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[quote=”johnzcarz” post=38368]Here’s one of my all-time favorites..from when sports cars were sports cars.
Alfa romeo spider 🙂
Sports cars still exist, they are just not of US heritage that often(new corvettes maybe, vipers no).
[quote=”johnzcarz” post=38368]Here’s one of my all-time favorites..from when sports cars were sports cars.
Alfa romeo spider 🙂
Sports cars still exist, they are just not of US heritage that often(new corvettes maybe, vipers no).
I wonder why wankels on motorbikes never caught on. Low mass and low center of gravity, high power for small displacement and willing to rev.
Any ideas?
I wonder why wankels on motorbikes never caught on. Low mass and low center of gravity, high power for small displacement and willing to rev.
Any ideas?
Would actually be interestin to hear what people drive and if they know what common issues you can encounter with that model :).
Would actually be interestin to hear what people drive and if they know what common issues you can encounter with that model :).
The problem with ethanol is that it is hygroscopic (likes to bind water). The issues are not with ethanol itself as it both runs cleaner and produces more power than the gasoline equivalent when implemented correctly. SAAB showed this many years ago and I remember seeing a converted mustang also years ago on TV getting more power http://www.greencar.com/articles/saab-biopower-100-concept-e100-ethanol-vehicle.php. You do reduce MPG which is due to the energy of the chemical bonds (no ring, lacking carbons and the alcohol group), but it is my (unsubstantiated) opinion that it could be equalled out greatly by reducing the power output gained from higher compression.
Ethanol is cool because it is green and produces water vapor as waste versus carbon particles. It is not feasible however to change from gasoline to ethanol until fuel cells are commonplace. There are simply not enough biomass production to sustain the american fleet of cars.
As for octane, octane is the resistance to spontaneous ignition under pressure. Running higher octane is rarely bad unless you go very very high. The spark will ignite and control the timing as usual. Going too low however can cause early detonation which of course is bad. Most newer cars will adjust the timing to the fuel to compensate for octane rating.
Higher octane ratings allow you to run higher compressions = more torque = more power, this is what European and Asian cars do allowing the use of smaller engines, but equal power. In my country, standard petrol is 95 and premium 98.I would never, ever put pure ethanol in my gasoline car simply because when you run out of timing to adjust you are in trouble.
Regarding ethanol and damage to the engine, most sources I have read point to the water in the gas as the main culprit of premature wear. Others say it will eat gaskets, o-rings etc. faster, however as benzene is a hasher solvent I find that hard to believe.
The problem with ethanol is that it is hygroscopic (likes to bind water). The issues are not with ethanol itself as it both runs cleaner and produces more power than the gasoline equivalent when implemented correctly. SAAB showed this many years ago and I remember seeing a converted mustang also years ago on TV getting more power http://www.greencar.com/articles/saab-biopower-100-concept-e100-ethanol-vehicle.php. You do reduce MPG which is due to the energy of the chemical bonds (no ring, lacking carbons and the alcohol group), but it is my (unsubstantiated) opinion that it could be equalled out greatly by reducing the power output gained from higher compression.
Ethanol is cool because it is green and produces water vapor as waste versus carbon particles. It is not feasible however to change from gasoline to ethanol until fuel cells are commonplace. There are simply not enough biomass production to sustain the american fleet of cars.
As for octane, octane is the resistance to spontaneous ignition under pressure. Running higher octane is rarely bad unless you go very very high. The spark will ignite and control the timing as usual. Going too low however can cause early detonation which of course is bad. Most newer cars will adjust the timing to the fuel to compensate for octane rating.
Higher octane ratings allow you to run higher compressions = more torque = more power, this is what European and Asian cars do allowing the use of smaller engines, but equal power. In my country, standard petrol is 95 and premium 98.I would never, ever put pure ethanol in my gasoline car simply because when you run out of timing to adjust you are in trouble.
Regarding ethanol and damage to the engine, most sources I have read point to the water in the gas as the main culprit of premature wear. Others say it will eat gaskets, o-rings etc. faster, however as benzene is a hasher solvent I find that hard to believe.
Good point thisisboud. I overlooked that part, but a valid question if they are being reused and what the mileage is.
Good point thisisboud. I overlooked that part, but a valid question if they are being reused and what the mileage is.