[DGthe3]

I smell snake-oil. Something aint right. If it works as advertised, every automaker would be installing them. Thousands of engineers cannot be wrong, a couple here and there yes. But the majority (playing it safe, is probably an overwhelming majority) in an entire industry? Heres what I've taken notice on.

1) patent pending. Patents can only be approved if the thing does what it says. So long as they are applying for a patent, it is patent pending. That does not mean that it will work. Doesn't mean it won't work either. Just something to look out for

2) Anything that I have heard, nearly all of these systems are a scam. A select few aren't. I haven't found anything on their web page that describes how their system works. They explain about electrolysis and other things, but nothing specific to how they get such improved fuel economy. That sets off warning bells in my head.

3) Where are they getting the energy to run this thing off of? They say themselves that electrolysis is 50-70% efficient, ignore the theoretical limit stuff. That means that roughly 1/2 the energy you put in actually goes into getting hydrogen out. Then there is the pesky problem that it takes more energy to break the hydrogen-oxygen bonds in water than you get back from them when the reform under combustion, not sure of the exact numbers but I think its something like 75% but that is little more than a guess. Then, figure that the infernal combustion engine is roughly 35% efficient when burning gasoline. Finally, I think its safe to assume that the juice to run it comes from the alternator in the car, which runs at about 60% efficiency. So, for every 1000 units of electrical energy that gets put in, you can expect at most 110 units back, possibly half that. This is why hydrogen is not a fuel source! Would you believe someone that says that it is a wise investment if you get a dollar back for every 10 you put in?

Based on that, unless there is some sort of special effect of combining hydrogen with gasoline that makes the entire process more efficient (it happens with low amounts of ethanol so its possible), it is impossible for this to improve fuel economy. It merely creates a drain on the battery and alternator. I am not a combustion expert, but I would guess that this device does 1 of 2 things. It will either add oxygen, venting the hydrogen gas back to the atmosphere. That would allow for more complete combustion to take place, reducing the amount of unburned fuel as well as carbon and carbon monoxide gas levels as well as several others. I think this may be the case, not positive though.

The other thing that may happen is the hydrogen burns hotter (or possibly cooler) allowing for a different set of reactions to take place. This would make for the lower emissions levels claimed. No idea how it improves economy.