Page 1 of 4

Methanol

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 10:53 pm
by duncan
Following on from detailed discussions on 22b.com there is a vast amount of people that run Methanol as an Octane booster by adding around 10% volume as methanol.

Has anyone here tried this and been able to log the differences in charge temps due to the cooling action of methanol?

I appreciate that some consider it corrosive but that aside (and ignoring Water Injection systems in this instance) how have you found that it affects the amount of advance you have been able to run?

It looks an ideal solution to octane boosting to me, as well as benefits from charge cooling.

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 10:56 pm
by duncan
It is also considered to be good at supressing det.

Cost wise it is relatively nuetral as the cost of the methanol is similar to that of the petrol it is displacing.


Any views?

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 10:58 pm
by andycaca
fensport run 50/50 water/methanol injection in their cars. ive seen first hand just how effective it is at lowering intake temps. i believe the methanol also helps counteract the octane reduction caused by the injection of water.

go for it :)

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 11:00 pm
by duncan
Andy - just talking about putting 1 gallon Methanol in then 9 gallons V Power

Should take the Octane to about 103 and have added benefits too :)

Without the need to fit WI systems.

I believe that my ECU will add additional advance to allow for the higher octane and the lack of det.

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 11:07 pm
by duncan

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 11:18 pm
by RX7
Speak to Scott about methanol, I know he has used it in the water injection system and produced a good write up comparing what mix to use.

Not sure if he has used instead of petrol though. It cant be that cheap !!!

He has given me some to try in my water injection......havent been brave enough to try yet. :oops:

Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 12:32 am
by Stuart
I tried it at 10% mix with Vpower when@ the Ring.........seemed ok. No technical feedback to offer I afraid mate :)

Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:12 am
by sdminus
If you add methanol to your tank you will raise the RON of the fuel

ie

90 % 99 RON
10 % Methanol 123 RON


89.1 + 12.3 = 101.4 RON

The new stoich for the blended fuel will be

90 % 14.7 petrol
10 % 6.6:1 methanol

13.23:1 + 0.66:1 = 13.89:1

Methanol has less energy per cc than petrol. If you replaced you petrol with methnol you would need to increse the fuel system by 2.2 times.

ie i run 4x 850cc = 3400cc i would need 7480cc to support it

methanol has 15 mjL
Petrol 30mjL

So if you add methanol for every 10% you add you will be leaning out your fuel mixture by approx 9.5 %

The fuel system will not like methanol. It is very corrosive and also takes on water. It attacks zinc and alu. Methanol is conductive and will slowly kill you fuel pump o rings fuel line and fuel rail.

Methanol need a great deal more advance in the timing as well.
Methanol is a heavy degreser as well so will clean oil out of the engine and will also contaminate it.


Scott

Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2007 12:18 pm
by Ben
So the long and the short of it - is not to use it ?

Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2007 12:31 pm
by sdminus
I wouldnt bother tbh

Scott