Fuel starvation is certainly not a unique problem.
It can be an issue in road racing and circle track competition during hard cornering and stopping. It can also be a problem during the hard acceleration of drag racing and when off-road vehicles are climbing rocks or other rugged terrain. In these situations, fuel settles to one area of the fuel tank or fuel cell, uncovering the pickup. This not only prevents fuel from being pumped to the engine, it also allows air to be sucked into the system through the exposed pickup. The result can be poor engine performance and even stalling.
While it’s not a unique problem, Holley has come up with a unique solution to this age-old issue.
The company introduced the Hydramat fuel pickup at last year’s PRI (Performance Racing Industry) Show in Indianapolis, and its patent-pending design made quite an impression. As the name suggests, the Hydramat is essentially a mat that fits inside your fuel tank or fuel cell. The surface tension of the mat, along with its outstanding fluid wicking characteristics, allows the Hydramat to draw in fuel even when part of the mat is uncovered. As an area of the Holley Hydramat fuel pickup is uncovered, tiny pores in the media seal off through surface tension, forcing fuel to be drawn from other areas of the mat where fuel continues to be available. This prevents air from entering the system.
Bottom line: As long as any part of the Hydramat is touching fuel anywhere in the tank, it will continue to draw in the fuel. It doesn’t matter if all the remaining fuel is in the rear corner (cornering) or in the front (steep declines), the Hydramat will continue to pull in the fuel. The Hydramat’s unique internal reservoir prevents fuel slosh, eliminating fuel starvation without the need for specialty sumps or pickup pumps.
Still not quite getting the concept? Or does this sound just a little too good to be true?
Check out the video below for a demonstration of how it works.
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