Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Vehicles

Thinking about filling up your vehicle with hydrogen can be pretty intimidating. Wasn’t the Hindenburg full of hydrogen? What about H-bombs? Is my car going to explode in the first fender-bender I get into? Will a faulty engine control module or fuel pump send me flying? We’re going to talk a bit about the reality of hydrogen fuel-cell  vehicles and hopefully dispel some myths about them as well.

 A fuel-cell vehicle is a type of electric vehicle. It uses an electric motor to drive the wheels instead of a purely mechanical one. Today’s current electric vehicles use a heavy lithium-ion battery that takes hours and hours to re-charge – fuel cell vehicles generate electricity by creating a chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is stored in tanks as a compressed gas, and the oxygen is just oxygen from the air. The hydrogen tank can be re-filled just as you would re-fill at the gas station. 

It works by catalyzing hydrogen – breaking down the hydrogen atoms into electrons and protons. The electrons create an electric current that creates the electric power used to power the vehicle. Then the electrons and protons are recombined with protons and oxygen to create water, the fuel-cell vehicle’s ONLY emission.

A fuel cell is made up of hundreds of these individual cells, wired together to create a cell large enough to power a full-sized vehicle. Fuel-cell cars also have a lithium-ion battery on board to store electricity from regenerative breaking, like many of the current electric vehicles in use today.

The best thing about fuel-cell vehicles is that the only emissions they create is water – no CO2, carbon monoxide, nitrous, etc etc. They are also more convenient than an electric vehicle because they can be re-filled like a regular gasoline engine, instead of needing to re-charge for hours like lithium-ion powered electric vehicles. Hydrogen is also exceedingly abundant on our planet and is a completely renewable resource – you can get it from practically anywhere!

 Also, the hydrogen tank is no more dangerous to store on your vehicle than a tank full of gasoline. No need to conjure up images of a burning Hindenburg crashing to the ground.

The only problem with hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles currently is their prohibitively expensive cost and the lack of hydrogen re-fueling stations. But both of these issues can be rectified by furthering the technology and availability of hydrogen fuel cells. 

As automakers look to the next era of “green” vehicles, keep an eye out for hydrogen-fuel cell technology as it could be coming to a gas station near you.

Tips for Improving Fuel Economy

With fuel prices nearing record levels, everyone is concerned with the price of gas. Sure, the fact you're emptying your bank account at the gas station could be because of the fuel pump in your fuel pump assembly, but it's not likely.  There are a few things you can do about increasing fuel efficiency to lessen the sting. Here are a few tips so save you some money at the pump.

 1.  Drive Efficiently – Slow down. Going fast on the freeway is tempting, even if it only saves us a few minutes, but it takes a lot more gas to drive 70mph than it does to drive 60mph – up to 2-4 miles per gallon! Also, try not to stomp on the gas or breaks. Ease on both the gas and the breaks to accelerate and decelerate and you will do wonders for your fuel economy. 

2.  Maintain your Vehicle – Always keep your tires properly pressurized. Inflating low tires can increase your fuel economy by 3.3%!  Keep your air filter clean, and if it’s filled with dirt and debris replace it. Check your owner’s manual and make sure to get tune-ups at the properly scheduled times, and always put the recommended octane fuel in your car. You may think you’re doing your car a favor by using premium fuel, but if it isn’t designed to run on high octane fuel you are spending more money for no benefit. 

3. Make Fuel Efficient Trips – If you have several errands to run, try doing all of them at once and in a loop from your house and back to minimize the distance you drive. 

4. Buy Gas When It’s Cool – Gas up in the morning after it’s been cool all night. Fuel is denser when cold – since gas pumps measure by volume you’ll get more gas if you pump when it’s cool outside.

5. Avoid “Gas-Saving” Additives – Many people are out to save gas, so fuel additives that supposedly “save gas” are all over the market. Beware – Consumer Reports has tested many of these products and found them to be completely bogus.

6. Get the Best Price – As long as it’s not out of your way, you can use sites like gasbuddy.com to find the best price of gas. Keep in mind though that even going one mile out of your way to go to a different gas station can nullify a 0.5 cent savings in gas.

7. Lighten Your Load – Don’t keep extraneous things in your trunk or car. Everything you’re hauling around in your car puts extra load on your engine and decreases fuel economy.

8. Drive Less – when it’s practical, walk or ride your bike to nearby destinations. That not only saves gas, but is good for your body and your mind. 

