Hemmings Motor News Blog

According to previous threads in this forum, we have several regular contributors who should be able to debunk this easily if it is in fact untrue. Or confirm if it is possible. How about it guys?

I would absolutely love to see an outcome on this one.

I cannot verify or deny this theory myself.

To take it one step further, I'd like to see somebody actually replicate those mileage figures with the same techniques. Smokey Yunick apparently tried it in the 1980s and achieved 51 mpg with a similarly modified Pontiac Fiero (http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2007/05/11/superheated-smokey-fiero/). Outside of that, I know of no other verifiable superheated engine experiments.

dan

Unfortunately, the buyer who purchased the vehicle from us was more interested in making the car driveable, than preserving history. Now that it has been modified, the historical scientific value is gone....Like if the first Wankel engined car, now has a Mazda engine !!! ...TOO BAD, what's gone is gone...... "restore " means to return to 'as original'...and does not tolerate changes...........

Dave OldSchool Restorations of North Alabama dave@race-cardrivers.com

Hey Dave. I understand your reply on the 59 Opel as the historical value is gone, but who wants to look at a vehicle in bad condition? I have the 59 Fiat and want to return it to the condition it was for the marathons. No color difference and no upgrades. but, if I do that, someone will doubt the cars reputation. So, it is a lose lose deal. Not only does the original story die but so does the return to significance. How does a guy win? I am not into the car for a return on money. But rather to restore and show. Granted the previous owner restored the opel gently, he did change the looks. Not intentionally to devalue the car but because for one, the product used to insulate the engine bay. I would speculate it had fiberglass type substance. I don't know for a fact but would think that same material can't be bought today.

It is good to see people talking about these cars. They represent what good ol' American ingenuity can do but choses not to. The mileage numbers may be high but the possibilities to match are most likely infinite.

Vaporguy

vaporguy@gt.rr.com

The Shell Opel is a FRAUD. ALL intake air is routed through the crankcase, which likely is filled with gasoline-spiked oil. I'd wager once the engine is warm enough to stir up the volatiles in the sump (or maybe even from cold start) that car could complete it's competition run with NO GAS in the "gas tank"!!! That someone finally entered a car that can compete with an empty tank may have a lot to do with why '73 was also the last year for ralley cars based on road cars- a complete competition rules overhaul was obviously needed.

In reference to your comments about the Opel, I personally do not own the Opel, but if you knew more about how the competitions were run, you would not feel the way you do. Yes, there was gas. Yes the intake air was routed through the crankcase. The vehicles you are driving today do the same thing, just on a smaller scale - PCV. The fumes from the crankcase do offer some benefit in the combustion process but too much of a good thing can be bad if the oil overwhelms the process. Several of the vehicles run in the competition used a 250 ml graduated burrette for a fuel tank. Why would you need more fuel than that. There is information available on the net about a couple of those cars. Problem is the info cant be posted without permissions. If you want to know more about how the mpgs were accomplished, have an open mind and I will share. The picture is not as you perceive it to be. The comment of fraud is incorrect. A better understanding of the purpose and results of the marathons will calm your premature conclusions as you stated before. There are too many comments of fraud posted before any questions are ever asked.

Having personally competed in SAE Super High-Mileage Competitions, I think I do have a good idea how these competitions are run. It IS fraud to burn crankcase volatiles and then make outlandish MPG claims. They didn't call it the "Vapor" engine for nothing. If I'm "perceiving the picture" wrong, don't be so coy- correct me and do it right here.

Help us out here. If you have experience in SAE competitions, share your knowledge. The vapor induction system used on the Opel was done 35 years ago. That is old technology. No secrets there. I do not have the history you do with running these cars. So, tell us how gas laden fuel in the crankcase is good for engine bearings and reciprocating equipment. Not that it cant be done. But this is a new twist on engine lubrication. I can however see how with a hot intake the oil fumes could be considered as an external source of combustion fuel. Then again, too much can be a bad thing. I invite you to educate the viewers on your experiences. These cars being 35 years old and not but a very few that know much about them, enlighten us on your history. I suggest you register to the blog and own up. Posting as a guest usually allows posters to hit and run. Heck, I would be thrilled to have been able to compete in any of those competitions. Maybe we could get them going again and get the rules more down to earth. Contribute my friend. We want to hear of the races. That info is guarded well.