Six Stroke Engine by Crower
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 32,519
Likes: 1
From: central America
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Six Stroke Engine by Crower
I'm posting this in tech because I want the engineers and motor heads to see if this is as viable as it sounds...
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...73236944976581
The above link is one I found in my most recent autoweek magazine, and I have to admit, I'm intrigued. Does anyone see why this wouldn't work, and how the removal of a cooling system might be a bad thing?
What do you guys think?
trw
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...73236944976581
The above link is one I found in my most recent autoweek magazine, and I have to admit, I'm intrigued. Does anyone see why this wouldn't work, and how the removal of a cooling system might be a bad thing?
What do you guys think?
trw
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,362
Likes: 7
From: Brazos TX
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Interesting, indeed. There are a lot of practical 'ifs' that could stand in the way. I see the water consumption as an issue. Demonstrating that the concept is scaleable is another. Overall I think it's pretty clever. Mr. Crower certainly knows his engines so I would expect someone like him to be able to make it work if it is possible.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
From: Thief River Falls Minnesota
One of the things he says in the article bothers me.. After running for an hour you can put your hand on the engine, it's hot yeah, but it won't burn you.. If the thing runs that cool, wouldn't there be a lot of condensation getting into the oil?
Having to use distilled water in a tank for the engine doesn't sound so great for those of us in colder climates either.. Heck if you run anything less than a 50/50 or minumum 40/60 mixture of antifreeze and water here in Minnesota you're asking for it to freeze. The tank would always have to be heated, where ever it is parked, and while you are running. I don't know about you, but I don't see many parking lots with a plugin for each car.
It is cool to see that this level of innovation is still going on, but quite a few refinements look like they need to be made on it. I can definetly see the benefits of this though, it's always amazing to me how much energy is wasted in an engine for the horsepower it puts out, perhaps with a little tweaking this may be the answer to running cooler and farther on a tank of gas.
Good article, looking forward to watching this.
Having to use distilled water in a tank for the engine doesn't sound so great for those of us in colder climates either.. Heck if you run anything less than a 50/50 or minumum 40/60 mixture of antifreeze and water here in Minnesota you're asking for it to freeze. The tank would always have to be heated, where ever it is parked, and while you are running. I don't know about you, but I don't see many parking lots with a plugin for each car.
It is cool to see that this level of innovation is still going on, but quite a few refinements look like they need to be made on it. I can definetly see the benefits of this though, it's always amazing to me how much energy is wasted in an engine for the horsepower it puts out, perhaps with a little tweaking this may be the answer to running cooler and farther on a tank of gas.
Good article, looking forward to watching this.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 32,519
Likes: 1
From: central America
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Good call on northern climate issues with frozen tanks...if I could get a nickel for every time I hear about a tractor with a cracked block because someone forgot to put a coffee can on the exhaust pipe...
Also, what do you think the water will do to the cylinder walls?
I know it won't solubilize the oil, but will it push it around and create pockets of density? Will that cause increased pressure on the rings? Kind of like running over speed bumps? Lots of questions about this.
trw
Also, what do you think the water will do to the cylinder walls?
I know it won't solubilize the oil, but will it push it around and create pockets of density? Will that cause increased pressure on the rings? Kind of like running over speed bumps? Lots of questions about this.
trw
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Here's a thought...why not run it as a dual-pattern system? The heat produced by the normal 4-stroke startup could heat the water and prepare it for use. All you would need is a storage tank that could withstand the freeze/thaw cycles. If you were above freezing, it could just start in 6-stroke mode.
Edit: I just realized that it would also be a nice limp-home mode in case you ran out of water but still had gas. Anyone got a way to contact Mr. Crower? I thought about sending a letter c/o the company.
Edit: I just realized that it would also be a nice limp-home mode in case you ran out of water but still had gas. Anyone got a way to contact Mr. Crower? I thought about sending a letter c/o the company.
Last edited by I'm Batman; Feb 27, 2006 at 05:11 PM.
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Pro
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 511
Likes: 4
From: Phoenix AZ
I thought that something like this was already tried, 8 cycles though. Simply injecting water instead of fuel on the 2nd 4 strokes. Corosion, draining condensed water out of the exhaust water, O2 sensor issues, keeping up vaporization at higher rpm, and cold climates would all be problems to solve. Maybe he's got handle on those problems, good for him.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 567
Likes: 0
From: Springhill Kansas
it will be a while before we see anything big from it, but it sounds like a good idea. i still think there is another way to power stuff we haven't thought of. I mean all you have to do is make something spin. it shouldn't be that hard. steam has been around for over a hundred years and about as long for the internal combustion. Its time for someting new. Granted i am always keeping the ic vette. 
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 32,519
Likes: 1
From: central America
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Originally Posted by torqvette
Maybe I don't understand the concept, but wont water on the cylinder walls interfere with proper lubrication?
trw