I have heard that hot fuel is more volatile than cold fuel, this would allow you to get more horsepower with warmer fuel. Right?

If that is the case why doesn’t someone make a 12volt heater that sits in the engine compartment which allows the fuel to run through it just before it goes through the rails and into the combustion chamber? Just an idea. What could go wrong? I understand if you heat the fuel up too much you may have a fireworks show. I would think though, in a pressurized line where there is no air, you could heat the fuel up a lot more before having any problems, a posed to heating it up in a gas can. Am I way off here? I don’t know enough about the physics of gas but just a thought. Anybody want to explain why that is a bad idea?

 

That's similar to Smokey Yunick's Hot Vapor engine. See only the vaporized fuel ignites, liquid fuel doesn't. Hotter fuel is more likely to stay in the form of vapor and homogenous with the oxygen than cold fuel, so you get less emissions, more fuel economy, and/or more power depending on cam specs.

Example, I was in a garage one day and a guy was smoking a cigarette near an open pan (not can, but pan) of gasoline. Someone said he needs to put it out or he'd blow up the whole place. He just looked at them and threw his smoke into the pan of gas, it sizzled and went out. Moral of the story is the gas doesn't burn or explode, its the vapors/fumes that burn, and it explodes when its in a confined area and becomes pressurized.

J.

 

I have always thought cooler gasoline made more power.

 

It does.

An old hot rodder's trick is the "cool can" where you run your fuel line spiraling through a can of ice before it enters the carb.

Honestly, I don't think you could measure much difference either way. There are certainly alot of other things that I would do first.

 

This is an area of controversy actually. Some engine builders say cold gas is better, some say hot is better. There is a limit to how hot though. Just like if you had your fuel too cold it would gel (not good). Thermal effieceny would increase about 10% alone by running a hot vapor engine.

Have to remember that not all old hot rodder tricks are useful.

J.

 

Remember that we arent dealing with carbs and intakes where the fuel and air mix in a plenium. We have a mass of reletively cold air going into a combustion chamber, and a spray of fuel being sprayed basically on the back of the valve. There isn't as much time for the fuel and air to mix in a fuel injection system like ours as there is in a 4 barrel carb on a high rise intake, so any steps to keep the fuel atomized will benefit in more power.

Where has 2quick4u been?

J.

 

Vapors are affected by temp. Your injectors are what play a big part in power. Your injectors need to atomize the gasoline so it ignites. Technically temp should not change how gasoline is atomized in the combustion chamber.