Water Injection?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 75
From: Tampa Bay FL
Water Injection?
Back in the early 80's, when emissions were the top priority, high octane was a distant memory and Hot Rod seemed to run more motorcycle performance features than hot rod stories, Water Injection was tossed around as a potential 'power adder'. I recall that such a setup (from Mallory?) included a carb base plate, solenoid, switch/electronics and a hose to a water bottle or bag on the fender. Freezing could be an issue so I think that folks could also add alcohol to the mix.
So, the big question: Was this setup intended to boost performance OR was it more of a means to lower emissions OR both? And, what killed for lack of interest or lack of performance as I don't see any such setups around today.
It's a slow Friday afternoon and I thought I might inquire.
So, the big question: Was this setup intended to boost performance OR was it more of a means to lower emissions OR both? And, what killed for lack of interest or lack of performance as I don't see any such setups around today.
It's a slow Friday afternoon and I thought I might inquire.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,496
Likes: 504
From: Willowbrook IL
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16
Water injection was first used in WWII in some of the US fighter planes. It was used for short bursts and was a way of increasing the oxygen content in the combustion chamber. 
Don
Don
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 75
From: Tampa Bay FL
Originally Posted by vetsvette2002
Water injection was first used in WWII in some of the US fighter planes. It was used for short bursts and was a way of increasing the oxygen content in the combustion chamber.
Don
Don
http://www.coolingmist.com/
As Elmer Fudd would say: "VEWWWY intewesting..."
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 2
From: Meriden CT
yea they used it on aircraft engines, and some NA automotive engines, but you'll only really see performance increases in a boosted application. These systems are pretty common in turbo applications.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,959
Likes: 1
From: North Bend Ohio
Water injection allows you to run a higher compression ratio. It also helps to seal the rings and cleans the combustion space. The steam it produces addes a little to power output but the higher compression is the big power gain. There are some gas turbine generators in the electric power industry that use water injection to increase load output. These are called load augmentation sprays.
BigBlockk
Later.....
BigBlockk
Later.....
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 2
From: Meriden CT
this thread worked its way through a few weeks ago... same topic.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ater+injection
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ater+injection
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 29,745
Likes: 3
From: Exiled to Richmond, VA - Finally sold my house in Murfreesboro, TN ?? Corner of "Bumf*&k and 'You've got a purdy mouth'."
CI 6-7-8 Veteran
CI-VIII Burnout Champ
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Edelbrock made that kit in the early '80s.
GM even used it in the mid 60's on some cars calling it "turbo rocket fuel"
Turbo Jetfire
In 1962 and 1963 Oldsmobile built a turbocharged version of the 215. The small-diameter turbocharger was manufactured by Garrett AiResearch and produced a maximum of 5 lb (0.34 bar) boost at 2200 rpm. The engine had 10.25:1 compression and a single-barrel carburetor. It was rated at 215 hp (160 kW) @ 4600 rpm and 300 ft·lbf (406 N·m) @ 3200 rpm. The high compression ratio created a serious problem with spark knock on hard throttle applications, which led Olds to use a novel water-injection system that sprayed small amounts of distilled water and methyl alcohol (dubbed "Turbo-Rocket Fluid") into the combustion chambers to cool the intake charge. If the fluid reservoir was empty, the engine's timing would be retarded to avoid engine damage. Unfortunately, many customers did not keep the reservoir filled, or had mechanical problems with the turbocharger plumbing.
The turbocharger was offered only in a special Jetfire model, which was the first turbocharged passenger car offered for public sale. Only 9,607 were sold in two model years, and many were converted by dealers to conventional four-barrel carbureted form.
GM even used it in the mid 60's on some cars calling it "turbo rocket fuel"
Turbo Jetfire
In 1962 and 1963 Oldsmobile built a turbocharged version of the 215. The small-diameter turbocharger was manufactured by Garrett AiResearch and produced a maximum of 5 lb (0.34 bar) boost at 2200 rpm. The engine had 10.25:1 compression and a single-barrel carburetor. It was rated at 215 hp (160 kW) @ 4600 rpm and 300 ft·lbf (406 N·m) @ 3200 rpm. The high compression ratio created a serious problem with spark knock on hard throttle applications, which led Olds to use a novel water-injection system that sprayed small amounts of distilled water and methyl alcohol (dubbed "Turbo-Rocket Fluid") into the combustion chambers to cool the intake charge. If the fluid reservoir was empty, the engine's timing would be retarded to avoid engine damage. Unfortunately, many customers did not keep the reservoir filled, or had mechanical problems with the turbocharger plumbing.
The turbocharger was offered only in a special Jetfire model, which was the first turbocharged passenger car offered for public sale. Only 9,607 were sold in two model years, and many were converted by dealers to conventional four-barrel carbureted form.
