What is an HHO Fuel Cell and Does it Increase Gas Mileage?

There's a lot of talk about HHO "fuel cells" on the net and elsewhere. These miracle devices are supposed to increase gas mileage on your fuel injected engine. However, they are not the hydrogen-powered fuel cells Washington and environmentalists are hoping will help free the US from imported oil. Let's talk about these two devices, how they operate and how they fit in a carbon-reduced future.

What the HHO cell is

The HHO cell is really an electrolysis device, based on an invention from the late 19th century. Simply put, it uses electricity to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen. A water molecule is made of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. In electrolysis two water molecules can be separated to produce two hydrogen molecules, each made of two hydrogen atoms, and one oxygen molecule made of two oxygen atoms. Both the hydrogen and the oxygen come out as gas.

Does the HHO help gas mileage?

Reading around on the net, some claim 6 to 7 MPG improvements on 8-cylinder vehicles that normally get 17 MPG or so. An input is added to the air intake pipe and the hydrogen and oxygen gasses are fed into the system just as the unmodified air intake does. This process is reputed to make gasoline in the engine burn more efficiently. In reality, several serious mechanic-types have tested these devices and found no difference in their gas mileage. Mike Allen from Popular Mechanics tested one and found no increase in fuel efficiency.

It turns out the trick isn't just adding more hydrogen and oxygen to your fuel but there may be some tampering required on the fuel-mixing computer to make the engine run leaner, which would, by itself reduce fuel usage. The additional hydrogen is supposed to make that leaner fuel burn hotter yielding the same energy from less fuel. It's unclear if this really does work. It is clear that tinkering with the computer may be a violation of federal emission laws. There are also tales of folks tinkering with that computer and being unable to get their car to run at all.

Other Problems with HHO

Besides the hazard of completely messing up your car's fuel injection and emission system, these jury-rigged devices are often dangerous. Hydrogen and oxygen gas love to combine and will do so explosively whenever they get the chance. (That is the principle that runs the "real" hydrogen cell vehicles being developed by auto manufacturers.) The HHO devices are built in anything from a mason jar to a solid metal box. The device draws electricity for the electrolysis from your car battery, again, putting a spark near explosive gases. The active ingredient varies from baking soda and distilled water to white vinegar to dangerous sulphur compounds.

Follow the Money

If these HHO systems really did work, doesn't it seem that one could find reputable mechanics willing to retrofit vehicles? Wouldn't these be incorporated in new vehicles? Perhaps we should hope Mythbusters will take a look at these HHO cells. In the meantime, be careful trying to retrofit your own vehicle. It could cost you big money.

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