Reclaiming exhaust energy!
 

This past weekend, I installed two items in my truck that actually cause the energy in the exhaust to do something other than just get expelled out into the open air. These items didn't take too long, and I've noticed an immediate increase in available power (especially at low end and midrange), throttle responsiveness, and fuel economy. My overhead computer used to report an average fuel economy of around 18 to 19 MPG on my commutes, and it is now reporting over 20 MPG.

Granted, the overhead computer is not the world's most accurate, but I have a secondary indication that my fuel economy increase isn't just imaginary. On this current tankful in my truck, I travelled about 261 miles, and my fuel gauge is just a hair under 3/8 of a tank. Prior to installing these exhaust energy devices, the fuel gauge would read midway between 1/4 and 3/8 of a tank.

I will have a better idea of what this past tank's fuel economy will be tomorrow, when I do my fillup.

Can anyone guess what these exhaust energy items would be?

A turbocharger comes to mind.

pre-heated intake?

An adapted exhaust header ?

afterburners?

fuel heater

What is this, jeopardy!?

what is diarrhea?

on a serious note, did you find a small sterling engine and stick it in the trunk? by simply having the exhaust gases flow over the hot end you could turn your alternator via the sterling engine, and depending on how close to the exhaust you got you could even maybe turn a power steering pump, vac pump, water pump- making the gas engine do very little

...attach a bunch of thermopiles to the exhaust pipe system to produce heat-generated DC-electricity!

C'mon t_vago, tell us, tell us. I can't take it anymore!!!!!

Steam powered vaccum cleaner? (to get that back pressure to less than atmospheric during cruise load)

Interesting way to solicit ideas.
 

Converted to turbocompound drive?

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...nifoldoven.jpg

Suppertime!

...baking bacon?

Magnets ?

Or a turbo.

Cooking on hot engine components is a time honored tradition. We had an engineer who us to bake the most wonderful lasagnas, enchiladas, and cakes on the exhaust manifold of our boat's diesels.

You redirected the exhaust inside the car so you don't have to run the heater in the winter.
You've routed the exhaust into the inflatable boat tail to keep it inflated.
Ok, I don't know. Tell us.
VT247

This is what I have been thinking about for a while now...sounds good in theory, but I would like to see if someone else has tried it yet.

and I'm gonna have to say you have left us pondering this question long enough......so please do tell....

I hate this kinda threads... no actual info

But lots of good ideas!!

He's been carted off by an alliance of ET's and Big Oil dudes before he could ...

Hang on, the doorbell's ringing !

Do I hear X-Files music in the background?
T_vago? Euromodder? Where are you??

he's probably trying to find something to use, let the thread fill up for two weeks and steal the best idea :thumbup:

I will take a guess
 

Could this be an exhaust return device to burn up the unburned hydrocarbons?
I have been wondering myself if a fuelcell could replace the Catalyitic converter.
This sounds intersting, please tell me more.

It was meant for you to think about practical methods of utilizing exhaust energy to increase fuel economy.

I think this one wins the prize.

Once I am able to quantify the effects of having my headers installed, without the interference of all of these blasted winter snowstorms, I'll post the results here.

What do I win ? ;)

How do you intend on testing that mod for gains ?

Any updates regarding this mod ?

...is this what you're talking about?

http://www.akenergyauthority.org/PDF...xhaust-UAF.pdf

fank lee wins!!!

Any updates ?

Compound turbo / electric motor package ala Detroit Diesel DD15?

on a serious note, did you find a small sterling engine and stick it in the trunk? by simply having the exhaust gases flow over the hot end you could turn your alternator via the sterling engine, and depending on how close to the exhaust you got you could even maybe turn a power steering pump, vac pump, water pump- making the gas engine do very little