Life-Health-Happiness

These days, gasoline prices may be crimping your
your household budget. You may like to reduce
the U.S. dollars that flow to the Middle East for
oil, or perhaps you are motivated by your concern
for the environment, or even the nagging reality
that oil is a depleting resource that shouldn’t
be wasted.

Fuel economy
To put it into prospective, the fuel economy are
the numbers posted on the window sticker of a new
vehicle. Studies have shown that the average
driver only receives 75 percent or so of the
mileage figures that are on the sticker.

You can use these numbers to determine the best
type of vehicle for your purchase. The numbers
will let you know how many MPG your vehicle will
get, so you can compare vehicles and then go
from there.

Hybrid pricing
The gas electric hybrid vehicles are normally
priced higher than non hybrid counterparts,
anywhere from a couple of thousand dollars to
several thousand dollars.

Hybrids can get a lot of miles per gallon,
some averaging around 45 – 55. This is great
for those who want to save money on gas, as
hybrids can go many miles on a full tank of
fuel and they come with extended warranties
as well.

Diesel efficiency
Diesel powered vehicles are yet another fuel
efficient option. Diesels are known for getting
extra mileage from every gallon of fuel. They
offer much better torque than many gasoline
engines. The price differential they have
over gasoline engines are usually much smaller
than that of the hybrid.

With plenty of options available, you’re sure
to find what you need to help conserve fuel.
Before you make a purchase, always remember
to shop around and find what’s best for you.

As you may already be aware of, diesel engines are
more efficient than gasoline engines of the same
power, resulting in much lower fuel usage. For an
efficient turbo diesel, the average is 40% more miles
per gallon. The higher compression ratio with
diesel engines help to raise efficiency, but diesel
fuel also contains around 15% more energy per unit
volume than gas.

Diesel engines that are naturally aspirated are far
more massive than gasoline engines of the same power
for two reasons. First, it takes a larger capacity
diesel engine than a gas engine to produce the same
amount of power. Essentially, this is because the
diesel can’t operate as quickly. The rev limit is
slower, because getting the correct fuel to air ratio
into a diesel engine fast enough is more difficult
than a gas engine. The second reason is due to the
fact that a diesel engine needs to be stronger to
withstand the higher combustion pressure needed for
ignition.

Diesel engines also produce very little carbon
monoxide as they burn the fuel in excess air except
at full loading capacity, where a full quantity of
fuel is injected per cycle. They can however,
produce a black soot from the exhaust, which consists
of unburned carbon compounds.

Often times, this is caused by worn injectors, which
don’t atomize the fuel sufficiently enough, or a
faulty management system that allows more fuel to be
injected that can then be burned with the available
air.

For commercial use that requires towing, diesel
engines tend to have more desirable torque. Diesel
engines tend to have their torque peak quite low
in their speed range which provides smoother control
over heavy loads when starting from rest, crucially
allowing the engine to be given higher loads at low
speeds than a gas engine.

The lack of an electrical ignition system in diesel
engines improves the reliability. The high durability
of diesel engines is also due to the overbuilt
nature as well as the combustion cycle, which will
create a less violent change in pressure when
compared to a gasoline type spark ignition engine.
Diesel fuel is also a better lubricant than gasoline,
so it is less harmful to the oil film on piston
rings and cylinder bores – making it routine for
diesel engines to go 250,000 miles or more without
having to be rebuilt.

For several reasons, diesel proves to be better than
spark engine ignition. Diesel engines last a lot
longer, they offer more torque, and they are also
more reliable. They are also more expensive as well,
although you get what you pay for. If you have
never owned a diesel vehicle, you owe it to yourself
to see everything they offer you – and you’ll find
yourself a very satisfied customer.

A diesel engine will go much farther on a gallon
of fuel that the standard gasoline engine
because of their designs, and due to the higher
energy density of a gallon of diesel fuel. But,
it also takes a bit more oil to manufacture a
gallon of diesel than a gallon of gas, with
the production and refining processes for
diesel producing more gases that trap heat.

