23-JUL-2001
Water Injection
Addition of Control Cable to Valve
I've added a means to control the valve opening from inside the
car, while driving.
It is a "Manual Choke Control Cable" which I purchased at
the local auto parts store ($16 USD).
Below, the control cable installed in my car.
It is secured in place by a small hose clamp, easily adjustable!
To install here, I took the valve stem apart and brazed a flattened piece of copper
tubing, with holes drilled in it, to the top of the stem. Re-assembled valve. Put a
mounting hole in part of the dash. Threaded this end thru the hole, thru the firewall and
around to this location. Bent the push wire to fit and clamped it in place. Also, adjusted
the packing nut - not too tight.
Observations:
- The porting into the engine above the throttle plate is only
effective up to about 40% full throttle because as it opens up the vacuum is lessened.
- It seems that my steam generation capability is lacking for this
application, that is if it could deliver at full throttle!
- I haven't seen any marked increase in fuel economy - could be
bad driving habits 'zooming' around...
The trip to Pontiac, MI. wasn't too good for gauging mileage as it rained all the way
back and on the way there I didn't have the valve right - too much / not enough - ran
rough and ran out of water...
- The water injection does make a noticable difference in power -
I like it and want it all the way up to full throttle!
When it is working correctly, it is very nice, smoother running and more torque (can
back off on throttle when cruising...)!
What Next?
- Been looking at a nebulizer unit (ultrasonic, "cool
mist" humidifier), actually put it inside the car and connected a 3/4" hose thru
the firewall, to the intake... (Have taken back out for now.) It being a household
appliance required 120 VAC (I allways wanted an inverter) so I bought a 400w inverter to
power it (it only uses 60 watts).
- It has it's own mist control which I want to control according
to the throttle position. The control is a 10k ohm slider control. I thought of putting a
flex cable from the throttle to this control, and will probably do so to test with, but it
will probably wear out soon.
- The water sloshes around too much when driving and the supply
tank overfills the nebulizer chamber.
- If the nebulizer works better, try finding a DC operated unit
and build a custom mist generator that is smaller and can fit in the engine compartment
with a seperate water supply...
 
Another Idea for Steam:
- Make a thin (3/4") boiler that sandwiches between the
engine head and the exhaust manifold. It could be a box that has tubes for pass-thru of
exhaust and header bolts with 1/4" steel face plates (with the appropriate holes thru
them). This would make up a 1/4" chamber inside which would get hot from the exhaust
passing thru it, also from the manifold.
- The water could be sprayed in one side on demand (via a small
pump, controlled by throttle position signal).
- It should have 2 outlets: 1. Steam out to feed engine.
2. A water drain tube, back to source.
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