Thread: wood gas converter

Originally Posted by mfc

anyone seen, heard or know of series ones run on wood gas converters in the past{pre ww2 ww2 and after?} also any pics?
regards mark

Series I's weren't around pre WW2.

I remember seeing pictures of cars in the UK that had massive bags of gas on the roof and towing gas generators during wartime rationing. OH&S might restrict some of the contraptions nowadays.
Some info here Low-tech Magazine: Wood gas vehicles: firewood in the fuel tank

I can just imagine turning up for a roadworthy with a wood gas generator fitted. VicRoads have enough trouble with the straightforward stuff.....

Colin

Brazil[south America] had lots of these until alcohol become the norm.

sort of why petrol powered trucks rulled up to the 80's.

Thanks for posting that link Colin - what a balanced and informative article!

About 5 years ago I tried to research the subject but my choice of "charcoal burner" was a poor one and yielded meagre results. I did find; however; a blog by an old couple who were touring Australia in a Kombi with wood-burner behind them in a trailer.

At the time I thought it would be cool to turn up to a motor show in the S1, with a trailer attached and running on charcoal-gas.

In any case, to me a wood-fired car has distinct advantages for some applications such as: a medium to heavy car, capable of towing heavy loads; no hurry to get somewhere; an abundance of free or cheap firewood; a thick-skin to deflect the ridicule of passing idiots; zero tax on the fuel, if you grow it yourself. It seems to me that Australia offers most of these things already.

I still think that in the oil-starved future, more of us will look keenly at the idea. A Megajolt programmable ignition map would be ideal for getting the spark in early. Petrol fired tractors, which are a bit of a rarity nowadays, would probably respond well to wood-firing and you could grow your own fuel like I do

Cheers Charlie

;petrol rationing went on long after ww2 food to, more asking for pictures of any local cars or engines fitted with converters . Ive seen pics of the balloon devices as well im thinking that the coal gas ones were run on charcol{you can make that youreself as well.
.. Im with you chazza ,in the wood department, i could drive to canbera with an axe lol ..id be thinking in these days thered be room for minimisation as well ,and even if not the'd fit easily in the tray of a swb let alone a lwb, might have to get a series 2 to try it on.{might need a wood gas powered chainsaw as well lol}

The Gengas Page

Fluidyne Gasification - Archive - Since 1976

http://www.hotel.ymex.net/~s-20222/gengas/kg_eng.html

an interesting mental exercise at the very least :}
regards mark

there are a lot of problems with gas producers.
You need the right sort of wood in the correct size cubes, or access to charcoal
Filters and water coolers are needed.
Your motor will need regular decokes as the tar and ash deposits quickly sludge up your valves and piston rings.
wood gas has not much bang to it and you will get a 40 to 50 percent reduction in engine power.
You have to do regular stops to stoke/ shake the burner and clean the filter.
You have to get it lit , warmed up and burning correctly before you can go anywhere.
people were very happy to get rid of gas producers after petrol rationing.

A few more links :-

Rationing. Petrol rationing in WW2 « Crude Oil Peak
Land Rover on wood gas. GMC, Workshop
More on wood gas Wood Gas conversion



Colin

When I was a kid in Brisbane in the 60's I used to see a 37 Chev getting around with a wood burner on the back. It kept up in the traffic ok . My Dad told me that there were quite a few set up during the war.
Mike

everything to need to know about setting up a 101 landrover to wood gas.
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