JohnWilder
Veteran Member
Just looked at the ecotech engine, and see that it works on the 2 cycle principle, which is also what the Wankel engine worked on and why no one makes them anymore that I'm aware of. I'm not an engineer, but from the cutaway drawing provided in the article it looks like something that would attract folks who don't understand how engines work. It doesn't matter how much money a person has if they don't have a basic understanding of how an engine works. Two pistons in each cylinder and only one attached to the crankshaft? Sounds great but what do the "free" pistons do?
I love ring dings, had quite a few motorcycles with engines of that design, and still have some yard equipment. The EPA doesn't like two strokes even more than they don't like diesels, and likely for better reasons. If this is a piston port design which is what it looks like it's about as ecological as pouring crude oil on coal, and lighting it off at atmospheric pressure out in the back yard. To get by the EPA it'd need more pollution control equipment than the local coal fired power plant.[/QUOTE]
Actually, the Wankel is a 4 stoke engine. The problem with the Wankel is sliding seals. Sliding seals have been the weak point in many designs. Piston rings are sliding seals. However if you can keep the speed below about 3200 ft/min they will live very well. In a 4 stroke system then are very well lubricated also. The tips seals of the Wankel is it's problem. The shape of the chamber has a much higher surface area to volume ratio than in a piston engine. As such the cooling loses are much higher. As such they get poor fuel economy.
I love ring dings, had quite a few motorcycles with engines of that design, and still have some yard equipment. The EPA doesn't like two strokes even more than they don't like diesels, and likely for better reasons. If this is a piston port design which is what it looks like it's about as ecological as pouring crude oil on coal, and lighting it off at atmospheric pressure out in the back yard. To get by the EPA it'd need more pollution control equipment than the local coal fired power plant.[/QUOTE]
Actually, the Wankel is a 4 stoke engine. The problem with the Wankel is sliding seals. Sliding seals have been the weak point in many designs. Piston rings are sliding seals. However if you can keep the speed below about 3200 ft/min they will live very well. In a 4 stroke system then are very well lubricated also. The tips seals of the Wankel is it's problem. The shape of the chamber has a much higher surface area to volume ratio than in a piston engine. As such the cooling loses are much higher. As such they get poor fuel economy.