I was amazed to see a full page ad in Newsweek for this product billed as a $1000 kit to "turn any vehicle into a hybrid".

http://www.preignitioncc.com/nw/index.htm

It appears to be a catalytic converter that is plumbed into the fresh air intake. The advertisement in the magazine and web site make some fantastic claims for mileage improvement. I especially like the video where a guy in a bad toupee runs a lawnmower engine on Pepsi and some other strange ingredients.

Yeah, I've seen their ads.... I started a thread on it here:

http://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/f...oil-yet-16756/

-Tim

2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid AWD
Black with Pebble interior
Premium Package with Nav & Moonroof



Current ODO: 26,152
Typical Drive: 20 min crosstown in heavy traffic (3.5mi there and back twice a day)


532 Gallons of gas saved
That's 10,642 lbs less CO2 emitted

They mixed gasoline with pepsi, coke, sugar, and steak sauce.

None of that was fueling the lawnwower engine.
As you know, gasoline has high vapor pressure.
As you know, gasoline vapors fuel your engine, any engine.

Wouldn't a gasoline/pepsi mix, even in 50/50 still have gasoline vapors?
You bet. Did you notice the fuel lines were in the top of the container, not the bottom with the liquid? Also, small engines like that are very simple, have no computer control, and are hence... very forgiving.

After watching the whole video, I think their computer box that comes in the kit does all the work, and they sell you the rest to justify a high price for a cheap ( $30? ) computer chip. I think all the whole system does is spoof the computer to run your car lean.

I want to spoof my FEH to run lean, since the ethanol I use makes it run rich. Does anyone see any issues with doing this long-term?
-John

There may be a risk to the catalytic converters. They may need a stochastic fuel burn to make sure the NOx, COx and HCx chemistries work correctly. Also too lean may lead to an overload of NOx but I'm not a combustion or catalytic converter expert.

In Alabama it doesn't matter because we have no vehicle inspections. But if you need to pass an annual inspection . . . well you know the risks.

Bob Wilson

Operation Iraqi Oil Freedom:

Automatic, stock, project car.

My other 1500 cc car:

Automatic, stock, backup car.
Free speech, dialog and knowledge thrives without the poison of SPAM.

The way I see it, ethanol adds oxygen. With E40, I'm adding about 8 times more oxygen molecules than gas with MTBE.

The O2 sensors in the CC detect more oxygen. Per look-up table, the computer says "unused oxygen is coming out the tailpipe, thus I need to add more fuel to take advantage of this oxygen."

Isn't that how the feedback loop works?
When I moved from E40 to E10, I reduced the oxygen. At the same time, same RPM, same wheel speed, fuel trim went down 75%. ( from +16 to +4 ) The cars runs a fuel trim of zero with pure gas.

Looks like in my car the Fuel trim adjusts, and the spark timing doesn't.
Maybe if I trick the car to run more lean, the spark will adjust?

I like your model better than mine. You are adding a significant amount of oxygen with ethanol and it hadn't occurred to me that this would adjust the fuel trim by 'tricking' the O_{2} sensors into doing the right thing. Very nice!

Bob Wilson

Operation Iraqi Oil Freedom:

Automatic, stock, project car.

My other 1500 cc car:

Automatic, stock, backup car.
Free speech, dialog and knowledge thrives without the poison of SPAM.

Higher O2 in the exhaust will cause the engine to enrich not lean out. O2 sensor are a voltage generator. they compare the O2 in the exhaust to the O2 in the atmosphere and generate a small voltage up to 1.2 volts. The higher the voltage the LOWER the O2 in the exhaust. There are some O2 sensors that vary the resistance but the FEH uses the generator type. Toyota does on some of their cars use the resistance type though I dont know if the Prius uses this type.

Ducit Amour Hybridae
Mark Smith
Master Certifited Technician
Tempus non reparabilis fugit
"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it."

Best Tank 35.0 MPG