jason370
Zone Head
Posts: 589
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posted September 12, 2002 11:44 PM
fitch fuel catalyst....who uses em, and are they for real?
50 bucks seems a bit high for a fake. if they actually do what they claim then fine, i'll pay. anyone use them for their car/truck as well?
jason
   
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deathpulse
Pro
Posts: 1688
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posted September 13, 2002 05:24 AM
I've got them in my '12 (they come in a package that has 2 catalysts in it). I didn't really notice too much of a difference - but who know?
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ra12r
Zone Head
Posts: 919
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posted September 13, 2002 06:53 AM
I have had one for two years...I actually think that my riding skills is the key. Plus, having been one class from a minor in Chemistry, anything chemically that reacts or has an effect on other molecular patterns will be used up. A catalyst by definition includes the "use principle." However, the fitch fuel catalyst "changes the fuel efficiency" and "never gets used up".....another life mystery.
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All must bow to the "Ra Supremecy"...
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justaspeedfreak
Parking Attendant
Posts: 8
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posted September 13, 2002 07:02 AM
Send me $50 and I'll send you back something that will be just as effective...
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Y2KZX12R
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posted September 13, 2002 07:06 AM
 Edited By: Y2KZX12R on 13 Sep 2002 08:10
Jason, the short answer is yes and no. Or I should say, only if it needs to.
It does work as a catalyist to "break" some of the carbon chains to a more fully combustable length.
Gasoline isnt a singular chemical, it is made up of anywhere from about 15-130 or more types of carbon chains.
Ideally the length of any of those chains is 6-12 carbon atoms long. These mollecular chains are formed naturally but most are formed in the cracking tower during refining.
Early on in the production of gasoline they only "cracked" molecular chains to form more of the usefull 6-12 carbon aton length chains. This ment breaking the real long chains into shorter ones to increase the amount of gasoline produced per barrel of oil. In the proccess.
Then in the 40's they started to use solid catalyist pellets in the catalyzing proccess. These were solid catalyist spheres that were churned in the tower. They started to combine shorter chains into longer ones, this also increased the yield of gasoline per barrel. The Britts also used cold cracking in the spitfires during WWII. This was done with an inline catalyist just prior to burning the fuel. it only works on specific chains and only if those chains are present in the fuel. The Britts got more range out of the spit fires using it.
Later on the oil companies started to "hydro crack" by introducting hydrogen atoms under high pressure and temp to bring gasoline yields even higher. Several times the amount of gasoline that was naturally found in a barrel.
Prat and whitney has used them on turbines in generator sets and has publically stated thast the KW production per pound of fuel DID increase. They now use a catalyist on all generator sets.
It may not be made by the Fitch company. But the principal is the same.
I've had a set of Fitch catalyists for many years. They go in what ever bike I own at the time.
I have to admit that the price is a bit high. I'd imagine if you knew the formula of the alloy then you could make dozzens for the cost of 1 set. But I doubt they will give you the alloy composition. Besides, they patented that particular alloy. Thats not saying that you couldnt change the formula a but to work around it.
I myself back in 1998 used a 4 gas analyzer and compared fuel that was in my fuel tank for 3 days with the Fitch to fuel from the exact same pump nozzle put in a can at the same fill up.
The unburned hydrocarbons were about 20% lower with the fuel in the tank with the fitch vs the fuel put in a can. So the fuel with the Fitch does burn more completely.
Were splitting hairs here, and you wont ever "feal" more power. But you will see a cleaner combustion chamber on disassembly. And if you get a batch of fuel that is crappy, you may not ever notice it.
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zx1012r
Expert Class
Posts: 125
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posted September 13, 2002 07:57 AM
Y2K, Your brain is going to explode with all the knowledge in there!
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jason370
Zone Head
Posts: 589
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posted September 13, 2002 09:01 AM
so y2k,
where do babies come from? i heard that if you kiss a girl you can make a baby.
jg
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Y2KZX12R
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posted September 13, 2002 09:02 AM
LOL... I'm just nosey.
I studdied up on gasoline a few years back when we were having some trouble with a particular race fuel. The rep from the fuel company and I had quite the discussions about gasoline. I learned A LOT about gasoline.
Anyway this one particular supercharged drag engine was having fits burning this particular "race fuel" and they sent a rep to help solve the problem.
Turned out to be a bad batch of fuel. Kinda like Budweisers "born on date".
Anyway after 2 blower belts and a broken drive on the dyno the problem was solved.
