[finnigan2]

"...calcium carbide, which, when mixed with water, produces acetylene gas, which, when combined with oxygen (in the air), forms an explosive mixture."

- Thanks for the clarification. It was many years ago that I heard this story so parts of it must be hazy. Anyway, I wonder what with the new products now available and on the market such as carbon fiber, heat absorbing ceramics and new alloys, if it might be possible to design an engine which could run on this fuel without suffering the damage that would otherwise be caused by corrosion.

[longshadow]

it might be possible to design an engine which could run on this fuel without suffering the damage that would otherwise be caused by corrosion.

Perhaps, but I doubt acetylene is a cost-effective fuel.... since it detonates at 2 atmospheres pressure, one can hardly design an engine with much compression, and a large compression ratio is very important for maximizing thermal efficiency.