WATER AS FUEL.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18231, 15 November 1924, Page 5

WATER AS FUEL.

An English journal has the following on petrol .economising "devices : Amongst other things tested was the influent of the addition of water to the ordinary gaschange in an engino cylinder. American motor engineers j in particular have always 'been attract- j ed by this, and have .asserted that It effects a considerable fuel economy, in addition to preventing knocking when petroleum is the fuel.. But the Government's research experts reported tha* no economy in fueU could be traced when water injection was practised. We recall that because the R.A.u. recently issued a certificate of .performance of a device which, draws, the ajr required for the carburettor from the top of the radiator, where, presumably, the air is heavily charged with vapour after the engine' is warmed up. Tested on Brooklnnds the device improved;the fuel wmsumption of a ISOO c.c. engmed car from 31* to 39 miles per gallon at 30 miles per hour. It seems as difficult ] to get away from that as'-from the ver r diet of the Government's but at least we may confidently assert that 31J miles' per gallon «xt 30 miles per hour on Brooklauds is not exactly a testimonial any maker of a light car would boast about. W© have never tested this matter of water .induction fori ourselves, but those on whoin. we could rely who had attempted it apparently discovered its main attractions to be a smoother running arid a diminished liability, to pinking, and were dubious canoerning fuel economy, it one were assured that this P:'A.S. in-; jector, as it is called,- would improve fuel economy on .every . car .by 25 p.c. No car "' owner could afford ■to be without it, and even "those curious.people who prefer the present system of motor taxation would regret their folly irt not working for a return to a fuel tax. What we may surmise to have.been at least a partial cause of theimDrovement in fuel consumption evidenced-in this R.A.C. test probably was the fact that the air supply when the device was not used was not heated, whereas, when the injector was at work the.'supply of necessity was high enoughvfcb carry vaponr. ...