Has anyone installed a hydrogen generator on their EX? I was thinking about making one to inject the Brown's Gas into the intake to help with the fuel economy. I've got a 2000 with the 7.3 and things look a bit tight to install it under the hood. I want to use at least a one gallon tank, and keep it out of the passenger compartment. Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

I'm looking at one from savefuel.ca

I'm gong to start with the one for engines up to 3.0 litre on my Benz to see how it works ($400), as the price for the 7.3 is more than double (almost $1000)

They claim anywhere from 10-50% increase in mileage depending on different factors.

I'll post a report when I get mine and test it out...

 

Keep us posted, this looks rather intresting. I guess only time will tell. Just as a question, can't excessive amount of hydrogen cause the metals in the engine to become more brittle?

Thanks, Bryan

 

Never heard of the brittle metal issue... thanx for the heads up though, I will look into it and see if it's a valid concern.

 

Yes - there is NOTHING like a "hydrogen generator" to make your car run better, and cause your "you-know-what" to grow longer.

"Hydrogen generators" are sold every place they sell "drive-shaft fluid" ( do you check yours every week..? If not why not...) and replacement thorpus tube rectifiers (these should be replaced every 5,000 mi). Your local auto parts counter-man will explain all of this to you.

 

Are you speaking from a position of authority or just making as assumption on something you know nothing about?

The theory of hydrogen contributing to a more complete burn in the combustion chamber is solid...its the application that people are wondering about. If they are indeed able to do as much mileage improvement as what is claimed. But the idea is not junk science as you seem to be suggesting.... as a matter of fact, I don't remember the original poster asking for smart a$$ remarks to his question.... but then again, maybe I read it wrong.

 

Ken, I think you are right about 6686L, I think he is also talking out of his "you know what!"

I guess nitrous also doesn't help combustion in anyway shape or form!!

I guess he thinks that BMW is also foolish for building a 7 series that runs off of hydogen.

That is just my two cents.


Bryan

 

What kind of electrodes do these electroysis machines use? If its anything BUT platinum, its not worth your time, as Aluminum will corrode and eventually wear away, stainless will wear away, and leech the very very nasty chromium into the water. Anything but platinum will need periodic replacing.

 

Good question Lead head... I'm going to inquire about that to the guy running savefuel... thanx

 

Bryan - are you, by chance..thinking of nitrous OXIDE...it really is used to speed up the combustion process. ( Unless used VERY carefully, it will make your machine shop and parts supply VERY happy, because it will do very well in speeding up the DEstruction process....!

But, because of the complexities of cost - production and distribution, it really isnt of much use in the over-all ecology question.

I dont think hydrogen generators are foolish. I think it is a marvelous idea. But wouldnt a hydrogen ALTERNATOR make more sense..I mean..the auto industry gave up generators in place of alternators some fifty years ago.

The problem is the same with both hydrogen generators and hydrogen alternators. See...you need to hook them up to something..you need to supply them with plenty of clean mineral free water, and a fan belt to drive them.

Now...here's the problem in making hydrogen. See...it takes ENERGY to make the stuff...LOTS of energy. It's kind of like the battery car...that has been with us since World War ONE. It is a LOVELY idea. Nice clean transportation. Just plug it in.

Sadly...when we get all warm and cuddely over all these "clean" power sources....every ONCE in a while..not often..some party-pooper like me comes along...and wastes your time with a discussion on the real-world laws of physics. I know..I know...that's no fun. So rather than bring your attention back down here to earth...where the real world lives...let's continue our talk about hydrogen generators..ah..I mean....hydrogen alternators...

 

I was thinking about making my own, but had no idea where I could put it (on my truck). And I didn't want smart a** answers. The theory is proven. I want to use the hydrogen and oxygen to increase the efficiency of the combustion, not power my EX completely.

 

Interesting Idea. Not practicle here in Minnesota during winter but I'd like to continue to monitor your progress.

 

Actually, it could still prove practical even in the Northern states. You may not be able to use it year round, but of the months that are near, or above freezing it could still be used and I believe that there would be a substantial enough savings even in part time use. I live in Florida, and have full intnetions on trying one out for my 6.8. I drive about 200 miles every day at 9mpg. So that is a consumption of 22.2 gallons a day. If I could increase my effeciency just to 12mpg that would be 16.6 gallons a day. Saving me 5.6 gallons per day at the current price here of 3.22 per gallon is $18.03 a day in savings.

That being said, the SL 75 from savefuel.ca is $1097 plus the scan gauge being 169.99. The scan gauge not being a necessity, but a nice addition to the package. So, for a grand total of 1469.71 it will take me 81.5 days of driving 200 miles a day to reap the savings from purchasing this unit.

Let's say my truck runs 5 days a week at 200 miles a day. It doesn't run on the weekend at all (for business purposes) so that's ~261 days of driving for business per year. 52200 miles at 9mpg is 5800 gallons at current price of 3.22 per gallon $18676. So if by adding the Hydrogen generator would get me at least the estimated 12mpg I would then consume 4350 gallons of fuel spending $14007 per year to operate the vehicle. Could you use an extra $2869 per year in your pocket? I know I can.

 

The only exposure that I have to Hydrogen generators is in the submarine service where they use them to produce Oxygen. They take water and (through electrolysis) split it into Oxygen and Hydrogen. In the submarine application, the Hydrogen is considered a waste product and is vented overboard. The thing is, it takes a significant amount of electricity to decompose water into its component parts. The other option is Radiolytic Decomposition. This can't be what we are referring to here, as it requires an intense gamma field.

All this being said, I can't imagine that electrolytic decomposition would be practical in an automobile. You would need a much bigger electrical power source than your alternator. The amount of electrical power it would take to produce any meaningful amount of Hydrogen would knock your fuel economy into the dirt.

I can't speak to the Hydrogen embrittlement question. I know that this is a concern in internal reactor vessel components, but I believe that it is only in the presence of a neutron flux. I wouldn't think it would apply in a diesel engine. I could easily be wrong about that, though. The neutron flux may just be a catalyst that aggrevates the problem. It my be a factor in a diesel, but to a smaller degree.

None of this is meant to fall into the smart-alec category. I'm just trying to contribute to the discussion. My gut feeling is that it will not increase your fuel economy, but only the seller's financial economy.

 

You dont fool ME ! I can tell a "smart alex" post when I see one. You "college boy" just have NO imagination - these "back-yard good ole boys" probably have ideas YOU never thought of.....that's the trouble with you people wasting your time in college / advanced technical education..you just dont appreciate the kind of people who inhabit these forums......maybe they know where to pick up a good used nuclear submarine with a working nuclear power-plant & oxygen-generating system, cut it out, set it on their jet-ski trailer, tow it behind their EXCURSION. See...give these boys a pipe wrench, some welding rod, and a few beers..and they'll know what to do....!