Therefore, when you consider the relative merits
of deisel and gas cars, try knocking the MPG
estimates for the diesel car down by 20 percent.
A diesel vehicle will cost you a bit more,
so you’ll get more bang for your buck from a
gasoline vehicle.

The nasty rumors you hear about diesel are
true as well – diesel is less refined than gas,
or in other terms it’s dirtier. Diesel
vehicles also emit more particulate matter and
NOx, both of which are serious health hazards
and air pollutants. Current diesel engines are
more polluting per each mile they are driven
than gas engines.

Using biodiesel on the other hand, will improve
this situation. If biodiesel is available in
your area, you’ll still need to examine
whether a diesel is the right vehicle for you.

When you consider the facts, you have to ask
yourself which models you can afford, what is
the MPG, will engine be succifient for you,
and the number of passengers the vehicle will
accommodate. Then, given your budget, you can
go from there.

There are numerous gas and diesel vehicles
available, all you have to do is decide which
one is right for you. If you research carefully,
you’ll have the perfect vehicle for your entire
family.

As you probably already know, diesel engines get
better fuel economy than gas, simply because they
don’t need to burn as much fuel as gasoline engines
to get the same amount of power. Diesel engines
are built heavier than gas engines, to help sustain
the added stress of the much higher compression
ratios.

Diesel engines don’t have an ignition system either,
so you’ll never have to tune them up. The exhaust
systems will last longer as well, as the exhaust
on a diesel isn’t as corrosive as an exhaust on a
gasoline engine.

With diesel engines, it isn’t unusual to see them
with 400,000 or even 500,000 miles. There are some
out there that have even went beyond 600,000 miles!

When it comes to maintenance, 3,000 mile oil changes
are a must. Diesel fuel isn’t as refined as gas,
so the oil will get dirtier faster. You should
also replace the air and fuel filters at least
once a year.

If you live in a colder climate, you’ll need to
switch to a winter blend of fuel to prevent fuel
gelling. There are several additives that you can
put in the fuel as well, to help prevent your fuel
from getting gel.

It’s also recommended that you replace the glow
plugs every two years. If the temperature drops
below 10 degrees, a block heater is something you
should have. This will ensure starting in cold
weather, especially with the heavy grade of oil
that a diesel engine requires.

If you take care of your diesel vehicle, you can
count on it to be around for years to come. Unlike
gas vehicles, diesel engines are built for the
long haul, and will last you for miles and miles
if you take care of them.

Both diesel cars and light trucks are receiving a
lot of attention in the United States as a near
term strategy to achieve fuel economy and climate
change goals.

The renewed interest in diesel as of late stems
from its potential to improve passenger vehicle
fuel economy. The best diesel passenger vehicles
of today are more efficient on fuel than their
gas counterparts, helping to reduce carbon
emissions by 30 percent or more.

There are some auto makers that are talking about
re-introducing diesel into light duty markets as
a solution for reducing global warming pollution
from both cars and trucks. Another important
reason is that the higher efficiency of diesels
will provide a quick fix for manufacturers who
are struggling to meet federal fuel economy
standards for light trucks.

Even if the efficiency benefits of diesel do
yield real world improvements on the economy, the
potential climate change benefits are modest.

Even though diesel achieves more miles per gallon
than gasoline, many are concerned about the
impact that diesel passenger vehicles have on
the economy. From time to time, the combustion
in the engine can cause black emissions to spit
from the exhaust, which is actually very bad
for the economy.

While gas is actually the worst, diesel is taking
strides to improve engines and the impact on
the economy. Diesel is getting more and more
popular these days, as gas prices continue to
rise and rise.

Although diesel engines can have an impact on
the economy, they are the way to go for those
looking to conserve mileage. Diesel vehicles
cost more than gas vehicles, although they will
offer you more than you can expect. If you are
looking for a quality ride, diesel is the way
to go.

