Honda Diesel Sets New World Records

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[getsoutalive]

Honda’s new Accord 2.2 i-CTDi Sport has this week set no fewer than 19 world speed records and achieved 3.07 litres / 100 km (92 mpg) fuel economy to boot. British racing driver Robin Liddell and freelance journalist Iain Robertson were part of the European record-setting team.

Amongst the speed records set, which were all achieved in Production Car Class B (2000 – 2500 cc), were 133.04 mph (1 mile flying start), 84.25 mph (1 mile standing start) and an average speed of 130.38 mph over a 24-hour endurance period. These records were all set at Papenburg high-speed oval test track in north-west Germany on 1 and 2 May, and are all subject to FIA ratification.

Two production cars, randomly selected by FIA officials, were used to undertake the speed records, and apart from the fitting of roll-cages, racing harnesses and radio equipment for track-to-pits communication, no other modifications were made to the cars.

Following the speed record attempts, the same two cars were then driven 419 miles from Papenburg test track to Wiesbaden, near Frankfurt in order to complete the fuel economy run. The route comprised of a mixture of motorway and non-motorway driving, during which one of the Accords achieved a staggering 92 mpg average.

[DungeonMaster]

Save the gas for Harleys.

[TheBattman]

Can you explain how injecting water improves performance? I keep hearing that when watching tractor pulling on the boob tube, but I just guess I don't grasp adding water for fire?????

[IamConservative]

Can you explain how injecting water improves performance?

The water is injected on the high pressure side of the turbo. The vast majority of the water is actually vaporized during compression. The vaporized water has two hydrogen and one oxygen molecule, when combusted, both will add energy to the burn. The first function of the water is to cool the payload which will increase the density of the oxygen payload. The combustion of this enriched payload will effectively create a positive pressure ratio between the intake and exhaust. A positive pressure ratio means there is more boost pressure feeding the intake side of the engine than there is exhaust pressure exiting the engine. This helps the engine operate closer to maximum efficiency, burning all of the diesel fuel during the combustion process and reducing exhaust temperature. Absent this positive pressure ratio, air flow is restricted and the exhaust temperature will rise, horsepower goes down. If you're lucky, you will "get under the turbo" and shutdown. If you're not lucky, you'll literally melt the engine.

You can also inject water/alcohol, Nitrous Oxide and propane into a diesel engine. They all do essentially the same thing. Condense and cool the air payload, create positive pressure ratios, which make more power at lower temps. You can also inject all these same compounds in a gas engine, but I have never done that. With gas engines, the line between zoom and boom is much easier to cross.

[IamConservative]

Check this out. Heard this on the radio and found it in an Indianapolis paper. Cummins is going to make a diesel engine for pickups and SUV's.

"Cummins Inc. says it has reached a deal with an unnamed carmaker to supply light-duty diesel engines that will be on the market by the end of the decade.

The Columbus company is considering a number of states, including Indiana, for the 600 jobs resulting from the contract.
The engines will be offered in standard pickup trucks and sport-utility vehicles.

A Cummins representative wouldn't disclose if the carmaker is based in the U.S. Separately, Cummins said it signed a lease to remain at its headquarters location in downtown Columbus until July 2019.

See tomorrow's Indianapolis Star for more on this story."

[Clinging Bitterly]

Cummins had been producing a version of their 5.9L for Dodge pickups for years. Not a real powerhouse but adequate. But for some time Ford's Powerstroke (International?) and more recently GM's Duramax (Isuzu) have been running circles around them. But these huge luxury cruiser/grocery getters (or male ego extensions, politely if you will) masquerading as trucks aren't built for economy, and at prices higher than I paid for my house, I'd be afraid to even get one dirty.

The time is probably right to once again produce an economical, decently performing diesel for more reasonably sized vehicles. Several makers already have something near the desired size/HP in the industrial sector, it's just a matter of meeting emission requirements in enough markets to make development of those refinements worthwhile.

A little help from regulatory agencies would be nice too. Things are tough enough and add to that the recent fad of blue states toughening their own emission standards when it is absolutely unnecessary. The market will naturally demand diesels that don't stink.

[Toby06]

we could make most organic sewage and garbage into diesel. The process is called thermal depolymerization.

You could also use dead humans as feedstock.

[hosepipe]

Whatever happened to that guy with the very small donut engine which could also run on diesel..

[IamConservative]

Cummins had been producing a version of their 5.9L for Dodge pickups for years. Not a real powerhouse but adequate. But for some time Ford's Powerstroke (International?) and more recently GM's Duramax (Isuzu) have been running circles around them.

The PowerStroke is made by International, now Navastar I believe. The performance Diesel enthusiasts use the Dodge/Cummins alot to build pullers, perhaps because it has been around longer or has more performance parts available. I recently went to a Diesel show and the Duramax was hands down the best performer pulling a sled in any class.

I would like to be able to get a ~4L turbo diesel in a 1/2 ton GM pickup, which hopefully is where the Cummins announcement will take us. Aas you seem to, I have an interest in a Diesel engine, but not in a truck I need a ladder to get in that rides like a log wagon.

The emissions issue I believe is centered around nitrogen oxides. They have formulated cleaner burning diesel fuels in Europe and I believe BMW has some new technology that helps this dramatically. I am sure Cummins can overcome this. Most diesel performance strategies include injecting water, water/alcohol or propane. All of above will reduce the NOx emissions, but aren't practical for everyday drivers.

[Vinnie]

84.25 mph (1 mile standing start)

Traffic merging acceleration.

[TheBattman]

Actually- Dodge has been selling two versions of yhe cummins for several years now - The one you spoke of, and a "HO" High Outpu version that's pretty stout. As far as the Power Stroke Choke, - takes a chip/computer upgrade to get real power. Either way, it's nto the most durable engine on the road. Che GM "Duramax" hasn't been on the road long enough for me to make a judgment call on. The folks I know with them really like them - they are very quiet and get good economy. The last two summers I have spent a week in Guatemala and really like the compact pick-ups with diesels.... Something in the Chevy Colorado class, with a 3.0L Turbo Diesel would be a great truck, I would think. Then aqain, I wouldn't mind a nice bigger turbodiesel in my Tahoe!