Why water injection?

[ptimmerm at mashtun.JPL.NASA.GOV]

>  Could someone please enlighten me as to why you would run water into 
>  your engine.  How does this stop knocking ?  Is it some type of carbon
>  clean while you drive ?  Does it increase power ?  etc, etc.  I have 
>  only heard about it, but know nothing about it.
>    
>    Dan        dzorde at aesprodata.com.au

The short and sweet answer is more power. This is an noticable
improvement.  I use 30-70 mph tests in 3rd gear.  I was running
9.3's, and have dropped that to 8.7's with water injection.
Note that this test uses of off cam off turbo portion as well
as the higher rpm regions.

In a little more detail, water evaporation densifies the air
going into the engine, steam provides a powerful antidetonant,
and the engine can run cooler.  With forced induction, this 
means you can then turn up the boost for yet more power.
I plan on running at 18 psig with a 7.0:1 compression engine,
giving about 275 hp out of 2.15 liters.