Diesel is often looked at as being smelly, noisy, and
many think the only place for it is in a tractor. The
truth to diesel vehicles is that they are slow, noisy,
smelly, although they are cheaper to run than gas.

Diesel engines aren’t as powerful as gas engines, as
gas engines produce more horsepower than that of a
diesel engine. Diesel vehicles however, offer more
torque than gas. Therefore, it is a very thin line as
to which one is better.

When it comes to power, diesel is the more expensive
of the two. Diesel powered vehicles are normally more
expensive to buy than gas, and the parts are a lot
more expensive than gas vehicles. The diesel however,
is more reliable due to it being less complicated
internally and heavier to build, therefore it normally
lasts longer than gas engines.

Economy is always a factor as well, as will fuel
prices being what they are. Now days, it costs a
small fortune to fill up a gasoline vehicle, especially
the bigger engines. When it comes to fuel, diesel
is generally less expensive. You can fill up a diesel
vehicle for less of a price, and the fuel will
normally go longer than gas will.

Appearance is also important. Diesel is generally
loud, with the exhaust emitting black smoke when the
vehicle is throttled. You can normally tell when a
diesel pulls off by the black smoke it leaves behind.
Keep in mind, this isn’t a problem with the engine,
just means that the fuel is dirtier.

Tuning is also important. Gas engines are more
tunable than diesel, as you can get better power
increases from gas than you can with diesel. The
major thing diesel owners tend to go for is turbo,
as it is one sure way to match gasoline in terms
of power.

A turbo charged diesel can and will match a standard
gasoline engine for power, if not slightly better it
a bit. This is why most diesel cars come turbo
charged, as its a way to keep up with the modern
diesel engines of today.

When it comes to making the choice, you really have
to choose what is best for you and your needs. If
you want power with plenty of tuning options, then
gasoline engines are what you want. On the other
hand, if you want power and torque, then a diesel
vehicle is what you want.

The choices are entirely up to you, as there are
certainly plenty to choose from. Always check out
the vehicle you are interested in, and find out
if it will match your needs. Before you know it,
you’ll have a diesel or gas vehicle that will perform
well beyond your expectations.

The designs of diesel engines striving to increase
performance have made a lot of advancements in engine
fuel delivery to the combustion chamber. The diesel
engines of today are much quieter, smoother, and
also more powerful. The quality of diesel fuel on
the other hand has not advanced at the same rate as
the improvements of engines.

As soon as it is produced, diesel fuel begins to
deteriorate. Less than 30 days of refining, all
diesel fuel, regardless of the brand, goes through a
natural process called oxidation. This process forms
varnishes and gums in the fuel by causing the
molecules of the fuel to lengthen and start bonding
together.

Now, these components will drop to the bottom of the
fuel tank and form diesel sludge. The fuel will
begin to turn very dark in color, smell bad, and
cause the engine to smoke. The engine starts to
smoke as some of these clusters are small enough to
pass through the engine filtration and on to the
combustion chamber.

As the clusters begin to increase in size, only a
small amount of the molecules will get burned, as
the rest will go out the exhaust as unburned fuel
and smoke.

Its estimated that eight out of every ten diesel
engine failures are directly related to poor quality
and contaminated fuel. The build up of contamination
in the fuel systems and storage tanks can clog
filters, thereby causing the engine to shut down,
and damage to the engine to occur.

The number one reason for bad fuel is due to the
increasing popularity of diesel power and the
accompanying increased demand for more diesel fuel.
Long ago, diesel fuel remained in the refinery
storage tanks long enough to naturally seperate and
begin to settle, allowing the clean fuel to be
drawn apart. Now, with the demand getting higher
than ever, the fuel is never stationary long enough
to settle, and the suspended water and solids are
passed on to the person buying the fuel – you.