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deathpulse
Pro
Posts: 1688
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posted September 13, 2002 09:29 AM
OK. I don't think I'm smart enough for this thread  . On a different note, I have no idea where the gas pickup is on the '12, but is their any chance that the Fitch catalysts could block the fuel line?
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FinalVelocity
Expert Class
Posts: 150
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posted September 13, 2002 12:10 PM
DP - I dropped them in my tank a year ago. Has not caused any running problems but if I were to do it again - I would not buy it. I have other uses for 50 bucks. No noticeable difference in either fuel consumption or running. Maybe it helps to synthesize the fuel in some way I don't know.
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VincentHill
Needs a life
Posts: 6520
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posted September 13, 2002 01:14 PM
Like everyone else!! I have them is all of my Bikes but "NOT" for "Power" or "Fuel" Mileage!! Like Y2K said, they do have a "Small" reaction and as bad as fuel is today, if your bike sits any length of time, the fuel / Gasoline starts going "South"!! (Straight to Hell)! My thought is that you will not make "More HP or Better Fuel Mileage, but you "WILL" Get the Power and Mileage the Gasoline was "Supposed to give in the first place!! I think of them as insurance against a Loss!!
Y2K Is my Thesis analysis get a "Passing" Grade! On Theory vs reality!!!???
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BA
Pro
Posts: 1592
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posted September 13, 2002 02:21 PM
WELL,......I'm no Chemist,.......but I slept at a HOLIDAY INN last night,...and I agree with Y2KZX12R. 
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speednut13
Parking Attendant
Posts: 21
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posted September 13, 2002 03:41 PM
I have had them in my 2K,12 since new, it runs like a top and very clean too, who knows ????????
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Y2KZX12R
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posted September 13, 2002 06:08 PM
Vincent, LOL ya you pass 
Well I think the problems arise with the claims that they make on the marketing material. In theory what they say is true. But in the real world you arnt going to see results like they make it sound. I think they overstate the claims. The fuel made now is made to a standard and is piped thru pipelines and mixed with everyone elsed "base stock". Only at the distribution center does a fuel become Mobil or Exxon or Shell etc. The fuel additives are mixed at the distribution center. Its mixed during transport. This system works as long as each refinery holds the base stock to a standard.
Its just like engine oils. They all use the same base stocks. What makes one engine oil better than the next is the additives. The zinc, phosphorous, calcium, etc. is what makes it a desireable oil.
Anyway, Do a search on the internet about gasoline and how its made. You will be amaized what you will learn about gasoline.
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justaspeedfreak
Parking Attendant
Posts: 8
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posted September 13, 2002 06:31 PM
Hey! There is quite a bit of science in the hexagonal nuts I'm selling. And for all this technology, $50 ain't bad.
Here is the technology:
All dimensions are in inches. "Finished" in the title refers to the quality of manufacture and the closeness of tolerance and does not indicate that surfaces are completely machined. Taper of the sides of nuts (angle between one side and axis) shall not exceed 2 degrees, the specified width across flats being the largest dimension. Tops of nuts shall be flat and chamfered. Diameter of top circle shall be maximum width across flats within a tolerance of minus 15 percent for washer-faced nuts and within a tolerance of minus 5 percent for double-chamfered nuts. Bearing surface shall be washer-faced or with chamfered corners. Diameter of circle of bearing surface shall be the maximum width across flats within a tolerance of minus 5 percent. Tapped hole shall be counter-sunk 1/64 in over the major diameter of thread for nuts up to and including 1/2 in and 1/32 in over the major diameter of thread for nuts over 1/2 inch in size. Bearing surface shall be at right angles to axis of the threaded hole within a tolerance of 2 degrees for 5/8 in nuts or smaller and 1 degree for nuts larger than 5/8 in; therefore the maximum total runout of bearing face would equal the tangent of specified angle times the distance across the flats. Thread shall be coarse, fine, or 8-thread series, class 2B. Suitable material for steel nuts is covered by ASTM A-307; other materials will be as agreed upon by manufacturer and user. Tolerance on width across flats may be increased 0.015 in for hot-formed nuts 5/8 in and smaller.
C'mon now, be honest, which would you rather have???
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Wildman
Expert Class
I only look confused
Posts: 318
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posted September 14, 2002 06:49 AM
Motorcycle Consumer News (MCN) did an article a while back on the Fitch Fuel Catylist. (I think it was within the last year, not sure)
Anyway, they were unable to document any effect from it. They tested mileage, power, and maybe emmisions but I don't remember the last one for sure.
No effect for 50$ = infinite $ per horsepower gained
____________
If you build something Idiot Proof, The world will build a better Idiot.
