irony (was:RE: [thechat] Car Buffs ..)
Bob Davis
bobd at members.evolt.org
Wed Jun 6 14:04:31 CDT 2001
On Wednesday, June 6, 2001, at 02:51 PM, Luther, Ron wrote:
>
> Pressure? Diesels don't have "glow plugs" anymore? ... Gosh! ... I
> must be
> old!
>
They only use them when the engine's cold and the reaction needs a
little kick start.
Herr Dr. Diesel was a pretty clever man.
> There are a couple of parameters to be aware of here like "flash point"
> and
> ... shoot - I forgot what it's called - but it's a region of
> flammability
> determined by the air/fuel mixture ... any fuel is only flammable
> within a
> certain range ... too low/lean a mixture OR too high/rich a mixture and
> it
> won't ignite.
Right - and that's why diesel won't ignite if you drop a match into it.
No air (O2) for the reaction. It's kind of like that dude who lights
charcoal grills with LOX - he specifically warn people not to add the
LOX before the flame. One charcoal chunk that's saturated with LOX has
roughly the explosive force of a stick of dynamite. Sure fire way to
ruin those kabobs...
I had a friend who worked for SAE (the Society of Automotive Engineers -
like SAE 10w-40). He was the master of dangerous backyard experiments.
The kind of guy who would drop a match into a bucket of kerosene. I
learned this stuff from him.
He had a great trick that involved a 9 volt battery, the coil from an
old American car, a bit of wire, a puddle and a urinal...but I'm getting
OT even for here... ;)
bob
--
bob davis
bobd at members.evolt.org
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