08-24-2004, 12:31 AM
Why isnt everyone using it? Because everyone doesnt need it. Water injection is a great tool to get more power, or tune for increased reliability. IF your making your desired power level reliably without it, obviously there is no need for it. If it aint broke, don't fix it.
About using an Intercooler v higher octane gas. Using a higher octane gas will basicaly increase the threshold where detonation will occur. An Intercooler will help decrease the conditions that lead up to detonation (heat). Not only will it do that, it will increase power. This is of course because, like you said, it increases density. The cooler air will help the engine run overall cooler water temps as well. Of course a big front mount inercooler often hampers airflow to the radiator.
Are you talking about an engine cooling system (radiater, etc.)? I don't care what cooling system you have, detonation can still easily show its ugly head.
Now a little about water injection. Corky bell.... well, he's wrong. Water Injection is such a great tool. You can tune it to almost bullet proof reliability (netting a loss in hp when tuned this way). It can also be tuned for max hp. Mike Kojima has found up to a net gain of 40 WHP when tuning this way by being able to lean out the mixture and increase timing advance, all without detonation. Here are his experiences with it on the track:
"We tested this road racing at Buttonwillow raceway 2 years ago. It was 100 degrees and this was on a road racing corse where you are on it way longer than any drag race. A stock SE-R will overhaet under these condition.
Monitoring coolant temp closely with Consult the water temp never exceeded 96 degrees C. This is with a stock radiator and no underdrive water pump pulley. A turbo SE-R will explode under these condtions with no water injecton within 5 minutes.
As it was we lapped the whole field and on one lap passed 7 mustangs, vetts, camaros and porshes going down the front straight in front of many witnesses. People were amazed that a 200SX could do this.
Water injection was the only thing that made this posible."
![[Image: chart.GIF]](http://www.aquamist.co.uk/dc/technic/chart.GIF)
You can also see by this graph how much it broadens cylinder head pressure during combustion.
Water injecion is not a band aid as corky bell has said, rather it is a valuable tool for more power, and/or more reliability. Also, look at motorsports today. ALL WRC use aquamist water injection.
About using an Intercooler v higher octane gas. Using a higher octane gas will basicaly increase the threshold where detonation will occur. An Intercooler will help decrease the conditions that lead up to detonation (heat). Not only will it do that, it will increase power. This is of course because, like you said, it increases density. The cooler air will help the engine run overall cooler water temps as well. Of course a big front mount inercooler often hampers airflow to the radiator.
Quote:Similarly, if your cooling is cool enough, very high octane gas would not be needed.
Are you talking about an engine cooling system (radiater, etc.)? I don't care what cooling system you have, detonation can still easily show its ugly head.
Now a little about water injection. Corky bell.... well, he's wrong. Water Injection is such a great tool. You can tune it to almost bullet proof reliability (netting a loss in hp when tuned this way). It can also be tuned for max hp. Mike Kojima has found up to a net gain of 40 WHP when tuning this way by being able to lean out the mixture and increase timing advance, all without detonation. Here are his experiences with it on the track:
"We tested this road racing at Buttonwillow raceway 2 years ago. It was 100 degrees and this was on a road racing corse where you are on it way longer than any drag race. A stock SE-R will overhaet under these condition.
Monitoring coolant temp closely with Consult the water temp never exceeded 96 degrees C. This is with a stock radiator and no underdrive water pump pulley. A turbo SE-R will explode under these condtions with no water injecton within 5 minutes.
As it was we lapped the whole field and on one lap passed 7 mustangs, vetts, camaros and porshes going down the front straight in front of many witnesses. People were amazed that a 200SX could do this.
Water injection was the only thing that made this posible."
You can also see by this graph how much it broadens cylinder head pressure during combustion.
Water injecion is not a band aid as corky bell has said, rather it is a valuable tool for more power, and/or more reliability. Also, look at motorsports today. ALL WRC use aquamist water injection.