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Can You Run Your Subaru on Water?

While we don’t yet know the true answer to this question, we will in the not to distant future.

After a friend asked me what I thought of the internet hype and you tube videos showing a “in the vehicle hydrogen generator” that creates browns gas or hho, I decided to look into it further.

One of the common arguments I have observed is that it will take more energy to create the hho than reaped in producing it in the first place. But how can anyone really know this for sure in a car with an alternator.

I want to be sure to point out that I am not a scientist or an engineer; I am merely just a Technician, business owner and concerned father of two boys who I want to have a bright future and I often worry that there are just not enough people truly trying to come up with ways to decrease the amount of fuel used in cars and thus decrease the emissions they produce.

Whether you believe in global warming or not you must realize by now that as the rest of the world becomes more like the U.S. and consumes more commodities such as oil the price of gas may fluctuate a little, but is on a steady rise to much higher prices in the future.

So I look to what I know to be true, If HHO can truly be produced in a hydrogen generator mounted in a car, I can figure a way to decrease the total amperage draw of the car to compensate for the increase in amperage draw from the generator.

So here is what we are going to attempt. We are going to build and install the system as outlined in a book bought online. As the project goes along I will provide updates to our progress as I can. What is learned and achieved as well as any failures. Since this is somewhat of a departure from what we normally do, I am not sure how long this will take. I am optimistic that from research into materials, supply to design, build, installation and finally testing that we can have this done in a few months time.

It is not our intent to try and “cash in” on any hype and the reason for posting an article on our blog is to try and bring about awareness. We might want input from someone in the scientific community if we were to get stuck on one or more particular aspects of the hydrogen generator build.

Here is the vehicle we are going to use as the test car. A 1993 Subaru Legacy, with almost 300,000 miles. Two reasons for choosing this car. One, we know Subaru’s very well and once the Generator is installed it should be immediately apparent to me if it is helping or hurting the car. Two, if it damages the car, it has had a good life and I wouldn’t be out to much.

If we are successful, it does indeed work and offer real fuel savings, than we may offer to try and replicate it and offer the systems to be installed.

Again we didn’t event the technology being installed here we are only out to see if it really works. If it does is it practical, reliable and stable.

If we ultimately don’t end up with a success, there is that old saying. Out of failure breeds success and maybe we can have a part in it.

Wish us luck, please send us your feedback and we will keep you posted as we can.

Justin

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Mercedes Gullwing test mule was caught in Germany at the Nurburgring.

The proportions of this prototype would appear to put to rest any of the McLaren F2 mid-engine rumours that had been swirling around Mercedes next supercar effort.

The test mule uses some Dodge Viper body panels at the rear, but any similarities end there, as this Gullwing car mule has a longer wheelbase which closely matches that of the SLR, and it clearly displays a long hood and cab-rearward stance.

Despite previous reports of the Gullwing car being a smaller SLR, based on the R230 SL class platform, it now seems unlikely judging by the overall dimensions of this test mule. As a result, some uncertainty as to the true nature of this vehicle is starting to circulate.

Australia’s 1980 Formula One world champion, Alan Jones, believes there won’t be a grand prix held in this country beyond 2010.

The 1980 title winner believes Melbourne will lose the Australian Grand Prix when its deal with F1 ring-master Bernie Ecclestone runs out in 2010. And he doesn’t think it will move to Sydney, either.

Sydney’s Eastern Creek Raceway recently announced it had initiated a feasibility study into upgrading its circuit to Formula One standards, but Jones believes the $30 million investment rumoured will not be sufficient.

“They’re talking about spending $30 million on it, which would probably furnish Bernie’s office but I don’t think it’d build a good F1 track,” Jones told Eurosport.com.

“They’re [Eastern Creek] kidding themselves. If I was a betting man I wouldn’t say F1 is going to be in Melbourne either after 2010.”

It’s no secret that many - if not most - current F1 circuits struggle to generate a profit despite staging a round of what is regarded as the pinnacle of world motorsport. Melbourne isn’t alone in recording losses as an F1 host.

But whether an Aussie GP stayed at Albert Park as a night race (as desired by Ecclestone), a street race in Sydney, or at a significantly upgraded Eastern Creek, either option would be preferable to Australia falling off the F1 calendar - even if the sports popularity here is considerably less than in other parts of the world.

If F1 drivers and teams had a say in which countries hosted a grand prix, you can be sure Australia would be included. Albert Park continues to be one of their favourite destinations (even if the actual track itself isn’t popular with every driver).

Jez Spinks

The technology used in Australian headlamps could soon be used for Formula One events.

 Hella Australia has transferred the reflector technology used in its lamps for some locally made cars, including the Holden Commodore, into a giant lighting operation developed for potential use at the ING Australian Grand Prix. It could even be used to light the world’s first Formula One night race, in Singapore in September.

The system was developed by Hella in Melbourne and has been tested in secret at the Calder Park Raceway.

The test included laps by F1 racer Mark Webber in an Elfin sports car, five-time world motorcycle champion Mick Doohan on a road bike and Leanne Tander in her Formula Three car. Results have been submitted to the world governing body of motorsport, the FIA, to have the Hella system certified for grand prix use.

“We’ve shown it can be done,” says Hella Australia’s Thomas Plessinger. “A year ago it was a dream; now we know it’s realistic. And not only from our perspective, but for F1. It’s possible we could light all motorsport.”

The multi-million-dollar program was approved by Hella headquarters in Europe and Plessinger has been marketing the new system at several sites.

Details of the Hella system are secret, but Plessinger says there is a link to road-car technology.

“Hella has been making automotive lamps for 108 years. This is similar to car-headlamp technology, reflecting the light in a similar way. It has been designed, developed and made in Australia.”

Forty-four units were built for the test at Calder Park and the manufacturing team is on standby for a full production run.

Hella is waiting to see what happens in Singapore and also for a firm plan for a night race at Melbourne’s Albert Park.

- The Daily Telegraph

Petrol prices are predicted to soar as high as two dollars.

Motorists should prepare for petrol prices to remain above $1.50 a litre as the world oil price continues its climb, amid predictions they could hit $2.

The average price nationally for a litre of petrol was $1.47 last week, but Asian benchmark refining prices have already moved higher since Monday, meaning motorists would soon be slugged extra at the bowser.

In a grim warning to the world, Goldman Sachs said, in a note to clients that oil prices could soon reach $US200 a barrel, a price that would send Australian petrol prices to $2 a litre.

BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers last night added that global oil supply would continue to be constrained because the best new deposits were nearly all located in politically sensitive countries. “I can’t see any scenario where strong oil prices are not here to stay,” Mr Kloppers said.

A spokesman for Caltex said there was not much Australian retail sellers of petrol could do while Singapore prices were high. Economists suggested that households needed to adjust spending patterns to cope with the higher motoring costs.

Craig James of CommSec said: “The tipping point now for consumers to again adjust their behaviour is $1.50 a litre.”

The rule of thumb is that for every $US 1 rise in the price of a barrel of oil, the increase at the pump is 1c a litre.

The rising petrol price also adds to the inflationary woes for the Reserve Bank of Australia, particularly as the higher costs flow through to food prices.

Is it getting to the point now that you are having to adjust your lifestyle to allow for increasing petrol prices?

- The Australian