Replies

1. 
   junkhound | Aug 26, 2004 06:00am | #1

   Easier than typing a paragraph, 3rd hit on google, first one opened by the title:

   http://www.rallycars.com/Cars/WaterInjection.html

   oh, google search was for "water injection"

   
   

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   Edited 8/25/2004 11:01 pm ET by JUNKHOUND

1. 
   rez | Aug 26, 2004 06:04am | #3

   So it's not just my imagination then. Ok.sobriety is the root cause of dementia

1. 
   NormKerr | Aug 26, 2004 07:11pm | #4

   In autoshop, back in the '70s, the rule was, "Never buy a used car on a rainy day" due to this effect. (and also to never buy at night because paint looks better under artificial light, in many cases)

   I suppose that modern electronic engine controls may make it less noticeable, but maybe in your case it is.

   You can add a water "injector" to your engine pretty easily, which allows you to advance the timing and get more economy (popular during the gas crises in the '70s).

   Norm

1. 
   jackplane | Aug 26, 2004 08:38pm | #5

   I am amazed to learn this...

    And to think this site is only about construction (and Luka's personal life). Thank you all.

2. 
   DanH | Aug 26, 2004 06:03am | #2

   Yep, water effectively raises the octane of the gas. Produces a smoother power cycle that captures more of the energy from the boom.

3. 
   florida | Aug 26, 2004 11:14pm | #6

   Back in the dark ages when I was a teen my best friends Dad had a water vapor air filter that he used on all his cars. You filled it with water and the engine heat made it hot enough that vapors came off that were then sucked into the engine. He was a real car buff and swore that it made any car run smoother. Of course he owned nothing but Studebakers but that's another story.

4. 
   4Lorn1 | Aug 27, 2004 12:57am | #7

   Water injection was used as an emergency boost of power. It only gave them a few seconds, ten or fifteen if I remember right, worth of boost but it substantially increased the horsepower output of the engine. Giving them a susstantial speed advantage.

   Doesn't sound like much but it was credited with saving lives in dogfights. Giving the fighters a slight speed advantage on the enemy fighters and allowing them to get away after a diving attack.

   This advantage didn't come cheap. When water in significant quantities is dumped into a hot cylinder it breaks down into hydroxyl molecules. These are highly reactive and will attack the cylinder walls in seconds. The fighter engines had to be rebuilt after the water boost was used. A fair trade of an engine for a life but you might want to reconsider water injection.

   From what I understand the small amounts of moisture sucked in when driving in rain is not an issue.