The best road trip yet! 22 mpg for my last trip which was in 95+ degree heat and 50+ miles of stop and go traffic. I drove 65-75mph on the road. There was a considerable amount of water consumed and the conditions were not ideal (the heat mainly), so I am pleased with those results. I should go trade my car in on the cash for clunkers program and buy it back for dirt cheap, but I am afraid it would sell for a small fortune if they did a test drive.
This will probably be the last update until something dramatic happens:-)
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Mileage update
I drove to Quantico yesterday and checked the mileage after my trip. A little over 21 mpg with 250lb of kettlebells was the result. That is pretty solid. I have a longer road trip early next month that I will update for you. I believe I can get to 23 MPG on that trip if the heat and traffic don't get me. That will be a pretty healthy jump under summer driving conditions.
I did have a little trouble on the return trip. As I loaded my trunk with kettlebells, I decided to pump up the air shocks a little for support. The air machine at Quantico was broken and completely deflated my shocks. I looked like a gangsta driving around with a dead body in the trunk, but eventually, I found a service station with working air. I got my back end pumped back up and I journeyed home with my dignity restored and my mileage at a very respectable level for stop and go I-95 conditions.
I did have a little trouble on the return trip. As I loaded my trunk with kettlebells, I decided to pump up the air shocks a little for support. The air machine at Quantico was broken and completely deflated my shocks. I looked like a gangsta driving around with a dead body in the trunk, but eventually, I found a service station with working air. I got my back end pumped back up and I journeyed home with my dignity restored and my mileage at a very respectable level for stop and go I-95 conditions.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
The H Bomb Rides Again
It's been a while since the last update, but the H-bomb is back on the road in DC with a new and improved hydrogen cell, more power, and more optimism for increased fuel mileage. I also brought a ten commandments license plate back from Alabama that will soon be on the front end of my eco friendly classic. There will be special emphasis on the "Thou shalt not covet" for those eyeballing my car and "Thou shalt not steal" for the little punk who stole my cell phone, GPS, and my shades (I will find you - I know your number, know where you are going, and know what your new shades look like).
In case you are wondering, I have not forgotten, "Thou shalt not murder" for when I do find the thief in our neighborhood, but you don't have to tell him that. I will be sure to explain to him that is lucky I love Jesus.
Back to the H-bomb, I will be putting more mileage updates on the website. It appears the new hydrogen cell is putting out more gas (maybe it ate Mexican food while I was in Iraq - I know Mexican food has that effect on my brother, AJ). There appeared to be some problem with the current shutting down when the temperature got too high before, but that appears to be corrected.
If any of you want to thoroughly confound your green friends, refer them to this website - home of the 1967 Ford Fairlane Hydrogen Hybrid Car with a Ten Commandments license plate, "Babies, Guns, and Jesus" and NRA bumper stickers, and recycled wheels, seats, and upholstery. Its enough to make Al Gore's head explode!
I will try to get some pictures of soon.
In case you are wondering, I have not forgotten, "Thou shalt not murder" for when I do find the thief in our neighborhood, but you don't have to tell him that. I will be sure to explain to him that is lucky I love Jesus.
Back to the H-bomb, I will be putting more mileage updates on the website. It appears the new hydrogen cell is putting out more gas (maybe it ate Mexican food while I was in Iraq - I know Mexican food has that effect on my brother, AJ). There appeared to be some problem with the current shutting down when the temperature got too high before, but that appears to be corrected.
If any of you want to thoroughly confound your green friends, refer them to this website - home of the 1967 Ford Fairlane Hydrogen Hybrid Car with a Ten Commandments license plate, "Babies, Guns, and Jesus" and NRA bumper stickers, and recycled wheels, seats, and upholstery. Its enough to make Al Gore's head explode!
I will try to get some pictures of soon.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Things are 20/20 and clear as mud!
Ok, after another road trip, and I have two reports. First, I want everybody to know that despite my age, my eyesight is still 20/15, which is better than 20/20. My hearing, on the other hand has suffered some loss in the frequency ranges that represent gun fire and children screaming. Ok, that report may seem misplaced, but stay with me.
