[Fai Mao]

If Mazda can do this they've just revolutionized the internal combustion engine. A 30% improvement in efficiency would make the engine what, 70% efficient?

[Red Badger]

39%.....

[Gay State Conservative]

Sounds like they've reinvented diesel.

[Secret Agent Man]

not that high. maybe 50% or a little more. not that the energy is not wasted or unburnt, just turned to heat.

[Red Badger]

Ping!.. .....

[Pentagon Leatherneck]

So this will be a diesel burning more-costly gasoline? Why not just go with a real diesel and try to maufacture them at a lower cost?

TC

[Popman]

I don’t believe it, we are told by liberals ad nausea that government is the well spring of new technology...

capitalism is greedy and evil...

[Getready]

I read along time ago they were working on this

I believe they need stronger engines to withstand the pressures....but then couldnt they also imcrease the pressures in diesels also. I dont know

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Something like the Wankel?
“Piston engine goes ping ping ping,
But the Mazda goes Hm-m-m-m-m.”

[Pontiac]

For a Otto cycle engine detonation is usually bad.

From my hotrod days I remember things like bent valves and crank rods, shattered pistons and blown heads.

All makes for a bad day.

[redfreedom]

I’m skeptical. Remember the Mazda Wankel? It was a flop, I think because they could not keep the ceramic compression seals from cracking and it was dirty.

My concern with compression gasoline ignition is cold weather starting. Diesels can be a real problem, especially if the glow plugs quit, or the block is not preheated.

I wish them luck though. Maybe they’ve found solutions to problems the competitors couldn’t.

[caver]

Didn’t Mazda’s rotary engine also revolutionize engine technology?

[taildragger]

This is a huge claim. This is on top of rumors of the 16x aka the return of their Wankel.

I am enamored as of late with the Achates Power entry that is gaining steam. Their model is along the lines developing the architecture and technology and licensing it to any manufacture to do so, and they seem to have a lot of suitors lined up. An Opposed Piston 2 Stroke Diesel for starters. But they have gone after tweaking the porting w/ CFD as well as the pistons bowl shapes, I am impressed. I am equally impressed with the vertical layout and using a Roots Blower for External Scavenging for charging. I stumbled upon how Roots blowers in particular multiply torque in gobs at the low end. Paxton's and Turbo's can't compare. Tangent to this they didn't go with a stepped piston of other internal charging and it's problems.

Go here: http://achatespower.com/our-formula/opposed-piston/

Being an airplane nut, the Junker's Jumo engine was on my radar screen, and I had the pleasure of meeting an author that helped get it their. However, of all the inventor opposed engines out their I think this one has a shot at making it.

Now a Barrel ( Dyna-Cam type ) opposed piston is an interesting proposition, their is one out their....

[setha]

Which comes with the cost of having to use higher grade fuel.

[Lockbox]

No, about 40% (30% to 32% X 30%).

[norwaypinesavage]

"If Mazda can do this they've just revolutionized the internal combustion engine."

Just like they did with the rotary engine?

[dhs12345]

What about wear?

[arthurus]

Eat, 15 octane gas?

[central_va]

The only rear wheel drive sedans available are expensive luxury models. IMO rear wheel drive makes for a much better handling and balanced vehicle. That is why ALL luxury cars are basically rear wheel drive and some have all wheel drive. None are front wheel drive. Same with every racing car.

So could SOMEBODY make an affordable rear wheel drive sedan? Not all of live in snow country and would like a choice in the matter.

[PAR35]

drop spark plugs in favor of high compression

A guy named Rudolf Diesel came up with that idea and patented it in 1895 https://www.google.com/patents/US542846. Of course, he was too much competition to the growing internal combustion engine folks, so he was taken care of in 1913.

[Vinnie]

I had a 1970 Ford,429cui. Compression ratio of 10 1/2 to 1.
It would get pre-ignition at idle on reg gas.
How they run an engine w/ 11—12—15 to 1 on gasoline is waaaay above my pay grade