5.4:1 compression ratio is not too bad for the era. Octane ratings were not devised until the 1920s (Kettering - of the ignition system - developed the octane rating system we use today, based largely on the work of the Brit Sir Harry Ricardo). Ricardo designed the WW1 British tank engine which used 3.5:1 compression as it was designed to run on fuel which was more like kerosine than gasoline.
Technically it had nothing on the Marc Birkigt designed Hispano-Suiza V8, which used cast aluminum blocks, which as that time was revolutionary.
Later other aircraft engine manafacturers and the car industry followed suit. Birkigt was first though. What he had designed in WW1 was literally a milestone.
Having worked for machine shop aerospace manufacturers I marvel at what they were able to put together, as far as complexity, way back then with the tooling they had. Excellent!
@Bamchucknorris 50 Octane is more volatile (faster/quicker burning) than the pump gas we use today. Hence, one of the reasons that the comp. ratio is so low, along with the fact that the engine could be compensated by a blower.
A good example would be if you were to put 50 octane gas in your engine today, your engine would either explode or just immediately shutdown because the knock sensor will detect detonation.
So instead of haha, you should say Wow! Amazing! That engine is tough!
@jtrisgood Sorry but that's plain wrong. The octane rating is NOT a measure of volatility or how fast a fuel burns - it's a measure of how well it resists decomposing into self-ignition compounds under heat and pressure. You want the flame front to race right across the cylinder in a smooth burn after the spark lights it - not to self ignite causing an opposing pressure wave - detonation. The number is a comparison of the test fuel with a mixture of iso-octane (100) and heptane (0-zero).
@aussiebug1970 No it's not wrong. The higher the octane rating the lower the volatility to detonation in the compression chamber based on compression ratio. It's that simple.
@jtrisgood Sorry but it IS wrong. Dictionary - volatile... evaporating rapidly; passing off readily in the form of vapor (low vapour pressure). Some of the highest octane rated components of gasoline are the least volatile, yet Toluene has a RON of 120 and it's super-volatile. The Octane number does NOT measure volatility, but resistance to detonation - that's it. Dictionary definition "designation of antiknock quality" - there's no mention of volatility there.
@aussiebug1970 And again, I guess you just can't understand what it is I meant. Everything you are stating is exactly what I am saying with the exception of the octane number not measuring volatility. Your statement of disagreement agrees with what I was saying. The octane number measures a level of volatility to "knock" or "detonation" within the compression chamber. If a fuel burns too fast it begins "detonating" inside the compression chamber. Faster burning gasoline is lower octane in the US
@BeeEmmW Libert's a 27 liter v12, can't compare it to a 46 liter. Proportionally the Liberty produces 16 horsepower per cylinder, same for the Brutus. They were both high power engines with similar technological prowess, just one was bigger
An odd fact about these is that they used to run bearings in early versions, but Ettore Bugatti suggested the bearing shells were too thick. Packard took Bugatti's suggestion, made the shells thinner and the problem went away.
5.4:1 compression ratio is not too bad for the era. Octane ratings were not devised until the 1920s (Kettering - of the ignition system - developed the octane rating system we use today, based largely on the work of the Brit Sir Harry Ricardo). Ricardo designed the WW1 British tank engine which used 3.5:1 compression as it was designed to run on fuel which was more like kerosine than gasoline.
aussiebug1970 1 month ago
Not really a low comp ratio if they are adding boost to the motor...How much boost?
5lbs? 10lbs? 20lbs? 30lbs?
borlics 1 month ago
A fine engine.
Technically it had nothing on the Marc Birkigt designed Hispano-Suiza V8, which used cast aluminum blocks, which as that time was revolutionary.
Later other aircraft engine manafacturers and the car industry followed suit. Birkigt was first though. What he had designed in WW1 was literally a milestone.
McLarenMercedes 1 month ago
Having worked for machine shop aerospace manufacturers I marvel at what they were able to put together, as far as complexity, way back then with the tooling they had. Excellent!
smithraymond09029 3 months ago
Incredible -- designed from scratch and working prototype built in TWO MONTHS???
WoW!!
starmanskye 4 months ago
My fart has a higher compression ratio.
allwheeldrive1 5 months ago 31
@allwheeldrive1 Haha all these old engines ran on like 50 octane LOL
Bamchucknorris 5 months ago 11
@Bamchucknorris 50 Octane is more volatile (faster/quicker burning) than the pump gas we use today. Hence, one of the reasons that the comp. ratio is so low, along with the fact that the engine could be compensated by a blower.
A good example would be if you were to put 50 octane gas in your engine today, your engine would either explode or just immediately shutdown because the knock sensor will detect detonation.
So instead of haha, you should say Wow! Amazing! That engine is tough!
jtrisgood 1 month ago
@jtrisgood I understand this concept well enough. Higher compression = more stable fuel required.
Bamchucknorris 1 month ago
@jtrisgood Sorry but that's plain wrong. The octane rating is NOT a measure of volatility or how fast a fuel burns - it's a measure of how well it resists decomposing into self-ignition compounds under heat and pressure. You want the flame front to race right across the cylinder in a smooth burn after the spark lights it - not to self ignite causing an opposing pressure wave - detonation. The number is a comparison of the test fuel with a mixture of iso-octane (100) and heptane (0-zero).
aussiebug1970 1 month ago
@aussiebug1970 No it's not wrong. The higher the octane rating the lower the volatility to detonation in the compression chamber based on compression ratio. It's that simple.
jtrisgood 3 weeks ago
@jtrisgood Sorry but it IS wrong. Dictionary - volatile... evaporating rapidly; passing off readily in the form of vapor (low vapour pressure). Some of the highest octane rated components of gasoline are the least volatile, yet Toluene has a RON of 120 and it's super-volatile. The Octane number does NOT measure volatility, but resistance to detonation - that's it. Dictionary definition "designation of antiknock quality" - there's no mention of volatility there.
aussiebug1970 3 weeks ago
@aussiebug1970 And again, I guess you just can't understand what it is I meant. Everything you are stating is exactly what I am saying with the exception of the octane number not measuring volatility. Your statement of disagreement agrees with what I was saying. The octane number measures a level of volatility to "knock" or "detonation" within the compression chamber. If a fuel burns too fast it begins "detonating" inside the compression chamber. Faster burning gasoline is lower octane in the US
jtrisgood 2 weeks ago
@allwheeldrive1 That was actually a high compression for the day as the avrage car might have had 4-1 ratio.
vamp2080 2 months ago
@allwheeldrive1 True - the fuel of the day was pretty horrid by modern standards. 40-60 octane.
kblackav8or 1 month ago
this video is a response to BRUTUS - sorry yanks but theres nothing american that can beat BMW's brutus
BeeEmmW 7 months ago
@BeeEmmW Libert's a 27 liter v12, can't compare it to a 46 liter. Proportionally the Liberty produces 16 horsepower per cylinder, same for the Brutus. They were both high power engines with similar technological prowess, just one was bigger
MrTrollus 5 months ago
An odd fact about these is that they used to run bearings in early versions, but Ettore Bugatti suggested the bearing shells were too thick. Packard took Bugatti's suggestion, made the shells thinner and the problem went away.
Palifiox 11 months ago
those engines would probably run on good moonshine...
123Joko123 1 year ago
I think they used those types of engines in boats running moonshine as well
anvil357 1 year ago