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Red bullet installed

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by Montgomery, Oct 8, 2019.

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  1. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    Hi All,

    I tried posting this in the Red Bullet thread but it wouldn’t work. So I am starting this thread.

    Here’s my unscientific results of installing the Red Bullet:

    · Better acceleration. Doesn’t feel like you are pushing your foot into a pillow. Stronger pedal feel

    · Gets up to 40 miles per hour faster and with less effort.

    · Usually, when I drive from car being cold, it takes over 6 miles of driving for my mpg to start climbing. With the Red Bullet, it went from 41.2mpg to 43.9mpg in under 3 miles.

    · It is getting my car in the EV mode much faster.

    · It feels like it drives in between the ECO and PWR mode now.

    As soon as I get on a freeway, I will see how it does when passing another vehicle.

    Attached are pics of my install today. Enjoy!
     

    Attached Files:

    #1 Montgomery, Oct 8, 2019
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  2. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Well, some may say you're exaggerating a bit... I do know my buddy in a 2010 improved his 1/4 mile time buy a second with a similar device.
     
    #2 PriusCamper, Oct 8, 2019
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  3. ice9

    ice9 Active Member

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    Long distance MPG?
     
    #3 ice9, Oct 9, 2019
  4. mr88cet

    mr88cet Senior Member

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    OK, I give up: What’s a Red Bullet? Other than, best I can tell from the pictures, something red that replaces something silver, plugged into the cylinder head, and (I think; hard to see for sure) does not have an electrical connection, whereas what it replaces does?

    I giggled (er, I mean, “googled”) “red bullet in various forms albeit didn’t find anything particularly relevant.
     
    #4 mr88cet, Oct 9, 2019
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  5. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Trade name for an aftermarket oil control valve. It’s got an oversized solenoid relative to the stock part, so it can effect faster changes in the variable valve timing system.
     
    #5 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, Oct 9, 2019
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  6. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    It makes the car ride closer to the 2017 prius. I will finish my full tank of gas and see what the difference is.
     
    #6 Montgomery, Oct 9, 2019
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  7. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    One quick note. With my model Prius, you want to be in the "normal" mode for the best results. My model has "normal", "ECO" and "Power". In normal mode, you definitely feel a more aggressive response from 0-40 excelleration but I still maintain the same mpg (watching the mpg gage). In ECO mode, a slight reduction in response, same mpg. In power mode...............Instant exceleration!!

    Freeway passing is also much easier with quicke response. Overall, I am pleased with the purchase. If you want a little more "kick" in your exceleration, this product is great without a loss of mpg.
     
    #7 Montgomery, Oct 13, 2019
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  8. ice9

    ice9 Active Member

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    Slight REDUCTION in response? Compared to what? Reduction in response compared to the increased response in Normal Mode with Red Bullet, or reduction in response compared to ECO mode without Red Bullet?
     
    #8 ice9, Oct 13, 2019
  9. meeder

    meeder Active Member

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    Are there any measured differences done in a reproducible manner? I have seen a lot of anecdotal evidence but no data which shows a real effect on cam timing and response.
     
    #9 meeder, Oct 14, 2019
  10. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Lol, ask that question about some of the details of your personal life and you'll get a sense of the best answer to that question.
     
    #10 PriusCamper, Oct 14, 2019
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  11. gliderman

    gliderman Active Member

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    Lol, I haven't seen any anecdotal evidence. But I have seen a lot of hyperbole.
     
    #11 gliderman, Oct 14, 2019
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  12. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Yeah I gave up hoping for test results from these things. I think mystery is the point.
     
    #12 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, Oct 14, 2019
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  13. meeder

    meeder Active Member

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    My Idea is that if there is some glaring deficiency in the OEM solenoid, wouldn't Toyota have dealt with it yet? If a different solenoid gives more power, better response and better mileage wouldn't they look in to it?
     
    #13 meeder, Oct 14, 2019
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  14. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Don’t assume they haven’t looked into it. They might not have liked some other aspect of it.

    It could be a case of “good enough” for $3 vs. “better” for $15. They have to draw the line somewhere when choosing components.
     
    #14 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, Oct 14, 2019
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  15. StarCaller

    StarCaller Senior Member

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    my experience is rather like this
    more power: no
    better response: yes
    better mileage: no

    from my experience for sure not worth close to US $150.-
    but then, what do I know as a full prize paying 'not-senior-member' (senior member defined as 'a member with a lot of contributing record' per the red bullet seller).... :LOL:
     
    #15 StarCaller, Oct 14, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2019
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  16. Greenteapri

    Greenteapri Active Member

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    Screenshot_20191015-172953_eBay.jpg
     
    #16 Greenteapri, Oct 15, 2019
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  17. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    Say what you will. My results are real and are happening for me and on my car. Nothing has been imagined. Nothing scientific, as, I have nothing to measure with scientifically nor am I a specialist in that field of automotive experimentations. I will say this, for me, it was worth the purchase purely from an exceleration/passing mode while maintaining the same mileage. Does my car perform like a rocket out of hell? Nope! But I wasn't really expecting that. If I have been fooled, or duped, or as some have suggested, "drank the Koolaid", then so be it. If I am a "senior member" with special privleges, thats new to me. :) I guess, we may really never know the scientific side of the Red Bullet, till one of those in Priuschat who is knowledgeable and has the scientific equipment gets to test it out.
     
    #17 Montgomery, Oct 15, 2019
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  18. gliderman

    gliderman Active Member

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    The only thing you get is a quicker initial throttle response. The performance curve is dictated by the engine control modules which have not been changed. Perception and reality rarely cross paths.
     
    #18 gliderman, Oct 16, 2019
  19. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    So, does that mean that the quicker initial throttle response is in my head? Seriously, I am just trying to get a perspective regarding those who feel/decided that the Red Bullet is a farce. Are you saying that it does absolutely nothing? Have you installed it? I would like your perspective. No putting you down, but, just as those who say it does nothing because there is no scientific proof, There also hasn't been done any scientific proof to say otherwise. The asumptions regarding perception and reality goes both ways.
     
    #19 Montgomery, Oct 16, 2019
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  20. meeder

    meeder Active Member

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    It can absolutely have some effect. But if even the manufacturer can't come up with decent measurement data I tend to get a bit suspicious. As long as there is no reproducible data I have my reservations.

    The plural of anecdotes isn't data.
     
    #20 meeder, Oct 16, 2019
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