Throtle body bypass question
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 896
Likes: 1
From: Ewing NJ
Throtle body bypass question
Upon the recommendation of several of my C5 buddies, I purchased the throttle body bypass pipe that goes on the coolant hose. The instructions say (I actually did read them) that this bypass device is "strongly not recommended" for climates where the ambient temps are likely to go below freezing. Well here in NJ the temps are doing just that. Should I wait until spring to install this gadget, or install it now and see what happens?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Kerrville, Texas USA Hook 'em Horns!
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
I agree with the others. It is a total waste of time and money. Return it to where you purchased it from and get your money back. 
Night Owl for life
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 24,719
Likes: 4,556
From: Bugs Bunny should'a made a left turn here
if you look at just about all the claims made in the aftermarket catalogs that say they add 5hp here and 7hp there, you'd end up with the power of a c6 z06 after installing everything!
just about all the claims have been debunked by real world purchases and use.
just about all the claims have been debunked by real world purchases and use.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,202
Likes: 3
From: somwhere Texas
Originally Posted by jdmvette
if you look at just about all the claims made in the aftermarket catalogs that say they add 5hp here and 7hp there, you'd end up with the power of a c6 z06 after installing everything!
just about all the claims have been debunked by real world purchases and use.
just about all the claims have been debunked by real world purchases and use.
this is false. sounds like someone is to cheep to buy mods. 
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Night Owl for life
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Bugs Bunny should'a made a left turn here
Originally Posted by b98
this is false. sounds like someone is to cheep to buy mods. i don't get what you're referring to? what is false? who is too cheap?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,218
Likes: 1
From: Cresskill NJ
Originally Posted by Frozenfire
Apparently the people who sell these things lied too. While we're on the subject of debunking, how about the Vararam velocity stack. Does it do what it claims?
You would be better off spending some time and porting and polishing your throttle body. I had one on my car from the previous owner, but I took it off and ported and polished my TB, which is essentially what the velocity stack is trying to accomplish. If you saw it it's the cheapest looking little piece of plastic and has no place being on a Vette.
This is what you would have instead with the TB, I think it's worth the time:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 836
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From: Colorado Springs, Colo., USA
Given the physics, your throttle body can ice up at temperatures ABOVE freezing, if conditions are right. Most assuredly DO NOT install this on your car, unless you live in southern CA or AZ, where freezing or near freezing temperatures are not heard of. Even then I question the impact of this mod, based on years of owning two Corvettes and attempting to stay on top of the research and owner reports.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati OH
Originally Posted by JH
Given the physics, your throttle body can ice up at temperatures ABOVE freezing, if conditions are right. Most assuredly DO NOT install this on your car, unless you live in southern CA or AZ, where freezing or near freezing temperatures are not heard of. Even then I question the impact of this mod, based on years of owning two Corvettes and attempting to stay on top of the research and owner reports.
Its not physics its chemistry.
Also, I don't understand why this would not be a good mod. If you want to get the coldest (most dense, also chemistry) air into you intake why would you run it through a 200+ deg. throttle body? Its called heat transfer.
Also has anyone experienced the throttle body freezing up because of the bypass?
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 30
From: San Rafael CA
Originally Posted by kevin40zx
Its not physics its chemistry.
Also, I don't understand why this would not be a good mod. If you want to get the coldest (most dense, also chemistry) air into you intake why would you run it through a 200+ deg. throttle body? Its called heat transfer.
Also has anyone experienced the throttle body freezing up because of the bypass?
Also, I don't understand why this would not be a good mod. If you want to get the coldest (most dense, also chemistry) air into you intake why would you run it through a 200+ deg. throttle body? Its called heat transfer.
Also has anyone experienced the throttle body freezing up because of the bypass?
A cubic foot is 1728 cu inches ... so you are pulling in about 303 cubic feet of air per minute through the throttle body (at 3000 rpm). That's a LOT of air, and it is moving very fast through the TB. The amount of heat transfered to the air changes the intake air temperature by a very small amount.
The TB is warmed so that the mechanical parts themselves don't condense water on them and then have it freeze, it is not done to heat the intake air. The TB bypass can only hurt in cold weather, and is of no measurable benefit in warm or hot weather.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
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From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
You actually should be okay by installing it! as for an upgrade in performance: well I did it for the simple fact that when it is a 106 at my house and the temp is up I really don't want hot coolant runnin' through the TB! and when I do any pulling of the manifold and or TB I don't have to have it spill all over the place .
Thanks,Matt
.Thanks,Matt
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,006
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From: Cincinnati OH
Originally Posted by BlackZ06
Figure it this way .... 350 cubic inch engine inhales that amount of air every 2 revolutions of the crankshaft ... so ..... at 3000 rpm your engine is pulling in 350 x 1500 = 525,000 cu inches of air.
A cubic foot is 1728 cu inches ... so you are pulling in about 303 cubic feet of air per minute through the throttle body (at 3000 rpm). That's a LOT of air, and it is moving very fast through the TB. The amount of heat transfered to the air changes the intake air temperature by a very small amount.
The TB is warmed so that the mechanical parts themselves don't condense water on them and then have it freeze, it is not done to heat the intake air. The TB bypass can only hurt in cold weather, and is of no measurable benefit in warm or hot weather.
A cubic foot is 1728 cu inches ... so you are pulling in about 303 cubic feet of air per minute through the throttle body (at 3000 rpm). That's a LOT of air, and it is moving very fast through the TB. The amount of heat transfered to the air changes the intake air temperature by a very small amount.
The TB is warmed so that the mechanical parts themselves don't condense water on them and then have it freeze, it is not done to heat the intake air. The TB bypass can only hurt in cold weather, and is of no measurable benefit in warm or hot weather.
Look alls I'm a sayin is air passing through a cold TB will be cooler than air passing through a 200+ deg. TB. I completely understand the purpose of a heated TB. If you don't believe me run you car, park it, touch the TB for a split second and see if feels hot. TADA HEAT TRANSFER
Q=U*A*deltaTHas anyone ever experienced the throttleboddy freezing?