The changes in refinery techniques is also a
problem. In order to get more products, diesel
fuel is being refined for more marginal portions of
the crude barrel. This results in a lower grade
product that is thicker and also contains a lot
more contamination.

As time continues to pass and technology gets better
and better, one can only hope that the quality of
diesel fuel improves. As it stands now, the quality
isn’t good at all. If you run diesel fuel, all
you can basically hope for is that the fuel you
are getting isn’t contaminated.

Over the years, the prices of both gas and diesel
have experienced some drastic changes. Many years
ago, the price of gas was around a dollar or a
little more, nothing like it is today. Back then,
gas wasn’t high in price although the demand for
vehicles wasn’t what it is today either.

As the demand for vehicles grew, the demand for
fuel grew as well. Other actions and events have
played into the equation as well, resulting in
the rising costs of fuel. Fuel is something we
all need to run our vehicles, as we wouldn’t be
able to go anywhere without it.

As you may know, a majority of the gas we get at
local gas stations comes from overseas, primarily
the Middle East. Therefore, we have to pay taxes
and such on the gas we use, which pays for the
gas as well as the shipping. If we got our gas
from within the United States, one can’t help
but wonder whether or not the prices would indeed
be lower.

Diesel on the other hand, has always managed
to keep a price lower than gas. Diesel comes
from within the United States, so the prices are
of course going to be lower. The only problem
associated with diesel fuel is locating it, as
many gas stations don’t sell it.

When it comes to the choice between the two,
diesel fuel is obviously cheaper to buy. Gas is
in supply more, which means that you can find
it almost anywhere. If you own a gasoline
vehicle, you obviously don’t want to put diesel
in it. If you own a diesel vehicle, then you
of course wouldn’t want to put gas in it either.

If you’ve owned a diesel powered vehicle in the
past or if you own one now, you no doubt appreciate
the qualities this engine provides you with. More
torque, better fuel economy, and easier maintenance
are but a few of the attributes of owning diesel
powered vehicles.

However, there are some motorists that still
complain about the engine’s weak power, especially
when accelerating from a full stop. What you
may not be aware of is the fact that a diesel
engine can be tweaked to give more power without
harming the fuel economy.

Diesel engines use air compression to create
combustion versus the fuel/air mixture that is
required by gas engines. This attribute means
that diesel engines don’t require spark plugs
and therefore don’t need to be tuned up.

Diesel fuel has a much high fuel density than
gas, which results in fuel economy increases
of 20 – 30% over gasoline powered vehicles.

Diesel engines are also cheaper to maintain as
they have less parts than that of a gasoline
powered engine. The life span of a diesel
engine is also much longer.

If you’re looking for torque, for pulling a
boat or other equipment, then the diesel
engine has the supreme advantage. Diesel
engines are surely slower, especially when
starting from a dead stop, although when you
climb hills or go over bridges, the diesel
engine is surely up to the task.

With trucks, diesel is normally the leader
over gas engines in terms of performance and
miles per gallon. Diesel trucks will get
more miles than gas trucks, and the price for
diesel is a bit cheaper than gas these days.
And with gas prices on the rise, diesel will
continue to dominate for a long time to come.

The major distinction between diesel and gas lies in
the type of ignition. While gas engines operate on
spark ignition, diesel engines employ compression
ignition for igniting the fuel. With compression, the
air is drawn into the engine and subjected to high
compression that heats it up. The result is a very
high temperature in the engine, much high than that
of gas engines.

In diesel engines, air and fuel are both infused into
the engine at different stages, as opposed to gas
where a mixture of air and gas are introduced. The
fuel is injected into the diesel using an injector
where in a gas engine, a carburetor is used for this
very purpose.

With gas engines, fuel and air are sent into the
engine at the same time, then compressed. The air
and fuel mixture will limit fuel compression, and
thereby hence the overall efficiency. Diesel engines
only compress air, and the resulting ratio can be
much higher.

