Pressure Water Uses

[donald w. miller]

>Now here is a crazy idea for a crazy upgrade. I have installed
>a water line from the kitchen to the front of the coach. I am going to
>install a lawn sprinkler on the grill. If I am pulling a long hard grade
and
>the old girl starts to overheat--------hit the switch and the radiator gets
>a shower from the water in my tank. Silly right ---------oh I dont know
>I love it.



>Take Care
>Arch

Arch,

I think, not such a crazy idea.

Summer of 56, I was a student intern at a Westinghouse Air Conditioning
Research Lab. One project was sprinkling the outside coil of a commercial
air conditioning condenser and measuring the improvement. Sorry I can't
remember the numbers for you, but a definite improvement.

Some more CRAZY uses for the GMC pressure fresh water system:

1. Mist front brake rotors to cool them in mountains. Tail lights activate
a solenoid and oil furnace nozzles squirt the disks.

2. Engine Water Injection. An old trick rarely seen anymore. Adding some
water mist when under heavy throttle reduces the onset of detonation. It
allows you to advance ignition timing somewhat for more power, better
efficiency and increased mpg.

I put an Edelbrock water injection system on the 454 Suburban when we pulled
our 31' Airstream to Alaska one summer. It seemed to work as advertised
and I was a happy customer. That was in the early 80's and not sure if
Edelbrock still offers them.

With the GMC, an oil furnace nozzle in air cleaner using the pressure fresh
water system would be an inexpensive way to add it. A throttle switch
actuated solenoid would be one way to control it.

BTW, someone mentioned the hot water heater coolant loop always by passes
the radiator.
Sounded like a cooling system design flaw which would contribute to the
engine overheating quicker.
I made a note to add a valve to restrict the water heater coolant flow, if
needed.

Cheers,

Don Miller

 

[zachary zehnacker]

Don,

> 1. Mist front brake rotors to cool them in mountains. Tail lights activate
>a solenoid and oil furnace nozzles squirt the disks.

This is used on some race trucks that I have seen. They have this series
that uses big trucks on regular road race courses. The trucks go through
some unbelievable amounts of water to keep the brakes cool. I would think
that it might cause more trouble than it was worth on a street vehicle
though. It could lead to warpage or rust. Wet brakes usually do not stop
as well as dry brakes either, so that would have to be taken into account.
If properly done, the water would evaporate quickly so the brakes would be
dry, but that would take a pretty precise control of the water spray.

>
> 2. Engine Water Injection. An old trick rarely seen anymore. Adding some
>water mist when under heavy throttle reduces the onset of detonation. It
>allows you to advance ignition timing somewhat for more power, better
>efficiency and increased mpg.
>
>I put an Edelbrock water injection system on the 454 Suburban when we pulled
>our 31' Airstream to Alaska one summer. It seemed to work as advertised
>and I was a happy customer. That was in the early 80's and not sure if
>Edelbrock still offers them.
>
>With the GMC, an oil furnace nozzle in air cleaner using the pressure fresh
>water system would be an inexpensive way to add it. A throttle switch
>actuated solenoid would be one way to control it.

We had a Spearco water injection system on our GMC for a couple of years.
It really did make a pretty big difference, and we really liked it. The
tank was not big enough to last a gas stop, however, so we would usually
run out of water. We considered adding an automatic filler, but the unit
failed before we got to it. We were very interested in the Edelbrock unit,
but they don't make it anymore . That unit seemed to be much better
designed than the Spearco unit we had. Spearco may still make them though.
We tried to call them, but the catalog they sent us only had turbo stuff
in it. They mostly make water injection and intercooler sprayers for turbo
vehicles now.

I wouldn't suggest trying to make your own without using some sort of
vacuum operated switch. You only want the water to be injected when the
engine is under a decent load (low vacuum). You can cause serious damage
to the motor if you put too much water in it or put water in when it is not
running. We actually had a problem with the Spearco unit once that almost
did just that. The motor was running very roughly because the spearco was
injecting water in when it shouldn't have been (high vacuum/light load
conditions). Luckily we noticed it, and were able to stop it before any
damage occurred.

Zak

 

[donald w. miller]

Zak and all,

Gonna snow soon, so I am busy pondering how to add six wheel drive to my
GMC.

Was considering replacing tranny and differential with a great big hydraulic
pump. Each wheel would get a hydraulic motor. A 750+ hp engine might even
smoke all six on dry pavement. Infinite gear ratios just like a lawnmower.
Dream on Don. hee hee

I first heard of brake rotor misting being used on a Can-Am car. Worked so
well the team added it to their tow vehicle, a motor home. They only turn
it on after the disks are smoking hot, so it instantly turns to steam.
Applied where the rotor exits the pad, little if any water remains on the
disk as it reaches the pad again. They gave it a big thumbs up.

A neighbor had one of those turbo charged alky water injected Oldsmobile's,
Rick mentioned. It was a neat engine and I think this was about 1962. Only
one I ever saw so I think they were pretty rare. My neighbors father owned
an Olds dealership which helps explain why he had one.

My Edelbrock water injection system sensed the engine vacuum and I think
there probably was a second input. This may have been throttle position or
perhaps mechanical advance. These inputs controlled the rate of water
injection. There were one or two adjustments to play with.

W.W.II fighter aircraft used a water alcohol mix. Seems there was an added
benefit to the engine from adding the alcohol to water, beyond the
antifreeze aspect. Maybe someone on the list remembers.

I think I might add water injection to my GMC. It is beneficial, especially
with harder working engines.

There is a British outfit offering what appears to be a decent system.
http://www.aquamist.co.uk/ Anyone familiar with their products?

Nice to see Arch has found a neat work around to the radiator mineralization
buildup by switching to 40 gallons of Scotch. Doesn't Scotch require some
further processing before being deposited on a radiator? We could all pitch
in and help with that.

Cheers,

Don
Shenandoah Valley of Virginia



>We had a Spearco water injection system on our GMC for a couple of years.
>It really did make a pretty big difference, and we really liked it. The
>tank was not big enough to last a gas stop, however, so we would usually
>run out of water. We considered adding an automatic filler, but the unit
>failed before we got to it. We were very interested in the Edelbrock unit,
>but they don't make it anymore . That unit seemed to be much better
>designed than the Spearco unit we had. Spearco may still make them though.
> We tried to call them, but the catalog they sent us only had turbo stuff
>in it. They mostly make water injection and intercooler sprayers for turbo
>vehicles now.
>
>I wouldn't suggest trying to make your own without using some sort of
>vacuum operated switch. You only want the water to be injected when the
>engine is under a decent load (low vacuum). You can cause serious damage
>to the motor if you put too much water in it or put water in when it is not
>running. We actually had a problem with the Spearco unit once that almost
>did just that. The motor was running very roughly because the spearco was
>injecting water in when it shouldn't have been (high vacuum/light load
>conditions). Luckily we noticed it, and were able to stop it before any
>damage occurred.
>
>Zak
>

 

[dave lowry]

Misting a hot radiator with post-processed scotch would most definitely
produce non-conforming emissions.

Dave Lowry, '76 Royale, Santa Barbara