Gas Hole (Documentary)

[UT-Engineer]

Anyone else see the Doc "Gas Hole"? It’s on Netflix BTW. It’s pretty interesting but i tend to be a little skeptical with certain documentaries. If you haven’t seen it, it's basically the argument that the technology has been out for decades to increase gas mileage beyond 100mpg. This was apparently done on a Studebaker decades ago but the patent for the design to do so was bought out by Shell and never released. The inventor was mysteriously found dead due to an OD as well,...what a coincidence. The patent was never released because; well... then Shell and all of its other Oil Industry buddies would go out of business. Again, I’m not sure how much truth there is to all of this but i tend to be a conspiracy nut myself and am intrigued at the idea that there is technology out there to get this kind of fuel economy. If this is true, the world truly is corrupt by the all mighty dollar instead of progressing and advancing humanity.

[10forty2]

There's probably a good degree of truth behind it. Back in the late 70's, a friend of mine modified a Briggs/Stratton 5HP lawnmower engine as a science project for school. They effectively demonstrated that their modified internal combustion engine would run for several hours on just a few drops of gasoline. Of course that didn't include any practical loading of the engine either.

[Steve Dallas]

I suggest you read this article.

http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/pseudosc/200mpgcar.htm

Pretty much a myth. Under perfect conditions, -maybe- you could get 80 miles out of a gallon of gas. If there was no rolling resistance, friction or any other factor, maybe 400 miles coasting.

In other words, bringing facts and physics into this...it's impossible. Gas provides 130,000,000 joules of energy (approximately). That will only do so much work.

[dragon2368]

Oil companies wouldn't go out of business if cars were able to get 100 MPG anyway. Gas prices would just go up.

Simple supply and demand.

[UT-Engineer]

Originally Posted by Steve Dallas

I suggest you read this article.

http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/pseudosc/200mpgcar.htm

Pretty much a myth. Under perfect conditions, -maybe- you could get 80 miles out of a gallon of gas. If there was no rolling resistance, friction or any other factor, maybe 400 miles coasting.

In other words, bringing facts and physics into this...it's impossible. Gas provides 130,000,000 joules of energy (approximately). That will only do so much work.

Before I read the artilce you linked, im taking it you havent seen the documentary. The way he got 100mpg+ was using water and vapor i believe. It had to do with a new configuration of the carburator. It wasnt a pure modification of the combustion process and gasoline but other componets, so that in a sense dosent make your agrument completely true.

[UT-Engineer]

Originally Posted by dragon2368

Oil companies wouldn't go out of business if cars were able to get 100 MPG anyway. Gas prices would just go up.

Simple supply and demand.

Yes this is mentioned as well in the film. We are also being poked in the eyes here (according to the film). When the market flucuates and foreign oil (imported) is increases, the oil companies are using this as an excuse why we pay higher prices at the pumps... however, the spike in prices is not proportional to what they are paying for the imported oil. For example, the gas companies end up paying $0.05 more per gallon, they'll bump it up at the pump to $0.15 per gallon, and their excuse is it's the market.. well they just made a hefty profit IMO.

[The Stig]

Now I haven't watched the documentary, but what you're describing sounds like Steam Punk technology. The ability to harness steam engines and produce huge amounts of energy. Which was something only seen in science fiction as far as I know.

[dragon2368]

Originally Posted by UT-Engineer

Yes this is mentioned as well in the film. We are also being poked in the eyes here (according to the film). When the market flucuates and foreign oil (imported) is increases, the oil companies are using this as an excuse why we pay higher prices at the pumps... however, the spike in prices is not proportional to what they are paying for the imported oil. For example, the gas companies end up paying $0.05 more per gallon, they'll bump it up at the pump to $0.15 per gallon, and their excuse is it's the market.. well they just made a hefty profit IMO.

By that reasoning........ More fuel efficient cars equates to un-proportionately higher priced fuel. So creating more fuel efficient cars is a backwards proposition.

[REDXIIIDave]

Originally Posted by dragon2368

Oil companies wouldn't go out of business if cars were able to get 100 MPG anyway. Gas prices would just go up.

Simple supply and demand.

This doesn't make sense. With 100 mpg, demand would go down. They would have to artificially restrict the supply significantly for "supply/demand" to cause gas prices to rise.

That's not to say prices wouldn't rise, it's just that the oil companies might raise them to allow for the same amount of total profit from less gallons sold. Supply and demand aren't the only things that determine market pricing. Don't forget pure GREED.

[Dr.Manhattan]

I was going to watch the Documentary, just haven't got around too it. It's on Netflix if anyone is interested. I recently watched " Who Killed the Electric Car " which was also a very good documentary on GM's late Volt car. I'll check this documentary tonight.

[NYJets77]

sounds like the conspiracy theories about cold fusion....

[Nightfall]

Originally Posted by REDXIIIDave

This doesn't make sense. With 100 mpg, demand would go down. They would have to artificially restrict the supply significantly for "supply/demand" to cause gas prices to rise.

That's not to say prices wouldn't rise, it's just that the oil companies might raise them to allow for the same amount of total profit from less gallons sold. Supply and demand aren't the only things that determine market pricing. Don't forget pure GREED.

ah greed lol what makes the world spin

[bandier]

Patents are open for review at www.USPTO.gov. so if there is a patent anyone can see it. Now you may not be able to use it without licensing it with the inventor. Also patents expire after 20 years... then anyone can use it! This documentary may not have all the facts right.

[outlaw2]

I remember hearing this story in 1978, same year I bought my 1966 Impala SS Convertible for $25.00, everyone was unloading the "Big" cars for Mavricks,Pintos,AMC pacers and Gremlins...didn't know the story was still going on after all these years, Glad I kept my Ragtop V-8 at $4 a gallon 33 years later