Advantages
Diesel engines are much more efficient and
preferable as compared to gas engines due to the
following reasons:
1. Diesel engines have overcome the several
disadvantages of earlier models that featured higher
noise and maintenance costs. Now, they are quiet
and require less regular maintenance when compared
with gas engines of a similar size.
2. Diesel engines are more rugged and reliable.
3. There is no sparking at all as the fuel
ignites. The absence of spark plubs or spark
wires also helps to lower maintenance cost.
4. The fuel cost produced is 30 – 50 percent
lower than gas engine fuel prices.
5. Gas burns hotter than diesel, and
therefore they have a shorter life span when they
are compared with diesel engines.

With diesel engines, the compression ratio is higher
and there is more power. From a technical point, the
compression ratio of an engine is the comparison of the
total volume of the cylinder at the bottom of the
piston’s stroke divided by the volume of the cylinder
remaining at the top of the stroke.

Gasoline ratios
Serious damage to gas engines can occur if you attempt
to run a high compression ratio with a low octane type
of fuel. Detonation is the ignition of the fuel due
to the high temperature caused by a high compression
ratio that is developed by design. The fuel is
ignited prior to the spark of the plugs that result
in a rapid, yet uncontrolled burning.

Diesel ratios
Keep in mind, the diesel is a heat engine, using heat
developed from the compression of air. High compression
ratios are possible since the air is compressed. The
hot compressed air is sufficient to ignite the diesel
fuel when it’s finally injected near the top of the
compression stroke.

Diesel engines
Fuel and air in the design of diesel engines are not
premixed outside of the cylinder. Air is taken into
the cylinder through the intake valve and then
compressed to make heat. The diesel fuel is injected
near the top of the piston’s stroke in an amount or
ratio that corresponds to the load on the engine.

Heavy duty
The higher compression ratio causes engineers to
design, and test the block, heads, head bolts,
crackshaft, connecting rods, rod bolts, pistons,
piston pins, etc., with a greater range of structural
capacity. To put it in other terms, diesels are
heavier than gasoline engines.

Gasoline
Deciding on gas and diesel can be tough, although
there are several reasons why you should use diesel.
1. Diesel engines produce twice the power
per gallon of fuel than gasoline.
2. A gallon of diesel is normally cheaper
than a gallon of gas.
3. Diesel fuel doesn’t blow up. The fact
is, its hard to get diesel to burn at all.
4. Diesel engines will last four times
longer than gasoline engines.
5. Diesel fuel that is untreated will last
longer in storage than untreated gasoline.
6. Treated diesel fuel will last longer in
storage than treated gasoline.
7. Diesel fuel treatment will cost less
than gas treatment.
8. Spoiled diesel can be reconditioned to
refinery specifications, as spoiled gas can’t.
9. Unmodified diesel engines can be ran on
vegetable oil.

Most efficient overall – Honda Insight hybrid
With 60 mpg city and 66 mpg highway, the Honda hybrid
has top honors as most fuel efficient in the United
States. With a 1.0 gas engine mated to an electric
motor, the insight was designed to make the most
of the power by using low resistance tires. The
bad things about the Insight include a cramped
interior, seating for two, and a very odd styling.

Fuel efficient mid size car – Toyota Prius hybrid
(60 mpg city and 51 mpg highway)
The Prius, unlike the Honda Insight, is capable of
carrying 5 people plus their gear. The Prius will
generate a total of 110 HP from its gasoline engine
and electric motor. The sleek shape to the Prius
has a low co-efficient drag although Toyota has
managed to do this with a larger, yet more driver
friendly vehicle than the Insight of Toyota.

Most efficient compact car – Honda Civic hybrid
(49 mpg city and 51 mpg highway)
With a reputation of being the cheapest hybrid in
North America, the Civic hybrid takes the great
design of the regular Civic and makes it a lot more
efficient. With an output of 110 HP, the Civic
hybrid is very competitive for the class.

