what do you think of hydrogen mods (with video)
 

Ok, I have heard of this mod for a while now. I don't know all the details, but basically you make a concoction of chemicals that gives off hydrogen gas and is sucked up into the intake manifold. The creator of this video is claiming a 38% improvement in a escort and a 43% improvement in his Saturn.


[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/v/YFGhZNxdyDY&rel=1[/YOUTUBE]

You can see the rest of his videos here:

http://www.youtube.com/sm0ky40

Well, I can' figure the youtube import thing out. You can see the video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFGhZNxdyDY

Edit: I did figure it out, but it should be made easier so an average internet user can do it without a problem.

What problem did you have with the youtube thing? I borrowed a custom code to implement it, and I don't know if that code can be modified to fix the problem with the link structure.

igo -

(didn't look at the youtube, but I have seen others ...)

I have a hydrogen booster from http://hydrogen-boost.com/ . I have NOT gotten it to work in terms of increased MPG, but I have also not implemented the whole system, so my result is inconclusive. I have the hydrogen (Brown's Gas) generator installed, but I have not installed the fuel heater, or modified the MAP/MAF sensor. I have modified/augmented the 02 sensor with an EFIE (http://www.eagle-research.com/FAQ/FS/efiefaq.html).

I strongly encourage you to read this and other newsletters from this dude, because I think he is an honest broker :

Stressed Combustion and Hydrogen Boost
http://www.hydrogen-boost.com/August%202007.html
Here is my opinion on hydrogen generators :

1 - The ideal circumstance for these systems is diesel engines being used under "normal load" conditions. Since diesel likes lean burn, and hydrogen generators are trying to supplement engine power under lean-burn conditions, the two go together quite well. When I say "normal load", I mean normal operating conditions that do not necessarily emphasize saving fuel. For instance, a diesel engine at a work site needs to do "work", not save fuel. However, a hydrogen generator can help save fuel in this situation. Also, there is evidence that the hydrogen improves diesel emissions. If you google around, you will find that there are very $$ systems being marketed to truckers right now.

2 - The system will work with gasoline engines, but it is a very complicated proposition. You have to be savvy with all the other mods that go along with the hydrogen generator to make it work. For various reasons, I have not been willing/smart enough and/or had the time to make it work.

CarloSW2

If that's for real, that's pretty crazy. Driving at 70 MPH, my car can only dream about getting 45 MPG. Maybe I should message the director who made this video.

Peakster -

Ok, I saw the video. That's only the hydrogen/oxygen generator and the water trap, not the other gizmos I was mentioning (EDIT below). If he's driving at 70 MPH, then he's not trying to be gentle on the pedal. I think that we would say that he needs a larger sample size. 32 miles is too short a distance to discount pump error. However, his claim seems to be overall MPG, not the youtube example.

Interesting. I never drove my car at 70 MPH with the hydrogen generator. Maybe I should fire it up again.

EDIT: I take that back, he is using another gizmo, an EFIE-equivalent, an oxygen sensor voltage modifier :

Oxygen Sensor Voltage Boost
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BgKihxd9GY

I think he's one of us, :) .

CarloSW2

The testing on the original video is questionable. But a 40% increase in mpg is pretty dramatic. I think it's pretty obvious that the hydrogen generator does show improvement if set up correctly.

I agree with Carlos there are too many problems with the protocol. Drive 32 miles one way fill up at a different pump. I've seen plenty of gaslogs with short fills that are 5-10 mpg better than normal and that's using the same pump to fill. I imagine any increase in FE came from the EFIE but with the test protocol there is no way to tell if there was any increase at all.

Lazarus -

Yeah, the EFIE/02 spoof is something that I have always wondered about in terms of the hydrogen system. I *know* the EFIE works because I can see the A/F ratio go lean with my digital A/F gauge. The question is, where does the EFIE end and the hydrogen begin in terms of MPG gain? I just don't know. I think that the point of the hydrogen is to help the car's driveability under lean burn conditions.

I think that when the system is set up just right, you can set the EFIE even more lean while maintaining driveability. In that situation, the hydrogen generator would justify itself, so long as the MPG gain is greater than the MPG loss as a function of the Amperage draw from the hydrogen generator.

CarloSW2

Have you had any reports on the emissions that is created when running lean? I wonder if the Nox goes through the roof or does the hydrogen do something to counteract that?

Lazarus -

This is my personal 100 million quatloo question. I know that I must be increasing my Nox when the EFIE induces lean-burn.

Since the hydrogen generators are reducing NOx for diesel applications, my hope is that it will do the same for gasoline applications. As an ECOmodder, I think that even if the hydrogen generator gained 0 MPG, if it reduced NOx under lean-burn, then it is worth it for me.

