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The latest gadgets for fuel economy are the hydrogen generators. Has anyone installed one of these in their vehicle? They seem to range from 49.99 to $ 1,100 ? Do they really work?

They're just another scam like the devices discussed this previous thread The EPA, Consumer Reports, and various other independant laboratories have tested dozens of these devices over several years and there is no evidence that they do anything to improve mileage other than lighten your wallet.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Simpilot,

We have been gearing up to build/ buy one of these things to check and see what the results really are.

Now, on most computer controlled vehicles the correction ability of the computer for dealing with rich or lean conditions is between 20-25%. So that being said if one of these generators was able to make usable hydrogen if you could make the air/fuel mixture 20% richer with the hydrogen it would automatically take 20% of the gasoline away from the engine to make up for the other fuel.

theoretically this system could work if the hydrogen generator makes enough fuel.

I am very skeptical that these generators can make enough fuel to really make a difference. I'll try to post again with the results of our experiment.

There's only one problem with your theory.
And it's the main reason why 90% of the hydrogen generator installations fail to produce results on later model, computer controlled cars.

Hydrogen, when added to existing fuel, promotes very complete combustion. The computer controlled cars' oxygen sensors see this in the exhaust stream as a "LEAN" mixture, and actually overfuel the engine trying to compensate. Hence, fuel economy doesn't change, or, in some cases, gets worse. Power is noticably better, but you need a "way" to fool the computer into not overfueling the engine once you start adding hydrogen.
There are several methods being worked on right now. Some work, others have detrimental effects on the engine.

This is why older, non-computer cars respond well to hydrogen boost. They have fixed carburator jetting and mechanical timing adjustments. Some of the older cars are getting as much as a 75% gain in fuel economy.

With electronic enhancements, computer controlled cars can easily get 50% better fuel economy. But, a hydrogen generator alone won't increase your gas mileage.

You can't get free hydrogen, you need electricity to make it, The alternator has to work harder to produce more electricity to create hydrogen, the engine works harder and burns more gas to make the Hydrogen, so you will burn more gas to make the electricity to create hydrogen, and if the energy provided by the hydrogen is less than the gas needed to make the hydrogen you will get worst mileage

Well spoken silvercorvette. I thought most Corvette owners were smarter than that, though.

It usually takes a total of 5-15 Amps to split hydrogen and oxygen....the secret is using a base(chemical) in distilled water to create an electrolyte solution. A well made cell can produce 2litres of hydroxy gas (hydrogen and oxygen) per minute.
Since hydrogen has roughly 100 times the energy density of gasoline, it don't take much.
I've seen gains of 50-75% in increased fuel economy with the use of hydrogen generators (cells). There's one guy running around in Southern California with six cells hooked up in a Honda Accord...He's getting 71mpg...on crummy SoCal gasoline...
A couple of guys are working on a car to attempt a land speed record on water derived hydrogen...The car burns electrolized hydrogen which is made onboard, on demand.
The total energy expendature needed to generate sufficent hydrogen to produce over 1400 horespower is a paltry 300 watts of electricity....Fortunately, this is well within the capibilities of a normal American car charging system....And, no, the force needed to turn an alternator isn't that much...Outputting 140Amps, a Delco alternator requires only 3/4 horsepower from the engine. 140Amps @ 12volts is 1680 watts...

Most smaller, home-made cells require 15Amps at 12volts to generate sufficent hydrogen to have a significant effect of most automotive engines.
That's not even 180 watts....

But that's OK....When you're sitting beside the road...out of gas....I'll wave when I go by with my "impossible" hydrogen generator....and...if you're lucky, I'll wave with all of my fingers....

So why are we messing around with nuclear electric generating, or coal fired plants. The electric companies should begin using some of their output to generate hydrogen which they could burn to generate electricity and sell us the leftovers. Einstein and all my physics professors were wrong. there is such a thing as perpetual motion.

Furthermore, if there was any truth to this nonsense GM and Ford would be offering hydrogen generators as an option on their pickups next week.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Simpilot,

I agree with Simpilot, and I am willing to bet against Sam that it can't be done. As Simpilot has stated the device Sam described is a perpetual motion machine

Have it your way.

But, just to be safe, you both better dust off that old bicycle....you'll need it soon.

The oil companies and energy cartells are only interested in one thing..MONEY.

Haven't you noticed the obsene profits posted by the major oil companies lately? They don't care about polution, or the enviornment...as long as we keep paying at the pump, they'll keep raping us. And, they do carry on a program of misinformation and debunking to suppress anything that resembles alternate energy sources...What would they make money on if fuel could be synthisized right out of water? Right, they'd be out of business overnight.

A little research should be in order...for both of you. Not only is hydrogen power a viable energy source, but it's being used daily, all over the world. But the energy mongers don't want anybody to know about it...

I'll say no more.

It's impossible to carry on a debate when your opponent is unarmed.