Most efficient sub compact car – Volkswagon diesel
(37 mpg city and 44 mpg highway)
The Volkswagon Beetle diesel is ahead of even the
sub compact hybrids. Making 100 HP, the Beetle
diesel may not sound that powerful, although the
177 lb-foot of torque will put shame on every
other vehicle in the same class.

Most efficient station wagon – Pontiac and Toyota
(30 mpg city and 36 mpg highway)
The Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Matrix are both the
result of a joint venture of Toyota and General
Motors. Both vehicles come equipped with Toyota
engines, although a lot of the design and
engineering came from General Motors. Both the
Matrix and the Vibe are versatile with active
lifestyles. With a fuel efficient 1.8L 4 cylinder
that produces 126 HP, the Matrix and the Vibe
aren’t going to win a street race although they
make up for it with smoothness, efficiency, and
refinement.

Most efficient large car – Hyundai Sonata
(24 mpg city and 34 mpg highway)
The Sonata is a major surprise, beating out very
stiff competition. The 2.4L 4 cylinder engine is
very smooth, responsive, and powerful. The
suspension however, is soft, and geared more
towards comfort than handling. This isn’t a BMW,
although the build quality is great, clearly
demonstrating that Hyundai is no longer a second
rate manufacturer.

Industrial diesel engines are any engines that are used
for industrial purposes that run on diesel. Industrial
diesel engines are used to power a major portion of
industrial machinery, from motorbikes to bulldozers,
generators, and even forklifts and trucks. They range
in size from a few pounds to a few tons, with a various
amount of power.

The use of diesel engines is mandated by several large
organizations. All NATO machinery for example, runs on
either diesel or aviation grade kerosene. At the
current level of technology, fossil fuels, and especially
diesel are the most economical and convenient means
of supplying power to a variety of equipment and
even backup generators.

All industrial diesel engines can be either air cooled
or water cooled. The smallest engines for residential
purposes will typically provide about 10kW and cost
a few thousand USD. These smaller scale engines power
much of the mobile machinery we see around us on a
daily basis, such as trucks, farm equipment, small
boats, stationary process machinery, earth movers,
and so on.

The medium scale industrial diesel engines can provide
levels between a few hundred kW and a few thousand
kW and are sold for prices in usually the thousands
of dollars. These types are used in larger machinery
such as larger mining equipment, oil rigs, trains,
large boats, military equipment, and much more.

The largest of industrial diesel engines provide 10,000
to 80,000 kW, sold in the millions of dollars, and
are used for ultra heavy equipment, electric power
generation, and the largest of ships. Large industrial
engines can be up to 49 feet side and run on low
grade diesels. In places such as China, where there
is a high demand for de-centralized power sources,
these types of engines are often utilized.

Industral engines are classified in terms of their
speed, or RPM (Rotations Per Minute). High RPM
engines are normally used for the lighter, more common
applications, such as trucks and other types of land
equipment.

Medium RPM engines are generally used for power
generation. Low RPM ranges, and high torque engines
are used for the biggest type of equipment, such as
marine equipment and applications.

For the most part, industrial diesel engines can
vary in terms of size and performance. Chances are,
you’ve either seen or used industrial equipment at
some point in time. Although they cost a lot of
money, they are the way to go with bigger equipment
for getting the job done right the first time.

There are very few engine configurations that promise
increased fuel economy and power. There are few
engines that offer this in addition to reliability.
Today, those across the ocean are enjoying the
fruits of diesel technology revolution.

Diesels have experienced a great history here in the
United States. In 1980, General Motors modified
their 350ci gas V8 to run on diesel fuel. The result
however, wasn’t that god. These engines offered
better fuel economy but little else. They were
very slow, and not very reliable.

