Water injection was used extensively in supercharged aircraft engines, both air-cooled radial
The practice continued in use during the postwar era on the large radial engines needed to get heavy military and commercial transports off the ground, including DC-6 and DC-7, Super Constellation, StratoCruiser, KC-97, C-121, B-50 et al.
We used distilled water and methanol on our DC6s and 7s. Called it ADI for anti detonant injection. Our early jets had water injection, too.
Bill and Susan
84 Barth 30 tag powered by ht502/Thorley, Gear Vendors OD
Siamese Calvin and Airedale Hobbes
4WD Toyota toad
In 1980 I worked for the corporation of a national tune-up chain and we bought a dyno to dial in propane conversions.
We also tested everything anybody ever brought in that claimed to improve gas mileage/horsepower. Our dyno also had a fuel meter and would calculate mpg on gasoline.
Out of about 15 vapor injections systems that we tested only one lived up to it's claims. It was designed by a big time boat racer and the water was drawn into the engine via and new carburetor base gasket that had small nozzles for the water to enter each primary throttle bore.
I can't remember what brand the system was but it worked and did everything the company claimed, it was actually quite impressive.
The big thing I hated about all those water "injection" systems was that the owners never maintained them. After a while they got too lazy to add water and the system would eventually deteriorate and cause vacuum leaks that in same cases lead to a burnt valve.
Any time you change the rate of how fast the fuel burns you generally need to change the timing if you want to gain the greatest benefit. You need the expansion of combustion to occur at a certain time (10 to 20 degrees after TDC) to gain the full benefit of combustion.
Flame front propagation rates and timing work hand in hand.
TV: Mint 1972 Ford F-250 XLT
TT: 1969 19' Excel; entertains 6, feeds 4, sleeps 2 You don't shoot to kill, you shoot to stay alive.
I don't carry because I have to, I carry because I get to. My pictures
Johm Geraghty wrote an engine column for Motor Home magazine for many years. I always found his advice accurate and good. He also ran a dyno shop on Verdugo Road here in El Lay, and I used him a number of times. Again, his advice was always good.
He even wrote a book on RV performance that was very good.
He believed in water injection, and sold his own system. Had a bunch of satisfied customers.
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systems was that the owners never maintained them. After a while they got too lazy to add water and the system would eventually deteriorate and cause vacuum leaks that in same cases lead to a burnt valve.
