I'm re-postiing this from Car Talk because I think this is just great. I hope it works and I hope Crower's invention saves the IC engine for a few more decades.

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...E/60222004/1024

 

Interesting.

 

I read that earlier; in fact, I sent it to a racing buddy who is also into steam engines. Wouldn't it be great to come up with something that really works.

 

I always marvel at those who can come up with something that no one thought of, but which seems so obvious once I understand it. Did you notice at the end of the article what else he is playing around with?

 

He appreciates Honda S2000 engine as well.

 

Yes. It is funny because as I read the article I wondered if variable cam timing and V-Tec technology would help solve some of the timing problems that would accompany a multicylinder 6 stroke engine. It sounds like he is the right person to study the subject.

One thought that I had about this; it seems the cycle is naturally unbalanced. If you think about it, you can visualize the cycle. The steam power stroke follows only one stroke after the gas power. But the gas power stroke follows three strokes after the steam power stroke. It seems "unbalanced," but in a single cylinder engine, I don't think that matters too much. In a multi cylinder engine, you want the firing order to be arranged in such a way that the power strokes of the differrent cylinders balance each other out. I have a hard time visualizing the configuration of this 6 cycle system.

 

That was what was so wonderful about the 50s & 60s when so many great minds focused on doing break through things to hot rods, sports cars, and land-speed cars. These days it seems it takes a team of F1 engineers to make a new discovery. It's great to read an article such as this one. And, yes I did catch the S2000 connection.