Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

roverdriver · Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:37 am Post subject: Water Injectors

Rustyrecks has mentioned a Water Injector in the HHO Fuel Cell thread.

I remember that here in Aus., water injectors were commonplace in the 1950's. Unfortunately I was too young to take a detailed interest in them, but I had the impression that one purpose for fitting one was to assist in the combustion of low octane fuels in engines with a compression more suited to higher octane.

As far as I know, they were all after-market add-ons, however motoring magazines of the period had many adverts for them.

I am very interested in knowing the theory and practice surrounding their use. In spite of what I have said above, I have memories of them being fitted to a wide range of vehicles, from Ford T's to a Vauxhall Wyvern.

Please enlighten me!
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peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7118 Location: Edinburgh

Is it not a case of cooling the mixture, reducing its volume and you can thereby suck in more.

Peter
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1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

peppiB · Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:57 am Post subject:

googled it and found this link

http://hackaday.com/2005/06/25/home-built-water-injection/

47Jag · Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 11:06 am Post subject:

Rover,

I recall reading that London Transport had experimented with water injection on their buses. It apparently removes all the carbon from the combustion chamber as well. I tried it on my Austin A70 in the early 60s but had neither skill or knowledge as to how to regulate the flow. I had a pipe from the inlet manifold sucking thru' a small carburettor jet.

Art

47Jag · Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 11:11 am Post subject:

Peter,

My understanding was that it increased the volume. This is the reason that engines give more power when it's damp.

Art

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22439 Location: UK

Is this the same as the water injection option that was available on the Saab 99 turbo in the late 70s?

Rick
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peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7118 Location: Edinburgh

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22439 Location: UK

47Jag · Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 1:38 pm Post subject:

Peter,

Wrong word...... I should have said DENSITY of the charge.

Art

Jim Walker · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 2:33 pm Post subject:

I seem to remember that while water injection caused a greater quantity of air to be induced by having an added refrigerating effect caused by the drop in pressure through the carb. venturi, this only caused a weaker mixture because the petrol supplied via the jets remains the same. Some means of richening the fuel supplied is also needed.
If water injection alone increases engine performance the engine was probably running rich anyway.

Jim Walker.

magic9r · Joined: 13 Dec 2008 Posts: 33

Do car runs weak on a cold day?
No, they run better because the air is denser and as carburettors are a crude but effective mass flow sensing mixture control, they still work with hotter and colder air within limits, on the cold side at least down to the point where the carb ices.
Nick