| With the world as we know it being in danger of | | | | The slower the burn, to a certain point, the higher |
| overheating from carbon emissions and ever rising | | | | the octane. If there are small amounts of water |
| gas prices, more and more car manufacturers | | | | vapors that get into the gas and air mix, the |
| and consumers themselves are more aware that | | | | result is a slower burn and a higher octane |
| cars need become more fuel efficient. | | | | number. |
| By having a more efficient car, you can contribute | | | | That is why, for example, on a foggy day there |
| to saving the atmosphere as well as make great | | | | is a higher percentage of water vapor in the air, |
| leaving more money n your pocket, as better | | | | increasing horsepower. The horsepower increase |
| efficiency means lower amounts of fuel | | | | on a foggy day is due to increased efficiency |
| consumed. | | | | which is due in a round about way to the octane |
| There are several options that scientists and | | | | increase. When octane is increased, the timing can |
| engineers are studying and hydrogen if one of | | | | be advanced, which contributes to an earlier spark |
| them. This chemical element can appear to be the | | | | and the opportunity for a longer burn. This does |
| answer to our fuel problem. The problems with | | | | not meat however that you should add water to |
| hydrogen is that it requires a very strong car | | | | your fuel! It just shows that there are several |
| chassis (hydrogen is very dangerous gas when it | | | | ways to increase the efficiency of a car's engine |
| is stored under pressure) and special fueling | | | | and fuel burning capacities. |
| stations, fueling stations that are almost impossible | | | | Modern cars have onboard computers that take |
| to find today in the US. | | | | care of the mix of the fuel and air that gets into |
| In Europe they have built several fueling stations | | | | the engine and sometimes just a few minor |
| for hydrogen fueled cars, but for scientific | | | | modifications are required to the software that |
| purposes only. The infrastructure for hydrogen, as | | | | drives the car to obtain a better efficiency level |
| a stand alone system, is beyond the horizon and | | | | out of the engine. With the proper computer |
| that is why, for the moment being, we should be | | | | sensors installed in a car, they can monitor the |
| looking for alternatives to hydrogen as a general | | | | exhaust and lean the mixture if the engine is |
| use car fuel. . | | | | running cool enough. For example, in today's |
| Hydrogen, even small amounts, increases the | | | | engines, 60% to 80% of the fuel is used to cool |
| efficiency of other fuels. Most automotive | | | | internal parts. For comparison purposes, water is |
| hydrogen is produced by splitting hydrogen and | | | | about 200 times more efficient at cooling than |
| oxygen from a water source that includes a | | | | gasoline or diesel. |
| catalyst. The overall gain, from working with | | | | The air that goes in the engine is equally |
| various systems of that type, is 5% to 8%. If | | | | important when it comes to horsepower and fuel |
| you compare to fuel efficiency of cars now, any | | | | efficiency. The engine needs to breathe and if the |
| gain is good, but things are pretty far from | | | | airways are restricted, the engine will not be able |
| hydrogen becoming mainstream anytime soon. | | | | to reach its maximum efficiency level. That is |
| The key to fuel economy and energy saving is | | | | why clean and efficient air filters are sometimes |
| efficiency. Gasoline used in today's car is rated | | | | the key behind obtaining more power and fuel |
| according to its octane number. The higher the | | | | economy out of your car. |
| octane, the more efficient the fuels combustion. | | | | |