Possibly a very cool engine mod for power AND mileage...

[jonrpick]

http://www.omnivalves.com/

I read about this a couple of years ago... The Omnivalve is an intake valve that replaces the stock valve. It's a 2-piece design. It has a floating "seat" incorporated into the valve, between the valve seat in the head and the valve itself.

The idea is, the floating seat moves based on pressure. If you have a really aggressive cam, you'll have a lot of valve overlap. You'll also have reduced vacuum at idle, and less low-end torque. In such an engine, when the piston starts moving upward on the compression stroke, where you'd normally lose some air/fuel back up the still-open intake valve, the floating seat moves toward the valve seat (because of the increased pressure in the cylinder) and stops any loss.

It's 100% dynamic based on what the engine is doing. No electronics or moving parts. Works with forced induction.

The valve is supposed to let an aggressive cam do it's thing in the upper RPMs while still preserving low-end torque, like a really short-duration cam would.

Check out this page on the site... awesome numbers on an LS-1.

http://www.omnivalves.com/news-photos.html

Discuss...

 

[jonrpick]

BTW, these guys are not marketing geniuses... they're site leaves much to be desired.

Their claims of a transmissionless car are kinda stupid. But the valve itself seems to have some sound thought behind it.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

There was a huge thread on those on pirate a while back.

http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=604213&highlight=omnivalve

Awesome idea IMO.

 

[Thunder]

Varible lifters have been around for many years.
http://www.rhoadslifters.com/

How are those omni valves any better?

Varible lifters... varible valves......... Still mega expensive.

 

[jonrpick]

There was a huge thread on those on pirate a while back.

http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=604213&highlight=omnivalve

Awesome idea IMO.

I think I first saw this in '06... (just double checked... I was emailed the guy that owns the company in Jan. '07)

He said they can make them in any size, as long as you supply the measurement.

I have all these ideas in my head. Some probably not practical, although I won't be convinced unless I try for myself. That's kind of what my thread about the power requirements of pushing a K5 down the road is all about. I am wondering what the absolute minimum you would need to get down the road. Having a power reserve for acceleration, passing and hills would be important (obviously) but I'm wondering how far the envelope can be pushed for the sake of fuel economy and still have a usable vehicle.

 

[jonrpick]

Varible lifters have been around for many years.
http://www.rhoadslifters.com/

How are those omni valves any better?

Varible lifters... varible valves......... Still mega expensive.

Not the same... I've looked at those. The lifters vary lift and duration. The valve varies duration only. And the main purpose is restoring lost low-end (similar to the lifters) except as far as I've read, the lifters are more limiting in how big of a cam you can run.

$240 isn't a great deal to spend on something like this if it performs as promised.

 

[Thunder]

Well it would be cool if they worked. I read the website and it is interesting.
I have VVT on my Toyota Highlander. It is a 0 to 60 mph in a little over 7 seconds SUV. That gets 26- 27 MPG at 65 mph on the highway.

 

[jonrpick]

Well it would be cool if they worked. I read the website and it is interesting.
I have VVT on my Toyota Highlander. It is a 0 to 60 mph in a little over 7 seconds SUV. That gets 26- 27 MPG at 65 mph on the highway.

Yeah, this is essentially analog VVT, lol...

If I understand it correct, it'll make a very flat torque "curve" all the way to peak before dropping off.

So, theoretically, if you build it to peak at 6000rpm, it should make very good torque (and vacuum) even at idle.