Anyone done a methanol conversion on a 944 or other engine? I'm trying to put some research together for a little pet project I'm considering. . . Just curious.

 

should be very similiar to an ethanol conversion. To do it right redo the fuel system so it doesnt dissolve in its new fuel, possibly change the injectors for proper flow rate, remap the entire fuel management on the ECU or go standalone, and bump up the compression or boost to compensate for the higher octane.

 

If I could only harness the power of Chipotle.. Oops, thats Methane.

I know the Ethanol/ gasoline (Gasohol??) blend is available in Illinois/ Iowa. I have heard its bad for the fuel system. I have NO knowledge of this- only hearsay.

 

Injectors need to be doubled in size roughly for running on straight methanol. New fuel pump as well to flow enough. Cylinder temps can get way higher with methanol, so you have to be extra careful.

 

Don't straight alcohol fuels tend to wash down the cylinder walls too, requiring extra lubricant to be added to the mix. Isn't that why e85 has 15% gasoline in it?

 

How would that affect the aluminum block? Alumasil sleeving? are we talking a ring swap, or would the higher temp burn out the block and pistons?

Interesting proposition, as WE (The US) should be switching to exclusively Ethanol by 1980.

Yeah, I was one of those a-hats in the gaslines in 1976 waiting for fuel when the gubmint promised a "new renewable fuel source called Ethanol" in 1975... And Yes Virginia, it was in a Chevy Vega.

I filled it up at .33 cents a gallon.


~Edit. I remembered something from the days of Alcohol dragsters, Manning is correct- we used to pre-mix oil into the fuel..

 

As far as I know, you just have to be extra careful with tuning so they dont get too high. I think the E85 stuff has gas for easier starts in cold weather and such but im not sure.

 

Yea I'm pretty sure some sort of lubricant has to be added to the fuel in order to assist with cylinder lubrication. Either that or you could use a 968 engine with the little teeny tiny oil squirter holes. . .

Anyway yea the stoich is about 6:1 as opposed to 14.7:1 for gasoline. It's a helluva lot cleaner and you can boost the hell out of it without detonation issues. If the CHTs are higher then the cooling system would have to be bolstered - good point there. . . Any idea on a manufacturer of alcohol-compatible injectors?

 

Check Drag-racing links. Pro Alcohol Fuelies? Maybe early corvette.

 

6.45:1 and no I dont know who makes them. I didnt get far in my research once I found out theres no E85 available in my area.

 

FWIW, 15% gasoline is added to ethonol so you can`t drink it. That way the
BATF (Bureau of Alchohol, Tobacco and Firearms) doesn`t get involved.
Personal opinion, the BATF has outlived it`s usefullness.

 

Ne Pas De Methanol..

J/K..

But don't do it. It will eat the plastic and has

 

Hmm at 3 $ a gallon thats a cheap buzz...

 

Just a note:
In the case of alcohol - As I understand it -

increased cyl temp is NOT due to fuel, is actually because the fuel makes far more power. With alcohol you are creating a much larger controlled explosion than gasoline = more energy = more heat.

However this is offset by flowing so much fuel through cylinders that is actually has a cooling effect. So at the end you make lots more power WITHOUT increase in temp.

Case in point - alcohol sprint cars.... the mini radiator and cooling systems in those cars(that would never keep cool a gasloine engine) keep cool 410cubic inch alcohol motors at high rpm

NEAT **** ... just expensive.

 

lol. possibly?
methanol has a stoichiometric ratio about half that of gasoline. (double the gas per amount of air)
he WOULD need bigger injectors.

methanol makes about 10% more specific power per air mass then gasoline. alot due to the cooling affect of the vaporizing alcohol.

"how to tune and modify engine management systems"