Is Running Your Engine with Water a Scam?

What a promise. Driving your car or truck with water instead of that high-price gas and diesel. It seems to good to be true. Is this some conspiracy from Detroit? Have they withheld this revolutionary knowledge from us all this time?  Well yes and no.  It depends on what you imagine is going to take place.

No, you can't pour water into your tank and accomplish anything but ruin your vehicle. By itself water don't burn. Period. If you have ever left your gasoline can for the lawn mower out in the rain and then poured it into your mower you know the hassles that result.

The promise of running that motor on water involves breaking the water down, through an electrolysis process into hydrogen and oxygen. But it's not just plain hydrogen, it's oxyhydrogen. Oxyhydrogen is a special blend of hydrogen and oxygen that provides a safe burn rate when used in engines and cutting torches. It's known as Brown's gas and has been around for a while.

The Brown's gas is generated through an a apparatus that is supposedly made from common parts from the hardware store, mounted on the vehicle and plumbed into the vehicles intake system. The HHO then supplements the gasoline or diesel and therefore, theoretically, allows you to get the same mileage out of less fuel from the filling station. The simple generators are not capable of producing enough HHO to run the vehicle completely on HHO. They merely supplement. Remember that.

The process takes much electricity form the vehicle's electrical system. Something around 20 amps. Some claim the HHO generator needs to be cooled fro better efficiency, thereby limiting where it can be installed, or requiring more current for cooling fans. Add 20 amps or more to an already overburdened alternator and chances are the horse power drain to turn the alternator may negate that gained by the whole water-gas project.

If you're a fill-it-and-forget-it driver, consider that the generator will need filled rather often. Electrolysis causes corrosion and the unit will need cleaned and parts replaced. Probably a project for only the most dedicated tinkerers.

Several companies are making turn key setups that install or can be installed from a kit and are ready to go. Or course the trade off here is cost. They're a bit more expensive than running down to Lowe's or Home Depot for odds and ends.

If you like to tinker this is probably a project for you. If not, I don't know.