Got the HHO generator installed in the Prado last Sunday afternoon.  Everything about the unit has been designed with 4WDing in mind, so no expense spared for good quality bits and pieces.

Until I prepare the new narrower plates I am still running a 12 plate system and thus putting out about half the optimum HHO.

I have a 100mm diameter generator and a 40mm bubbler installed under the bonnet.  Electrically I have a 30amp Pulse Width Modulator (PWM), so I can manually adjust the amps the unit draws.  In testing this has worked great, being able to stabalise amps to around 17.

Heat and amp draw are the two killers in these HHO generators, and in testing the PWM, I found that even at a stady 16-17 amps, the heat still rose, albeit at a slower pace.

For my first test run in the Prado, I decided to only use half a teaspoon of potassium hydroxide instead of the usual 1 teaspoon.  This has certainly controlled the amperage and heat a lot better.  Also the position I have the unit mounted under the bonnet allows for a little cool air from around the rear of the headlight and some air from the radiator fan.

I want speedy heat up and to come to operating amperage quickly so I have wired the unit with a second switch.  In the off position the unit runs straight battery power while in the ON position the unit then runs controlled by the PWM.  All this seems to be working really well.

The only problem I have is that water seems to be disappearing from the bubbler.  I guessed that it is either being drawn back into the HHO generator as it cools or is being drawn into the motor.  To avoid the water being drawn into the HHO unit, I just purchased a commercial inline non-return valve.  What an amazing piece of engineering, it is only about 2 inches long and 3/4 inch in diameter, but what this has done for the unit is something else.

Before fitting the non-return valve, the gas going through the bubbler seemed to be in bursts (not continuous), but this valve has appled the slightest pressure to the HHO unit and now there is a steady continual stream fo gas being emitted.

In 3 days time I set off on a 5,000km holiday.  I’ll be keeping very accurate petrol consumption figures, so will be able to report back in 3 weeks on the success or otherwise.  Remember, this unit is only producing half of what is ideally required, so I am not expecting a big increase in mpg.

See you out there!

Doug Johnston

Tip:

Walking the Crossing<br> When walking your water crossings its best to walk in the intended wheel tracks to find if there are any hidden rocks or potholes, as well as for checking the depth. Potholes at common crossings are often caused by previous 4x4 spinning their wheels after hitting a submerged rock. So if you find a pothole, check for submerged rocks. It's a good idea to place markers at these points so you can avoid them. Its been known for a vehicle attempting a relatively easy crossing to suck in water when a single pothole has caused the hood to momentarily dip below the water level, causing water to enter the air intake, resulting in hydro-lock and a damaged engine.