Cars that run on HHO, real or fake?

[golfr32rep]

I came across a youtube video that consisted of somebody making a HHO generator and somehow connecting up to the engine and claiming a 50% increase in mpg.

Is there anyone else on pistonheads thats seen this sort of thing in person? Or is it fake?

Thanks

[Disco You]

Please tell me you're kidding...

Actually, you have an R32 rep which is a 1.9tdi and think that cars can run on water... You're a troll, right?

[balls-out]

golfr32rep said:

I came across a youtube video that consisted of somebody making a HHO generator and somehow connecting up to the engine and claiming a 50% increase in mpg.

Is there anyone else on pistonheads thats seen this sort of thing in person? Or is it fake?

Thanks

They're brilliant. I've got one for sales for £10k, but to you I'll do it for £9,999. Think of the savings. just send cash please.

[b0rk]

Energy out can not exceed energy in basic physics.

These devices use electrolysis to split water into separate hydrogen and oxygen atoms, lots of electrical energy will be consumed in doing this, which is obviously being generated by the alternator. The alternator is of course driven by the belts coming off the engine.

I'll leave you to figure out the rest.

[boz1]

Although whatever the OP has seen on Youtube will be some snakeoil nonsense, there are at least two ways that water can theoretically be used to increase the efficiency of a conventional internal combustion engine:

1. Injecting water with the fuel-air mix:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_injection_%28en...

2. Having a six-stroke cycle where one stroke is powerered by an injection of water that is turned to steam with the residual heat from the combustion stroke:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six-stroke_engine#Cro...

There are clearly downsides/practical problems or better alternatives that mean these are not actually used in road cars.

But an increase in efficiency from using water need not breach the fundamental rules of physics.

Just saying!

[northandy]

I saw a kit fitted to a Chevrolet Captiva... Supposedly it improved fuel consumption by 25%.

I was all plumbed into the inlet manifold etc.

My only thought was if it was so easy why wasn't every manufacturer already doing it.