Gas saving tips

[MAKG]

The space shuttle is a different beast. Weight is an absolute premium; it's not energy content per pound of the fuel alone. It's the TOTAL weight of the system including fuel and oxidizer to get a given thrust. There are other issues such as safety and reliability; for instance, it's being mixed with LIQUID oxygen. How does gasoline, with its complex distillation curve, behave at cryogenic temperatures? I don't think you'll like the results. The heavier compounds will "freeze out" making solids that are quite difficult to remove.

 

[Jorley]

Nonetheless hydrogen has the highest combustion energy per pound relative to any other fuel, meaning it is more efficient on a weight basis than fuels used currently. Hydrogen offers 2-3 times more energy than most other common fuels. It combines readily with oxygen, releasing considerable energy as heat. (1)

Energy Values (2)


.......Hydrogen.........Gasoline.......No. 2 Diesel Fuel.....Propane.....Natural Gas
Higher Heating Value
Btu/lb ....61,002 ......18,800-20,400. 19,200-20,000 ........21,600 ....23,600
Btu/kg ..134,500 ......41,500-45,000 .42,300-44,100 ........47,600 ....52,000
MMJ/kg .141.9 .........43.8-47.5 ........44.6-46.5 ..............50.2 ........54.9
Lower Heating Value
Btu/lb ....51,532 .......18,000-19,000 ..18,000-19,000 ......19,800 ......21,300
Btu/kg ....113,600 .....39,700-41,900 ..39,700-41,900 ......43,700 ......47,000
MMJ/kg ...119.9 ........41.9-44.2 .........41.9-44.2 ...........46.1 ..........49.6


1 lb. of hydrogen at -423 degrees F (the temp of liquid hydrogen) is equal to 1.693 gal. At 70 degrees F it is equal to 191.960 cubic feet.(3) I just don't see how 1 gal. of hydrogen has less energy potential than 1 gal. of gas. Hydrogen has an octane rating of 130+, whereas gas has an octane rating of 87-93.

Sources
(1)http://www.airproducts.com/Products/MerchantGases/HydrogenEnergyFuelCells/HydrogenBasics.htm
(2)http://www.airproducts.com/Products/MerchantGases/HydrogenEnergyFuelCells/EnergyValues.htm
(3)http://www.airproducts.com/Products/MerchantGases/HydrogenEnergyFuelCells/ConversionTables.htm

 

[MAKG]

Weight really is the right way to do these calculations, but his claim was volume.

This is hydrogen GAS, not liquid hydrogen, so the energy density is orders of magnitude smaller.

And more to the point, the energy content is being generated by the engine -- the hydrogen generator being discussed is a conventional electrolysis setup driven by the alternator -- which means it really doesn't matter how much energy density it has. That energy is coming from gasoline (odd claims about catlytic action notwithstanding), through all the inefficiencies of a conventional internal combustion engine. The hydrogen is functioning as a sort of battery.

Anyone who would put liquid hydrogen on a car should be permanently glued into a straitjacket. Gaseous hydrogen is stupid enough. The space shuttle is a VERY dangerous vehicle, having had demonstrated failure rates worse than 1 catastrophic event per 100 flights.

 

[michowski]

I found a gas saving tip. Dont drive your truck like your in a qualifying race. My fuel mileage went up some just blasting the radio and putting around.

 

[eric17]

anyone try an electric fan? notice any difference?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

its been discussed a thousand times. an e-fan will not help mileage or power.

 

[eric17]

i highly doubt that

 

[MAKG]

It will allow you to trade mileage for cooling capacity.

If you want your heads to work in all conditions, it's a really bad tradeoff, bad enough to call it effectively impossible.

The only real reason to do that is frequent deep water crossings. Occasional ones can be accomplished in two minutes with a $20 fan clutch tool.

The appropriate qualifier is that an equivalent electric fan will not help mileage or power. But you'll be hard pressed to find one that actually is equivalent. Electric fans draw constant air, while mechanical ones (when clutched) draw more at high RPM. The clutches release reliably when capacity is not needed; a mildly trained ear can hear it happen.

 

[eric17]

someone needs to dyno and see if theres a difference i just cant imagine how replacing something that draws engine power with something electrical wouldnt free up anything at all, even if there wasnt a notice. thats less weight and bullshit to turn, not much at all but its less.

 

[MAKG]

You think electrical fans don't draw engine power?

No need to waste money on a dyno. That's BASIC (as in first-day) physics.

Where do you think the power comes from?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

eric, you need to think of it in terms of energy. energy cannot be created nor destroyed, it takes X amount of energy to cool an engine under given conditions. it doesnt matter if the energy comes directly from the water pump pulley or directly from the alternator pulley. your doing the same amount of work either way.

 

[mhughes165]

eric, you need to think of it in terms of energy. energy cannot be created nor destroyed, it takes X amount of energy to cool an engine under given conditions. it doesnt matter if the energy comes directly from the water pump pulley or directly from the alternator pulley. your doing the same amount of work either way.

there right, the only reason i run dual electric fans is becuase i do alot of wheeling in mud and deep water, if it was to be my occaisional trail runner/dd id run a mech fan becuase the amount of air it moves is hard to match with elect fans

 

[eric17]

i doubt the pull of the alternator though is causing if even 1 hp difference, mechanical power is different than electrical i can see where the draw from the fan would put a strain on the alt, but isnt that have to do with the alternator and how much its capable of and nothing to do with engine hp.

 

[rickcdewitt]

no it takes hp to make amps.the more amps the more drag on the belt.

 

[BuckinBronco351w]

Easiest Gas Saving tip

The best and easiest gas saving tip that I have found was I threw out my old air filter and bought a reusable K&N air filter. My milage in the city went from about 12 or 13 to about 17 or so and I get about 20 miles per gallon on the freeway. My tank gets me about 300 miles or so now. It does vary slightly if I am towing or being a bit to hard on the gas. But my 99 Ranger is nothing more then that K&N and my manual transmission. I am about to get large tires on it and gas really isnt bothering me too much. I live about 4 miles from work and I make great money but the K&N definitly helps.