CarloSW2

Before they went out of business I became buddy's with the guy that ran the place that did the emissions test every year. I would bring my car in and he was fascinated with all the junk on it and the increase in FE. When I explained that I was also worried about emission he would let me bring it in a throw the stuff on it to see if it would cause a drastic increase for no charge. I only took him up on it once when I was working on fuel additives. You might try asking your guy you might be surprised. If they don't have to fill out any paper work it did not seem like it was that big a deal if they were slow.

Then again you might get some gut that says your tampering with the emission system and turn you in. :(

I'm going to have to chime in on the side of questioning his "test" (and I use the term loosely). The fact that he would use this approach ... and then make claims from it should raise all kinds of red flags.

Another red flag is his claim (on his YouTube bio) that a significant portion unburned fuel escapes in the exhaust and is burned in the catalytic converter, which is contradicted by an expert:

And a HUGE(!) red flag can be found in the Gas Prices Killing You??? YouTube vid, where he documents his "experiment" getting him 48 mpg on the highway.... For crying out loud, he was drafting a full-size van!

Houston, we have a credibility problem!

Here are some links I thought everyone would like to see

I have made a hydrogen generator similar to the one you see in the video below with and have had positive outcomes testing on small engines.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...=hydrogen+cell

Here is a forum for just hydro cars

http://www.hydropowercar.com/forum_viewforum.php?6

Here is one that is made professionally tailored towards truckers

http://ihsresearch.com/

And here are some other videos and sites on the subject

http://www.savefuel.ca/hydrogen/
http://www.savefuel.ca/hydrogen/
http://www.switch2hydrogen.com/
http://www.angelfire.com/ak5/energy21/hydroboost.htm

How ever you may feel on the subject I think it worth a try

The more we explore these technologies the closer we come to finding a solution to the energy crises in this world, whatever the solution may be

Almost forgot this one its a truck that is powered of of Biodiesel and Hydrogen made buy the same shop that does Pimp My ride

http://www.galpinautosports.com/gall...p?car=biohydro

and here is a page to the site that built the hydro injection system

http://www.saeenergy.com/03_hydrogen.htm
http://www.saeenergy.com/products.htm

Is this snake oil sales? I am not seeing samples of success stories with this, just sales tactics, and marketing tactics.

I know that this thread has not been written in for a while, but I still wanted to post a comment.

I currently have a Hydrogen booster installed in my car and so far I have only seen a decrease in fuel economy. Yet, my friend who installed the exact same setup on his car saw about a 20-30% increase in mileage.

We both made it with our own plans so there is nothing copied off of the internet. Our plan was to separate the Hydrogen from the Oxygen so that we did not have to implement any electronics because of the added oxygen. It worked for him, not for me.

I am not stopping there though. I am currently a senior in Automotive Engineering and I plan on doing some proper testing to see if it is possible to get the desired increase in fuel economy. There have been so many questions out there that remain to be unanswered. I might possibly use this as an independent study so that I can spend more time on it and maybe get funding for my research.

The ultimate question: Does it work, or does it not.

I built a Smack booster earlier this year with mostly scrounged parts, so it didnt cost me much. I could noticeably feel the engine being dragged down. And my mileage stayed basically the same at what I was getting for years, 32 mpg on downstate trips. I may have gotten 33 once with the booster, but IIRC I got 31 the next tank so it averaged out. I did start a 101 cell Boyce style box last year but Im in no hurry to finish it. Ill probably work on it in the dead of winter when theres really not much else to do. I dont really expect it to accomplish anything, but since I started it I might as well finish.

Compare that with using what I have learned on this site. Such as aeromods, the mpguino, driving with load, all the good stuff. Ive gotten 10 times more gains from what Ive learned here. Ive gotten over 40 mpg on downstate trips using what Ive learned here. Snow is gone and last couple mornings on the way to work Ive gotten 35 mpg. Im learning to do better all the time.

Oh yeah I also built an EFIE, and a map sensor adjuster. The EFIE gave disastrous results on mileage. Like a drop from 32 to 26. The map sensor modifier didnt really increase mileage, but it did feel like a hint more power by reducing the signal by 100-150mv. I may play with it more sometime, but again Ive gotten 10 times the gains by ecomodding/ecodriving.

Hey Neal, I see youre in Big Rapids. I either pass there or stop there every other weekend. Maybe we could meet up sometime.

Hmmmm. Yah, I used to be very optimistic about the Hydrobooster because my friend was telling me about the gains that he had. I am going to continue to research/test whether or not it really does work.

I just got my efie and my ScangaugeII a few days ago and should probably have them installed and working within a week or two. Just depends on my school schedule. Plus my school just got in a flow gauge so we plan on doing some proper testing on my current designs and some future plans.

Yup, I'm going to school in Big Rapids right now. I think it would be awesome to get together to swap ideas and see what we've each done. I'm driving down to Detroit over Thanksgiving and hope to have everything up and running so I can do some proper road tests. PM me the next time you come out this way!