Mercedes Benz on the other hand, had better luck
in the 1980s with an array of vehicles available
with diesel engines. These great vehicles offered
amazing durability although they were rough, noisy,
and smoked quite a bit. Volkswagon offered diesel
as well, although they had a habit for spewing
blue smoke from the tail pipe.

Throughout the 90s, Benz and Volkwagon offered
diesel vehicles in the United States, with each
generation becoming cleaner, smoother, and more
powerful than the last. Overall, they were a
tough sell as they still lacked the horsepower
that many were seeking.

Today, Mercedes, BMW, Jaguar, Volkswagon, Ford,
and many other manufacturers are offering diesels
to many markets throughout the world. To put it
simple, forget everything you know or think you
know about diesel engines in the United States.

These newer engines benefit from hundreds of
technical innovations. There are several diesels
in Europe that offer better acceleration than
their gasoline counter parts. BMW’s 120d has
163bhp, goes 0 – 60 in under 8 seconds, and
achieves 49.6 miles per gallon.

Benz offers the C320 CDI SE that has 224bhp, and
over 360 lb foot of torque. This car gets just
under 48 mpg on the highway, with an acceleration
of 0 – 60 in under 7 seconds. Throughout North
America, you won’t find a gasoline engine that
offers this unique blend of fuel economy and
excellent performance.

The reason why diesels haven’t caught on in
North America comes down to one word – sulfur. We
have too much sulfur in the diesel here in the
United States. This cheap grade of diesel fuel
will run havoc on the more sophisticated diesels
offered overseas and cause an increase in
emissions.

There is hope however, as refiners will soon be
producing what is known as ultra low sulfur
diesel fuel. This will help to reduce the sulfur
content from 500ppm to 15ppm.

With the ever increasing cost of gasoline prices,
auto makers are having to work overtime to cost
effictively improve the fuel economy, while still
meeting the strict emission requirements of today
with gasoline engines.

One ideal and promising way to boost the fuel
economy of gas engines is to add hydrogen to the
fuel/air mixture in the engine. Since hydrogen
isn’t available at the local gas station, selling
a hydrogen boosted gas engine wasn’t on the list
of engines – until now.

Lack of emission
A major cost and environmental advantage to hydrogen
boosted gas engines are low amounts of NOx emission
gas, which will completely eliminate the need for
external NOx emissions control. Currently, NOx
emissions control is a major cost problem for diesel
engines which use expensive traps to meet the
emission standards. Diesel engines particulate
emissions that must be collected by a filter that
should be changed periodically.

Hydrogen boosted engines on the other hand require
neither NOx or particulate control and require only
a low cost oxidation catalyst to control very small
amounts of exhaust which is formed mostly during
the engine starting up and warming up. Additional
cuts in emissions control requirements stem from
the engine’s ability to use only the clean hydrogen
enriched charge during the cold start phase when
90% of emissions are generated in the emission test.

Cost
The hydrogen boost system is effectively a bolt
on technology that can be added to an existing
vehicle’s engine compartment. According to those
developing the system, the cost of the system is
less than half of the added cost for diesel.

The future
Prototype hydrogen boosted engines are now be
installed in test SUV vehicles that have
sufficient space for the reformer and it’s related
system. The start of long term road testing
for performance, reliability, and durability
information is planned for later on in the year
before the system goes further into development.

Four cylinder gasoline engines will likely be the
prime candidates for the technology as high gas
prices continue to generate competition among the
higher fuel economy models that seek MPG
leadership.

With gas prices getting higher and higher, hydrogen
boosted gas engines offer you the chance to get
more miles per gallon and not have to worry about
burning up all of your fuel. Instead of having to
go out and buy a diesel to conserve fuel, hydrogen
boosted units will help you preserve gas.

Even though they aren’t available to buy right now,
they will be very soon. Many manufacturers are
looking into them, as they offer gasoline engines
something like never before. If you own a gas
powered vehicle and have thought of giving it up
to go diesel, you might want to think again – as
hydrogen boost units may change the world of gas
engines forever.