Regan Brown
Top Fuel dragsters are the quickest accelerating racing cars in the world, with the fastest competitors reaching speeds of 338.94 mph. These dragsters can burn up to 15 gallons of fuel in a single run, with some sources claiming they can burn up to 20 gallons. The engine consumes 1.5 gallons of nitromethane per second under full throttle, with a flow rate of 8 gallons per minute for each cylinder. The bore and stroke of the engine are a constant, with a 4.500 stroke and a 4.187 bore. The fuel line is about 3 thick, and the fuel pumps can flow up to 100 gallons per minute.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Gallons of fuel in a funny car pass | 15-20 gallons |
| Fuel consumption per second | 1.5 gallons |
| Fuel consumption per minute | 8 gallons per cylinder (64 gallons for all 8 cylinders) |
| Fuel consumption per minute (modern funny cars) | 88-94 gallons |
| Fuel consumption per minute (fuel pump) | 100 gallons |
| Fuel consumption per minute (idling) | 3.6-3.8 gallons |
| Fuel consumption (warmup, burnout, staging, and the quarter-mile run) | 12-22.75 gallons |
| Horsepower | 11,000 horsepower (1,375 per cylinder) |
| Maximum speed | 340 mph |
| Time for a 1,000-foot run | 3.641 seconds |
| Acceleration from 0 to 100 mph | 0.8 seconds |
| Maximum speed in the first 660 feet | 297 mph |
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What You'll Learn
- A funny car consumes 15-20 gallons of fuel per pass
- The engine consumes 1.5 gallons of nitromethane per second at full throttle
- The fuel line is 3 thick, with fuel pumps flowing 100 gallons per minute
- The engine produces 1,375 horsepower per cylinder
- The fuel is injected by a constant flow injection system
A funny car consumes 15-20 gallons of fuel per pass
A funny car is a type of drag racing car, and it can use up to 15 US gallons of fuel per pass. Some sources give a range of 15-20 gallons, while others state that they can burn "roughly" or "in the neighbourhood of" 15 gallons in a single run. This amount of fuel is required to make the high horsepower levels that these cars are known for.
The engines used in funny cars are based on the Chrysler Hemi and can make up to 11,000 horsepower, or 1,375 horsepower per cylinder. This level of performance is considered "insane", and these cars are capable of reaching speeds of almost 340 mph.
The fuel used in funny cars is nitromethane, and the engines have two 44-amp spark plugs per cylinder to ignite it. The fuel is injected by a constant flow injection system, with about 42 fuel nozzles. The pump can flow 100 US gallons per minute at 7500 rpm and 500 psi fuel pressure. The fuel line is about 3 inches thick, and the fuel pumps can flow up to 100 gallons per minute. At maximum pull, these engines can flow 90 gallons per minute of fuel and achieve 6,800 rpm.
Funny cars are sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) and are a type of Top Fuel dragster. Top Fuel dragsters are the quickest-accelerating racing cars in the world and the fastest sanctioned category of drag racing. The fastest competitors can reach speeds of 338.94 mph and finish 1,000-foot runs in 3.641 seconds.
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The engine consumes 1.5 gallons of nitromethane per second at full throttle
The engine of a funny car consumes an astonishing 1.5 gallons of nitromethane per second at full throttle. This means that in a single pass, a funny car can burn through anywhere from 12 to 22.75 gallons of fuel, with most sources citing around 15 gallons.
To put this into perspective, a fully loaded 747 consumes about the same amount of jet fuel per second, but with 25% less energy being produced. The massive amount of fuel required to power these cars is due in part to the fact that funny car engines can produce up to 11,000 horsepower, or 1,375 horsepower per cylinder.
The fuel is injected by a constant flow injection system, with about 42 fuel nozzles supplying the engine. The fuel pumps are capable of flowing 100 gallons per minute, with each cylinder receiving 8 gallons per minute. At maximum pull, these engines can flow 90 gallons per minute!
The high horsepower output of these engines means that many components are only good for one to five runs. For example, the extreme force can even reduce the dome of the pistons to some degree. Additionally, the spark plug electrodes are totally consumed during a pass.
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The fuel line is 3 thick, with fuel pumps flowing 100 gallons per minute
A top fuel funny car can use up to 15 US gallons of fuel per pass. This amount can vary, with some sources citing 12 to 22.75 gallons during warmup, burnout, staging, and the quarter-mile run. The fuel pumps for these cars are no joke, with a flow rate of 8 gallons per minute for each cylinder, or 64 gallons per minute for all eight cylinders. That's a lot of fuel being pumped at an incredibly fast rate!
