Alterpower (shutting off alternator)

[Capcom]

http://www.bestservis.com/digerurunler/alterpower/alterpower_eng.htm

Not closely related with fuel economy but it is rather performance increasing modification.

[MetroMPG]

variation on the theme...

alternator/generator which runs more efficiently using "waste" exhaust gasses, turbo style:

TIGERS — Turbo-generator Integrated Gas Energy Recovery System

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005..._exhaust_.html

[rh77]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

variation on the theme...

alternator/generator which runs more efficiently using "waste" exhaust gasses, turbo style:

TIGERS — Turbo-generator Integrated Gas Energy Recovery System

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005/09/tigers_exhaust_.html

Wow -- that's brilliant. You could effectively run everything off of electrical power: steering, A/C, etc. and use the turbo-"charger" to charge the system back up when driving. No need for belt-driven accessories. Is this something we could expect in regular cars within 10-years?

RH77

[Compaq888]

Toyota already has a car in Japan that runs everything off the electricity. Power steering, AC and everything else. Expect within a couple of years to see cars using power steering, AC, and no cams on electric power. Basically they are trying to remove all the power zapping accesories from the motor.

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

variation on the theme...

alternator/generator which runs more efficiently using "waste" exhaust gasses, turbo style:

TIGERS — Turbo-generator Integrated Gas Energy Recovery System

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005/09/tigers_exhaust_.html

Wow

wow

wow. Kind of makes me want to pay someone to make one and get it working for me now. :P

[GasSavers_DaX]

Originally Posted by Compaq888

Toyota already has a car in Japan that runs everything off the electricity. Power steering, AC and everything else. Expect within a couple of years to see cars using power steering, AC, and no cams on electric power. Basically they are trying to remove all the power zapping accesories from the motor.

Not only are these accessories zapping power from the motor, they're inefficient as hell. Take power steering for instance - when you need the pump the most, it's barely turning. When you don't need it at all, it's pumping it's little heart out.

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by DaX

Not only are these accessories zapping power from the motor, they're inefficient as hell. Take power steering for instance - when you need the pump the most, it's barely turning. When you don't need it at all, it's pumping it's little heart out.

Do you think I could get a mpg gain by removing power steering? I'm reluctant to do so, but on my small light car (2200lbs) I don't know why not.

[SVOboy]

You'll love yourself for getting rid of power steering. It's more fun, and it'll free up a few hp, drop some weight, and be less crap to break on you.

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by SVOboy

You'll love yourself for getting rid of power steering. It's more fun, and it'll free up a few hp, drop some weight, and be less crap to break on you.

yeah, but what about gas mileage? If I were to get rid of it would Ineed to replace the entire steering rack or could I just remove the pump, etc.?

[MetroMPG]

this question came up on a metro/swift forum yesterday. sure it would help with mpg, but,

(cut & paste...)

my brother in law and i tried this once on his old integra. it was way harder to steer with the p.steering belt off. harder than it should have been.

then i remembered hearing click and clack the tappet brothers talking about this subject.

their advice is not so supportive of the idea ... "Driving a car with a broken power-steering system is harder than driving a car that never had power steering in the first place. That's because the two systems use very different steering racks."

and then ... "The second potential dire consequence is that the power-steering fluid that WAS running through his steering rack -- until it got disconnected -- is what lubricates the steering components. So right now, they're not getting any lubrication."

full articles here:
http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns/Archive/2004/May/02.html
http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns/Archive/1998/May/05.html

but then, i always find their advice to be a little extra cautious. hard to know what to do.

then someone else suggested that the rack replacement was the way to go.