Motor Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Stack Exchange
Motor Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [alternative-fuels]

This tag should be used for questions relating to the use of fuels other than petroleum (Gas) and diesel. E.g.- Hydrogen, Air, Ethanol, etc. This tag should generally not be used with questions about electric vehicles (as these don't use "alternative fuels")

This tag should be used for questions relating to the use of fuels other than petroleum (Gas) and diesel. There are a number of alternative fuels that can be used in Internal Combustion Engines. Wikipedia has a fairly detailed page on most alternative fuels that are available. Notable alternative fuels include:

  • Ethanol
  • Bio-diesel
  • Hydrogen
  • Vegetable oil
  • Hydrogen
  • Fuel cells
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What is in fossil fuels that we can't mass produce?

Since fuel is made up of different molecule chains, my question is what is the reason we cannot create the same molecule structure and be able to reproduce the same structure in a lab so we don't have to run out? I understand there's way more to…
LostPecti
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Can hydrogen gas work in all ICEs?

If I put hydrogen gas in any internal combustible engine that use normal fuel or even a diesel engine, would that mess up the car?
LostPecti
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Would an ethanol engine require a catalytic converter?

Would an engine designed for 100% ethanol require a catalytic converter? From what I've read ethanol creates little to no carbon monoxide or hydrocarbons, and very low amounts of NOx. Not sure how accurate that is, but ethanol is supposedly a…
Guest
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Compression/power increase for ethanol engine?

It's said that ethanol is capable of more power than gasoline in an engine exclusively designed for it. I believe this is because it can handle higher pressure before detonating, meaning higher compression ratio and\or more boost is possible. My…
Guest
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Effect of ethanol added petrol on vintage cast iron engine bikes

I own a 1993 Royal Enfield Bullet 350 Classic. Recently my city switched to 10% ethanol added petrol from the earlier used pure petrol. I very rarely use the bike; approximately one time in every two months. I have searched on the internet and also…
baba
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Are water electrolysis hydrogen generators likely to damage car engines or make them more efficient?

I've seen electrolysis using glass jars and baking soda to separate water to make hydrogen and oxygen using the alternator for additional fuel for gasoline engines. Is this likely to cause damage to the engine and if not, how do I make it work on a…
user22295
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Flame speed: gasoline vs ethanol?

I'm wondering does ethanol burn faster or slower than gasoline, and by how much? (Flame speed not quantity) Also assuming the engine could handle it, does anyone know roughly at what rpm these fuels could no longer burn fast enough to keep up?
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Why aren't we using compressed air cars?

Today cars are predominantly powered by an internal combustion engine burning liquid fuels, electricity from a battery or both. Niche cars may use compressed methane or compressed hydrogen. Electric cars require an expensive battery and expensive…
juhist
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Dimethyl Ether as a fuel for (mostly small) spark-ignited engines

Currently, many small stationary (and some not so stationary) spark ignited engines are sold with the capability of being converted ("on the fly" even) from gasoline operation to operation on propane as a fuel. This is useful because propane is…
ThreePhaseEel
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Is there a fuel cell that uses electricity to split water?

What I mean by that, is instead of using the fuel cell to produce electricity, is there a product where the fuel cell is used to split water and half the gas is used for the ICE and the other goes back into the fuel cell to power it? Is there a…
DeusIIXII
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Why do fuel need to be high energy to work inside a vehicle?

If cars rely on pressure caused by heated atoms then why do the fuel mixture need to be high energy? If I heated any gas up wouldn't they no also cause extreme pressure inside the combustion chamber? Would there need to be more gas in order to pull…
LostPecti
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