Using dry ice to improve performance and fuel economy

[OTO]

I'd like to confirm if what my friend said is true. Is it possible that the cooling effect of dry ice will improve engine performance and fuel economy of cars if applied on around a car's engine.

[odell]

that's what we have to hear now na nagtataasa na ang gas..

[scarab]

...not sure bout fuel economy but i heard bout it among old school racers using it when drag racing back in the 80's.

[GlennSter]

engine that is running in cooler environments run more effeciently.

[ILuvDetailing]

mmm... How? With oven like temps inside the engine bay, how long will the dry ice last?

Yup cooler air going into the intake manifold will definitely improve performance.

[falken]

It might help cars with intercooler turbos even more.

[odell]

sa ipapatong lang? hehehe panu kaya application nito?

[airshaq20]

I dont see the practicality of this. I mean, dry ice + warm/hot engine comparment??

[falken]

May help performance, but not fuel economy. Performance because cool air = more oxygen going into combustion chamber. Won't help fuel economy because I don't think that dry ice would last very long in a very hot engine compartment.

[airshaq20]

May help performance, but not fuel economy. Performance because cool air = more oxygen going into combustion chamber. Won't help fuel economy because I don't think that dry ice would last very long in a very hot engine compartment.

cool air DOESN'T mean more oxygen. Remember, as you climb/drive to higher altitudes you get less oxygen but air gets colder.

[OTO]

How about putting rubbing alcohol in the washer?

[airshaq20]

How about putting rubbing alcohol in the washer?

or put an A/C vent ported on the intake...that would give your engine the cool air it needs...LOL

[jim]

or put an A/C vent ported on the intake...that would give your engine the cool air it needs...LOL

pwede nga kaya hehehehe. masubukan nga

[kiper]

Pansinin niyo..pag madaling araw, malamig ang hangin..mas maganda ang takbo ng makina.

Cold air intake..may improve engine performance..

Kaso mukhang kailangan mo maglagay ng ice box sa engine bay..kung gusto mo ng dry ice..lugi ka mabilis maubos un sa init.

[gArY]

ask ko lang po magkano ang dry ice at san nakakabili??
ksai kung libre at pupulutin lang dry ice, good news kung makakaganda ng fuel economy...

[mazdamazda]

dry ice???

isn't dry ice made up of carbon dioxide (which is a byproduct of the combustion process)?

[slip-slick]

dry ice???

isn't dry ice made up of carbon dioxide (which is a byproduct of the combustion process)?

carbon dioxide is what you breath out. the dangerous byproduct of combusion you're reffering to is carbon monoxide.

[mazdamazda]

carbon dioxide is what you breath out. the dangerous byproduct of combusion you're reffering to is carbon monoxide.

nope... CO2 is the main byproduct of the combustion cycle. CO is only produced when the combustion cycle is incomplete.

The main emissions of a car engine are:

Nitrogen gas (N2) - Air is 78-percent nitrogen gas, and most of this passes right through the car engine.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) - This is one product of combustion. The carbon in the fuel bonds with the oxygen in the air.

Water vapor (H2O) - This is another product of combustion. The hydrogen in the fuel bonds with the oxygen in the air.

But because the combustion process is never perfect, some smaller amounts of more harmful emissions are also produced in car engines:
Carbon monoxide (CO) - a poisonous gas that is colorless and odorless

Hydrocarbons or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) - produced mostly from unburned fuel that evaporates. Sunlight breaks these down to form oxidants, which react with oxides of nitrogen to cause ground level ozone (O3), a major component of smog.

Nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2, together called NOx) - contributes to smog and acid rain, and also causes irritation to human mucus membranes

[slip-slick]

nope... CO2 is the main byproduct of the combustion cycle. CO is only produced when the combustion cycle is incomplete.

i guess we're both right. CO2 is both produced by combustion and by breathing. and CO is always produced because combustion process can't be perfect.

[mazdamazda]

maybe you are referring to this product...

Do-It-Yourself

Water/Alcohol Injection System and Intercooler Sprayer

Applications: All Intercooled and non-intercooled turbo engines. Although these pages were written for a system that injects before the turbo, the higher pressure pump listed in the "how-to" section should allow injecting AFTER the turbo.

Purpose: To allow more boost by surpressing detonation--also known as the poor man's intercooler. This system may also be used as a cooling device for your intercooler. A small bracket, to position the nozzle, is all that you need to provide.

What makes our system different: Our kit is designed for the budget enthusiast. We have developed unique solutions to some of the more expensive pieces sold in other kits. We feel that we have struck a good balance between price and functionability. Additionally, we provide a special nozzle that vaporizes the water charge before it is ingested by the engine. This results in better cooling of the air entering the turbo and significantly reduces any abrasion that may occur when the water meets to turbo blades. The added cooling provided by vaporization of the charge increases power. This method is far superior to the squirt nozzles that are sometimes mistakenly used in home grown systems. When used as an intercooler sprayer, the vaporizing nozzle provides good distribution at the airflows encountered "at speed"

What's in it for me?: Recently, while building a water injection system for friend, it occurred to me that others may have a need for such a system, but lack the time required to gather the proper components. Additionally, even the most basic systems on the market cost twice as much(Spearco), and the really good systems(ERL) approach $1000. No one seems to provide a basic system at a fair price. So, you can reproduce ours using the "how to" section.