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mdr14
Parking Attendant
Posts: 1
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posted September 15, 2002 12:40 PM
I tested the Fitch Fuel catalyst 2 years ago. I controlled all the necessary variables. I used a model 250 Dynojet Dyno. The test bike was a fuel injected Triumph TT 600 with a Power Commander and a custom map.
I went to the gas pump and filled two different gas cans with the same fuel. One the Fitch fuel catalyst was added.
Per Fitch's recomendation, I left the catalyst in the fuel for the amount time they suggested.
On the day of the test, I baselined the bike on the regular fuel, noting the exact engine temperature. The fuel was drained and the treated fuel was poured into the tank. Tyhe exact same engine temperature was used on the dyno runs.
The result? 100% no difference in either dyno runs.
If you'll notice, in the claims that Fitch provides are all on air cooled Harleys. Any good dyno operator knows that engine temperature can drastically effect dyno results. From series of runs to series of runs on the air cooled motors, I have seen power increases, while making no changes! So it is always important that when you are dyno testing that you get good consistent repeatable data. If I get an abnormally high run that is not repeatable, it gets thrown out.
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jason370
Zone Head
Posts: 589
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posted September 15, 2002 06:06 PM
in my heart i know its a scam. nothing more than snakeoil. they tell you how great it is, and back t up with nothing. that being said, i bought one for my '02 zx12. they have a 30 day money back guatantee so ill try it out and probably send it back. if i got 10 more miles to a tank i'd be in heaven. we shall see. report conming soon
jason
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VincentHill
Needs a life
Posts: 6520
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posted September 15, 2002 07:56 PM
Again I am going to say, if you ride all of the time and your bike never sits, there is 100% no reason to buy this! If your bike sits weeks at a time, then I feel it is worth it becuse i really do think it helps keep the fuel fresher and "Nothing"
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Made History @ Daytona and still one fast old man!!
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VincentHill
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posted September 15, 2002 07:57 PM
Again I am going to say, if you ride all of the time and your bike never sits, there is 100% no reason to buy this! If your bike sits weeks at a time, then I feel it is worth it becuse i really do think it helps keep the fuel fresher and "Nothing"
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Made History @ Daytona and still one fast old man!!
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ZXtra
Expert Class
Posts: 490
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posted September 15, 2002 08:10 PM
I use them. I think mine runs smoother, but I may be clutching at straws here.
One thing that I will say here is, if you use the Fitch, DO NOT use a fuel preservative when you store your bike for the winter. The preservative will coat the Fitch rendering it useless. This comes from the Fitch people themselves. -ZXtra
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The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick!
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jason370
Zone Head
Posts: 589
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posted September 15, 2002 09:54 PM
so with a fitch dropped in, when you store your bike for winter its ok to leave fuel in it and it will start up 4 months later with no problems?
jason
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VincentHill
Needs a life
Posts: 6520
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posted September 16, 2002 07:53 AM
quote:
so with a fitch dropped in, when you store your bike for winter its ok to leave fuel in it and it will start up 4 months later with no problems?
jason
Drain your float Bowls or FI!
I had not heard about this "Coating" with the additive!
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ZXtra
Expert Class
Posts: 490
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posted September 16, 2002 06:20 PM
VincentHill...Coating is how the preservative works. It provides a "film" barrier that separates the fuel from the air which prevents (or at least delays) the fuel from going bad. The preservative also coats the inside of the tank (and anything else) to prevent rust.
I have never had fuel go bad even over a 6 month period. Now I can't say that for all regions as fuel additives are different in different areas of the continent. I'm in Ontario Canada and in the fall, they start putting winter additives in pump fuel to increase fuel atomization in colder temperatures. I don't know if this helps storage or hurts it.
jason370...Another method is to fill your tank during storage to get as much air out of the tank as possible. This minimizes condensation in the tank.
Your storage area should be as temperature stabil and dry as possible (such as an insulated garage). Condensation takes place during temperature changes.
Hope this helps. -ZXtra
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The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick!
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ZHooligan
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posted September 16, 2002 08:08 PM
Here in the NW I can always catch a day or two every month in the winter to hop on the bike and run her. Never had any trouble with the fuel going bad. I do however have concerns about leaving Nutec and some of the other fuels I have been known to run in the tank for long periods of time. They can eat and corrode a lot of the engine and injection parts so I have been told.
____________
To those who do not count their life in years, but in how life
has touched them in the past and how much it can hold in the
future; -- Youth is forever.
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