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Water injection is the practice of injecting a water and alcohol mixture into the fuel system or combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine to increase power output and reduce engine damage caused by heat. This technique has been used in fighter aircraft and racing cars since World War II and can also benefit diesel and propane engines.
Water injection is the act of injecting a water solution, typically a 50/50 mixture of water and alcohol, into the fuel system or combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The water injection process allows for much higher compression ratios within a high performance engine. This equates to increased power output by increasing the octane number of the fuel and reducing the knock that accompanies higher compression racing engines. By introducing water into the fuel stream as it flows into the combustion system, the water lowers the intake temperature enough to produce a denser fuel charge and release more energy from the compressed fuel charge.
Heat is the enemy of horsepower in an internal combustion engine. The heat causes the fuel to ignite prematurely due to hot spots within the combustion chamber. Premature ignition, also known as knocking, can actually destroy an engine by damaging pistons, valves, and head gaskets. Using a water injection system, the incoming water spray cools the combustion chamber and allows the fuel mixture to ignite at the right time. The resulting steam from introducing water into the hot chamber through water injection produces pressure which, in turn, creates more compression and more power output.
The practice of water injection in gasoline engines has been used throughout the world since the first systems were used in World War II fighter aircraft. When a fighter pilot required more speed to avoid becoming a casualty, he pushed the throttle forward and activated the water injection system. This allowed the aircraft’s engine to produce full power without damaging the engine. The practice of introducing water into racing car engines developed in places such as Indianapolis, Indiana in the United States and Le Mans, France. In the 1950s, the introduction of nitro-methane into American drag racing was quickly followed by the injection of water to produce even more power.
Gasoline engines aren’t the only recipients of the benefits of water injection; Diesel engines, with their inherently high compression ratios, also produce more power when combined with water injection into the combustion chambers. Engines that run on propane fuel systems can also benefit from a water injection system, as the octane rating of propane is typically as high as or higher than most brands of racing gasoline, depending on the manufacturer. . In any form of internal combustion, piston engine application, power production capabilities are enhanced with the introduction of water into the fuel system. Some jet engine designs also use this type of power booster in pursuit of power output capabilities.
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