My car's mileage used to be 20/15 - 20 on the highway and 15 in town. Now, it appears to be 20/20 - 20 highway and 20 in town. I have no explanation and I am working on the highway mileage, but can't get it turned up. Since most of my driving is in town, I guess I gained in this experiment in the way of mileage, but I am pretty sure that hearing loss was due to a spark plug firing like cannon shot from my engine block. My good friend Mike Sanders still believes that shot was hydrogen assisted when it left the engine block.Obviously, those of you who know my children know the other cause of my hearing loss, but in the way of the hydrogen experiment, it appears I have gained 5 mpg and 15% of my hearing.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Blue UP!
I have exciting news to report! I am getting over 30 MPG!!!! Unfortunately that is the mileage of the rental car I had to get after Blue blew up! I was driving down the road and a loud explosion unsettled me and my engine. My beautiful Fairlane now sounded like a John Deere tractor, but didn't run nearly as smoothly. I had to pull over on the Dulles Toll Road and wait for a tow. Don't think that it was wasted time, because lots of people stopped by. One lady pulled over and put on her flashers and I was truly touched by her concern, at first. Then, I realized she never asked me if I needed help, she only asked me directions to Vienna. If I had been a newcomer to Northern VA, I would have thought from her accent that she meant the one in Austria, but no, I knew where she wanted to go and how she should get there. I was even able to show her on my GPS, but I am not sure if this person understood my Alabama accent well enough to make it or not - there was a lot of pointing involved.
I also got to talk to a State Trooper. He was very nice, but didn't have much in the way of help. I did ask him where I could go to the bathroom while waiting for the tow truck and he couldn't tell me where, but he did tell me when - when he left was his best answer. I am happy to report that I went at the right time and there were no witnesses and no arrests.
I also have to add some background information from my morning commute. One very angry lady was not happy with me for getting right behind her in the turn lane onto the toll way and gave me some hand waves that I obviously misinterpreted. She was so unhappy with me that she sought me out on the tollway and yelled and shouted and flipped me off for several minutes. I did not notice her until the very end, but from all the sweat on her forehead, it appears that she had been laying into me for quite a while. I had 3d Day turned up too loud to hear her at first, but looking back, I think she said, "You are a miserable wretched creature (a man) and I curse your number 4 spark plug to blow out of your engine on your way home!" I am confident I know what she was saying with her middle finger, but I think she also added, "And if you think I am voting for Barrack Obama, you are a Son of a B___H!" Obviously, she had me confused with somebody else and I was laughing so hard that I couldn't say anything before she drove off. I was considering, "God Bless You, Sister!" "Babies, Guns, and Jesus!" "Hillary 2012!" or "In my mind, I am giving you a big hug!" I just couldn't get any of those quips out before she drove off. I would have sped up and pulled in behind her, but that is sort of what started this whole drama.
So, I think a real live witch put a curse on old Blue, but don't fear, she is back on the road and the hydrogen experiment is still on!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
I found it
I found the problem and corrected it. The system had lost all vacuum pressure, so I re-configured to the PCV line and have great vacuum. Ironically, my gas mileage sucked because the vacuum line didn't. Looks like I am on pace for 23-24 mpg in the city on this tank - and I only corrected the problem in the past 30 miles or so. We'll see.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Sound off for equipment check!
After disappointing mileage on the road trip, I went back and checked all the hoses and equipment. I had a big crack in a vacuum hose that would explain the lack of improvement in mileage. I have replaced that hose, added the PCV enhancer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9yiKEKMIkc and changed the water and electrolyzer in the hydrogen cell. Again, the car sounds great and seems to run better. The mileage appears to be on track to improve again in city conditions with no long road trips upcoming.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fc3mUwx8BAw&feature=related
I wish I could post the sound of the engine running with and without the kit so everybody could hear the difference and understand my optimism, because that road trip really deflated me. Better yet, I wish you all could drive the car with and without the hydrogen kit hooked up. The link above shows the mechanics of installing a kit on a honda - principles described are universal. I think that problem is fixed and we can get a better measure, but I will continue to report accurately the results and hope for the best.
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