Hopefully with these tips you’ll be going to the gas station less often. It’s not always practical to go out and buy a more fuel efficient car, so this way you can make sure the vehicle you have is getting the best fuel mileage possible.

Essential Vehicle Maintenance: Tires

If you want to upkeep anything in your vehicle, the objects that keep your car rolling, and off the ground, should be at the top of that list. Tires are often overlooked because a car with bald tires can still drive, and replacing all four tires can be expensive. When your fuel pump or fuel pump assembly goes out, you have no choice whether or not you want to replace it because your car will not drive - bald tires can get you down the street and back, and the dangers always occur when it's too late. Nevertheless, keeping track of the condition of your tires, and keeping them properly inflated, can mean literally life or death for the people in the vehicle. Here are a few tips to make sure your tires will keep you and your passengers safe on the road.

The main cause of tire failure (when your tire goes flat or blows out) is the friction caused from moving contact with the road. This causes the tread on the tires to wear away. When the tread becomes too shallow, the tire is worn out and should be replaced. Bald tires give you little traction on the road, especially when the road is wet or icy. This means the difference in you maintaining control of your vehicle, and not maintaining control, is dependent on proper tread on your tires. One trick to check if you have proper tire tread is to place a penny, with Lincoln’s head down, between the tread of your tires. If Lincoln’s head isn’t completely covered by the treads on your tires, they need to be replaced.

 

 Underinflation is very detrimental to your tires, and your fuel economy. Not having enough tire pressure causes excessive wear on the tires, and gives you less control of your vehicle on paved roads. You should check your tire pressure regularly. To check your tire pressure, make sure your tires are cool (so when the vehicle has been sitting for awhile.) If you need to go somewhere else to fill up your tires with air, check the tire pressure before you leave and fill up appropriately. You can find out the appropriate tire pressure for your vehicle by looking in your owner’s manual, the driver’s side door panel, the glove box door, or the fuel door.  Remove the cap from the valve on one tire. Firmly press the tire guage onto the valve. Add air to achieve the recommended tire pressure. If you overfill a tire, release air by pushing on the metal stem in the center of the valve with a fingernail or the tip of a pen. Recheck the tire pressure, and then replace the valve cap. Repeat for your other tires, including the spare.

 Another important factor in maintaining your tires is your vehicles alignment. When you are driving, does your car pull to one side, or shake? A bad jolt from hitting a curb or pothole can throw off your alignment. Have a tire dealer check your alignment regularly to make sure your vehicle is aligned properly. If the alignment is off it will cause your tire to wear irregularly, which can lead to tire blowouts.

You should also rotate your tires periodically, typically every 5,000 miles. Naturally your front and back, left and right tires wear differently on the road. By rotating your tires from front to back, left to right, you can ensure your tires wear evenly and lengthen the life of your tires.

I find inspecting the tires while filling up at the gas station is convenient. While the vehicle is filling up, you can check your tires for wear, visually check for proper inflation, and inspect for any debris that is caught in your tire tread and can damage your tires. This way you will always be on top of properly maintaining your tires.

What is an Oil Pump?

We all know what a cooling fan is. It is a fan that cools. We also now what a fuel pump is. It's a pump that pumps fuel. So, guess what an oil pump does? It is a pump that pumps Oil.  Woah, the answer to that question was more surprising than the end of a M. Night Shyamalan movie.  Ok, so the oil pump sounds like a pretty basic part, but it plays a vital role in the operation of your vehicle.

The oil pump inside of an internal combustion engine is used to lubricate the engine and reduce friction.  The pump powers oil through bearings, sliding pistons, camshafts, and other small parts. The decrease in friction also means the cooling of pistons, bearings, and shafts. Failure to properly lubricate an engine will result in engine failure.  Now you see how important that cleverly named oil pump is.

The oil pump needs to be generating approximately 10 psi per every 1000 revolutions per minute in order to properly lubricate the system.  If your oil pump is working well but you are still having a low pressure issue, it may be caused by a clogged oil pickup screen, too much wear on a high mileage engine, or you just need to add more oil to your car.  Each car has different oil requirements.  Higher performance vehicles put more stress on the system and they need more lubricating. 

There are basically three types of pumps, a twin gear pump, a Gerotor Pump, and an internal pump.  A twin gear pump has one gear connected to a shaft that is driven by the camshaft or distributor.  A twin gear pump turns at half the speed of the engine and is located inside the oil pan.  A Gerotor Pump has one small gear rotating inside a larger one.  While an internal pump is a Gerotor style pump, an internal pump turns at the same speed of the engine so it creates a stronger flow. An internal pump design is used on overhead cam engines.

