Smog pumps & combustion efficiency

[Touring23]

As I understand it, the smog pump injects air upstream of the catalyst to help burn residual HCs. Isn't that saying something about combustion efficiency? I mean, it's fuel burned not in the combustion chamber but in the exhaust. Sooo, thinking out loud, doesn't this suggest the stock ignition system is inadequate, even at stock horsepower levels? And swirl doesn't seem to get much discussion.... What about squish and top ring location? Is there much that can be done, much to be gained?

Open Season. Thoughts?

 

[Joes95GT]

You've got too much free time on your hands.

I guess, to an extent, you could say that the smog pump helps clean up the inefficiency of the combustion. The stock ignition system could be looked at as the weakness, or the fuel system. The injector pulse rate could be slown.

What the hell is swirl and squish?

Sure, top ring location and gap could be tightened up, and located higher up in the ring lands, but then you'd run the chance of the piston rocking in the bore because the ring is up too high. Remember, Ford didn't design these motors for maximum efficiency - that would cost too much.

Smog equipment is used to clean up the skank air. If all cars are required to have a working emissions system, why would Ford try and clean up the cars when they could slap a smog pump on and save tons of money?

Joe