intake's opening. On the Mercury this took a 65 MM opening to the 70 MM opening in the intake.
Using a Stock 70 MM Throttle body did not seem to give this change or feeling of more throttle response.
The change is a simple one: The only possible change is the throttle response time, as the body is cut away from the normal flat plain, the drop cause the throttle opening to be faster and thus gives a fast seat of the pants feeling of a more responsive and faster car.
I am a member of a Ford site so I have offered them free, just pay the shipping: and so far of the four or five I have given away:
Tthe reports have been a slight improvement in throttle response.
This trick is the bases of both Ron’s and McCarb versions. Both have cuts opening the throttle body right at the throttle plate. When you touch the throttle this cut or larger than normal opening makes the car seem hotter and more powerful, in fact all your doing is snapping the throttle opening and using MORE AIR and thus MORE fuel.
On Ron’s this surge drops out as you open the throttle more, on my van it makes the engine stumble at take off, it jumps and them drops down as I open the throttle more passing the opening…and returning to the stock bore.
This can use more fuel as all your doing it opening the throttle faster than stock.
Both Ron and McCarb clime this improves MPG as your getting more power with less throttle: You use less peddle as their opening of the body give you the opening you would have with MORE peddle…the mod does it FOR you…it can fool you into thinking it is making power out of nowhere
I totally dropped Ron’s version, and went with a Hot Rod Magazine’s article on Throttle mods, and did the opening on only the back end of the throttle body by opening it from 65 to 70 MM on a 12 inch Lathe and getting a smoother faster throttle opening.
I have not had time to switch out the ones he did on my van or the Toyota, both have no real improvement yet. Van still jumps off line and then due to a flaw in the design stumbles as I pass the grove (in the throttle bore) and return to the stock bore. I don't like it.
The Ford is running one of my versions with only a faster response to the pedal and no mileage nor real power improvement. In fact mileage seems a touch lower (1 or 2 MPG) and I am planning on returning it to stock to see if I might pick up a couple of MPG stock, and with a less jackrabbit take off.
UPDATE: I have returned my Ford to its stock Throttle Body and we find it works better...we could not pull away from a light without jumping/jackrabbit starts.
It was fun to feel like the car had more power until I found it was a waste of time and seemed to use more fuel doing Jack rabbit starts all the time.
And if I want the power with the stock TB all I have to do is just push a little harder on the gas and it is all there still.
Well I put back the stock throttle body and got about 1.3 MPG improvement.
And the car is a little more subdued in its jump off the line from the modified TB.
For what this is worth.
This is what I personally have seen and the test results are what I have gotten.
I really wanted this to work. It has not for me.
I cannot say it will not work on other cars, only that is did not on all these cars and trucks. 3 Personal and 2 owned by others.
Rich
Ouch, for the report to make sense you need to go to the lowest one and rear upward...
Could not put all of it in one peice.
I like how many saw the BS and reported on it.
Rich
Also, the 100% warranty: He will use JB Weld expoxie to fill in the grove.
I will never put a cunck of expoxie in the intake and count on it staying put, so what could happen if/when it breaks loss and is sucked into you motor??
Cheaper to buy a replacement TB in a Junk Yard than risk your motor.
Rich
Whoever this Rich is, I think if he were to call me or contact me I could handle all his questions.
Of course, when I complete the National Lab Tests this weekend, THAT should cause a pretty good stir!
The Gadgetman "Groove" will be a "work in progress" forever, because it does not work. The only "gains" that are being made are in Ron Hatton's bank account. Buyer Beware!
Why is it you have no name on this accusation? Here, you appear to be degrading me, and not considering the evidence at hand.
Please check your data before casting aspersions. Here, you are falling into the mainstream attitude, which never solved a single problem, but has successfully engendered things like the Spanish Inquisition.
As you have no experience with my technology, perhaps you would care to challenge me directly. I would be more than willing to address this challenge in a public manner, should you wish to come out of the shadows.
My name is Ron Hatton and I am responsible.
Wowsy wowsy woo-woo!
based on what I read here, I know this "Rich" character, and he is REALLY going to be in trouble if it is the man I'm thinking!
Anyway, I have got many dyno reports showing very substantial improvements in HP, Torque, and hundreds of testimonials with mileage reports, many available at www.YouTube.com/GadgetmanGlobal. Take a look yourself.
Don't be fooled by those who scream their discontent. If it IS the guy I'm thinking about (is that you, "Rich"?) he attempted to steal the initial stage of my designs and actually tried to sell "HIS" modification on E-bay!
After a year and a half, I have learned a LOT about this new technology and I challenge anyone in the Phoenix area to contact me. If they will agree to document the entire process and report on it here, I would love the opportunity to set the record straight!
I can be reached through Gadgetman at Gadgetman Technologies.com
My name is Ron Hatton.
I AM responsible!
after installing a groove behind the throttle plate, when throttle plate opens a little, it lets in huge amounts of air into the throttlebody to drive your rpms through the roof. the groove is cut too close to the throttle plate and you wouldnt be able to control acceleration. seems like more power, but its only because the groove is tricking the throttle plate, to think its opened more, the more air that gets sucked in the throttle body, the more gas it feeds to the cylinders. the gas pedal is hooked up to the throttle plate with a throttle cable. so when you step on the gas, the plate opens more, regulating rpms and speed.
if you put a groove behind the plate, rpms are only controlled at idle, as soon as you touch the gas pedal. it will be like you are flooring it. because things cant regulate. SORRY BUDDY YOU ARENT PUTTING THE GROOVES ON MY GIRL!!! I DONT NEED A GROOVE FOR SHE NEEDS TO FEEL MY FOOT ONCE IN A WHILE, AND NOT ALL THE TIME! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. JOKE!
I am glad to see someone else out there experimenting with this method!
What you installed was almost certainly not my design, so it does not reflect what I do. For a more correct explanation of the principles behind this technology, please visit my YouTube channel, www.YouTube.com/GadgetmanGlobal.
If you would, on the other hand, like to test my modification, done by my own hands, then contact me and we will discuss it.
Ron Hatton
Gadgetman
Good luck!
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