Colder engine runs better. Lightweight heatsinks on every exposed part of the engine, all vented through a giant Golden Orb style heat sink fan on the hood of the car. Aluminum would make it light, and the heat drawn off the motor would increas HP, and make people running turbos able to crank the boost.

Giblet
-- Giblet, Jun 02 2002

Electricity-Generating Car Cooling System http://www.halfbake..._20Cooling_20System
Same idea, added benfit. [phoenix, Jun 03 2002, last modified Oct 04 2004]

Colder engines don't run better. Engines in their particular 'comfort zone' run best.
-- StarChaser, Jun 03 2002


It generally takes an automobile engine a couple of hours to heat to the point where they are at their most efficient. Adding direct-block cooling, willy-nilly, would probably introduce problems like warping.
-- bristolz, Jun 03 2002


I think you might be thinking of diesels, bristolzlove. Gas engines go pretty quickly to where they're happiest.
-- StarChaser, Jun 03 2002


So.... You want an air-cooled engine.

I think it's been done before...
-- drew, Jun 03 2002


Unless, thy're sitting for extended periods of time - Engines *like* humid conditions. 's why all dem raaaaaaayyyyeeeddddddnecks got car races. In such conditions - <Cap'n Kirk>what *should* be *colder* is *spark* plugs - taking *care* to make *sure* their *wells* are *dry*.</Cap'n Kirk>
-- thumbwax, Jun 03 2002


Nope, I was thinking of normal car engines and I've read the figure for a large block engine can be even longer, up to 5 hours. I'm differentiating between operating temperature and the temperature at which absolute peak operating efficiency occurs. It takes a long time for the heat of combustion to propogate across the entire engine mass and settle into stability. This includes the entire mass of the coolant, the cooling system components, the induction system, and the oil and oil system.
-- bristolz, Jun 03 2002


That may well be the required time for total heat soak of the entire block, but the engine will reach an efficient operating temperature in a very short time. The important bits heat very quickly, and require thermostatically controlled cooling (for water cooling, anyway), taking away the excess heat. The rest of the block doesn't really matter. Diesels tend to reach an efficient operating temperature faster than petrol engines.
-- drew, Jun 03 2002


You should idle your engine for 30-45 seconds to warm it at startup.
-- reensure, Jun 03 2002


Shoot, and I've been getting up at 4am to warm my car up for three hours every morning.
-- bristolz, Jun 03 2002


Statistics show that you will probably do the same tomorrow morning.
-- reensure, Jun 03 2002


[bristolz] I take your point differentiating between op temp and what you are calling absolute peak operating temperature. However, complete thermal stability doesn't equate with absolute peak operating state. The transfer of energy into other components is accounted for by the thermostat - the important parts of the engine reach temperature quite rapidly. The difference in operating efficiency attributable to the rest of the kit is negligible.
-- drew, Jun 03 2002


Okay. Not what I understand but I ain't arguing no more.
-- bristolz, Jun 03 2002


The idea was that it was an add on for the increasingly growing aftermarket.

But I guess this site is caterd more the scientific plausibility as opposed to the commercial potential.
-- Giblet, Jun 07 2002


//scientific plausibility//
You haven't looked far, have you?
-- angel, Jun 07 2002


Well, it's fair to say we prefer ideas that are interesting in their own right, rather than ideas which will sell.
-- pottedstu, Jun 07 2002


Teehee. I can't wait for the day where I can overclock my car's engine computer.
-- rapid transit, May 20 2003


Err... and how about neon lights on the HT leads...
-- david_scothern, Mar 15 2004



random, halfbakery