Car Company to Close… I’m so Saab :(

Saab appears to have run out of gas. Not even a new fuel pump could save them now. The 74 year old car company filed for bankruptcy this morning.   This news is likely to be followed by the company announcing that it will shut its doors completely.  The only fuel pump that would rescue them would be one that turns gas into gold.

Saabs’ last chance was to acquire $782 million in loans from the Chinese company, Zheijang Youngman Lotus Automotive, but General Motors denied the deal.  GM was a former owner, but still had a say in the deal because they supply parts to Saab.  Speculation was that GM objected to the loan because they worried that some of their technology would end up in Chinese competitors’ hands.  However, GM came out and said that they were against the deal because it was, “not meaningful different,” from previous offers.

GM sold Saab to Swedish Automotive back in 2010.  Swedish Automotive is a Dutch company, which is not at all confusing.  Saab did get some funding back in June from a couple of Chinese companies, but they blew through that cash faster than my girlfriend spends her paycheck on Black Friday.

There is still a slight chance that Saab will still exist.  A new buyer could swoop in and buy the remaining assets.  So, if you and your friends have some extra cash lying around, feel free to group the cash together and go “Dutch” on the car company.

Fuel System Issues

Any car can be crippled with a fuel issue and it doesn’t matter how well you care for your car. The main issue to remember it may not always be the fuel pump or fuel pump assembly that is to blame. Many people get the news that their engine is not getting enough fuel and assume a fuel pump issue. In fact most mechanics will give the old “fuel pump don’t work” but believing this can be an expensive mistake. There are many parts in the fuel system that can cause an issue from leaking to low pressure.

If the fuel pump is bad there will be no pressure coming from the pump even if the mechanic were to hook direct power to the unit. A low pressure system may be caused by a blockage in the system or even low voltage from the alternator. A major cause of fuel issues is the FPR or fuel pressure regulator which is a unit that controls the flow of fuel to the injectors. If this unit were to function incorrectly it would cause low fuel pressure at the injectors and the car would have issues running and starting.

Cracks in the fuel lines and bad seals in meeting points can cause fuel leaks that can not only cause low pressure in the fuel system but can also be dangerous due to the highly flammable nature of the fuel.  If there is a fuel leak in the system it could be caused by old dry rotted line or cracks in the system from impacts of rocks and other debris from the road.

If the issue is tracked back to the fuel pump it may be a much smaller issue than the whole pump. If the wiring has a short and cannot get the proper voltage to the pump then the electric motor cannot function at full power and will not provide the correct pressure. Sometimes the voltage sent from the alternator is just too low and cannot power the pump unit enough. In the end it is better to check out the cause of the issue then just throwing in new parts and hoping it fixes the issue.

How to Wire a New Fuel Pump

Installing any auto part can seem like a simple job until you have your whole car torn apart and realize everything is not right. Many a shad-tree-mechanic get the shock of their week when they pull out a fuel pump only to find the wiring to the fuel pump assembly is different than theirs. The first reaction is of course …rage, those sons of $^&*#^’s but this may not be needed. Most modern cars use similar set ups for fuel pumps or updated wiring harnesses that are a simple 5 min wiring job.

Now before you start any job it is essential for you to know that the job is not out of your knowledge range. Just keep in mind this is a machine that will be hurling you down the road at enormous speed. It is not a great idea to be guessing at how it works. So it must be said, if you don’t know how…let someone who does. Oh and don’t ever smoke while installing a fuel pump. When starting the wiring job, determine what colors your factory wires are from the factory harness.  Once you have them you can find a wiring diagram usually supplied by the fuel pump supplier or on their webpage under the help section.

Most new aftermarket and even OEM fuel pumps use a GT280 style electrical piggy back. This unit is a more efficient connection than the older units and has less heat that it creates. The connector was redesigned to reduce the risk of fire and will be easily wired in. Once the wire colors are matched up, attach the wires and use screw on covers to be sure there are no exposed wires. Exposed wires means the chance of spark, spark can mean fire and in the eternal words of Phil Hartman “Fire BAD”.

With the whole new pigtail wired in the installation process is as simple as clicking the new clip into place and lowering the assembly into the tank. Now turn the retaining ring on the pump to secure it and you are good to go.