Now, let's focus on the fuel line and pump specifications mentioned: "The fuel line is 3 thick, with fuel pumps flowing 100 gallons per minute." This description aligns with the information provided by Joe Morrison, a Funny Car driver for Herzhauser Racing. Morrison states that the fuel line for these high-performance vehicles is approximately 3 inches thick. This thickness is crucial to accommodate the high flow rate of fuel required to power the engine.
Morrison also mentions that the fuel pumps can flow at a rate of up to 100 gallons per minute. This flow rate is astonishing and showcases the engineering prowess behind these cars. To put it into perspective, that's more than 1.6 gallons of fuel flowing per second! The high flow rate is necessary to deliver the required amount of fuel to the engine, ensuring it performs optimally during a race.
While the fuel pumps can reach a maximum flow rate of 100 gallons per minute, it's important to note that the actual flow rate during a race can vary. Morrison mentions that during idling, the flow rate drops to around 3.6 to 3.8 gallons per minute. This variation in flow rate depends on the engine's demands at different stages of a race, including starting the car, performing the burnout, backing up, making crew chief adjustments, and shutting the car off.
The combination of a 3-inch-thick fuel line and fuel pumps capable of flowing 100 gallons per minute ensures that these Funny Cars have a consistent and abundant supply of fuel to power their high-performance engines. It's a testament to the engineering and tuning expertise of the crew chiefs and teams who strive to optimize every aspect of the car's performance.
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The engine produces 1,375 horsepower per cylinder
The engine of a funny car consumes 1-1/2 gallons of nitromethane per second under full throttle. This works out to be 15-20 gallons per pass. The fuel pumps can pump 8 gallons per minute for each cylinder, or 64 gallons per minute for all eight cylinders.
There are several ways to calculate horsepower, including mechanical horsepower, metric horsepower, and boiler horsepower. Mechanical horsepower is the most common definition and is approximately 745.7 watts. Metric horsepower is approximately 735.499 watts, and boiler horsepower is approximately 9,809.5 watts.
Horsepower can also be calculated using the formula P = Fv, which uses coherent SI units (watts, newtons, and meters per second). This formula can be used to calculate the power of a jet engine, using the speed of the jet and the thrust required to maintain that speed.
The power-to-weight ratio is another important factor in determining a vehicle's performance. It is calculated by dividing the power generated by the engine(s) by the mass. This ratio can be optimized by trading power bandwidth and engine mass for transmission complexity and mass.
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The fuel is injected by a constant flow injection system
Top Fuel dragsters are the quickest-accelerating racing cars in the world, with the fastest competitors reaching speeds of 338.94 mph (545.5 km/h) and finishing 1,000-foot (304.8 m) runs in as little as 3.641 seconds. To achieve such speeds, these cars burn a lot of fuel—up to 15 gallons per pass—and their engines can produce an incredible 11,000 horsepower.
The fuel nozzles are placed in specific locations to optimize fuel delivery to the engine. Typically, 10 injectors are positioned in the injector hat above the supercharger, 16 in the intake manifold, and two per cylinder in the cylinder head. This strategic placement ensures that the fuel is evenly distributed and that each cylinder receives an adequate supply.
The air-fuel mixture in the constant flow injection system is carefully calibrated and adjusted throughout the race. Races usually start with a leaner mixture, and as the clutch tightens and engine speed increases, the mixture is enriched to maintain a predetermined ratio. This ratio is based on various factors, especially the racetrack surface friction. The stoichiometry of the fuel also plays a role, with methanol and nitromethane having higher stoichiometric values than gasoline due to their oxygenated carbon chains.
The nitromethane fuel used in these cars has a relatively slow burn rate, which can result in unignited fuel escaping from the exhaust pipe and igniting on contact with atmospheric oxygen, producing a yellow flame. Additionally, the high combustion temperatures of nitromethane can cause the dissociation of atmospheric water vapour, leading to the burning of hydrogen and the bright white flame often seen from the exhaust pipes at night.
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Frequently asked questions
A funny car can use up to 15 gallons of fuel per pass.
Funny cars are only allowed to run 90% nitromethane fuel, with most teams running between 88%-90% nitro.
Funny cars burn anywhere from 88-94 gallons per minute, with some sources claiming up to 100 gallons per minute.
Funny cars can make up to 11,000 horsepower, or 1,375 horsepower per cylinder.
A funny car is a type of drag racing car that is known for its quick acceleration and high speeds, reaching up to 340 mph.
