lunar tick

iTrader: (2)

If it's any help, Paul (Zen) told me to expect to expect in the region of an extra 20-25bhp over and above V-Power + NF on a car running 325bhp at the wheels (400bhp fly) plus commensurate increase in torque. It certainly feels I've gained that and then some! And as my original post said, he was able to map in an extra 3-4 degrees of ignition advance

GC8

Yes it is, but theyll charge you duty if you dont satisfy them that youre using it to make biodiesel...

ZEN Performance

I would expect a gain a little more than halfway between v-power and VP Import. To really make the most of Import, you need a different sort of engine to what you currently have. I would guess you'll probably see a similar result to Import as Sunoco GT109 (which has around 5% ethanol mixed with a good unleaded racefuel base).

VP import is nasty stuff though, and very expensive. If you're currently using it (it doesn't work out that expensive if you're only doing a few litres at a time), then i would try some GT109 race fuel.

"some people" have tried all sorts of fluids in the their fuel tank...

The Zohan

Great write up, made a good read with me coffee on a rainy Satuday morning.

just one thing, are there any storage issues with Methanol, legally or otherwise?

Andy.F

They certainly have "some people" possibly find that they achieve better results by doing their own R&D rather than depending on second hand information

ex-webby

Nope.... not using any form of "booster" or "fuel mix" at the moment. It has already been suggested to me that VP will give me a good 60bhp on my set-up.

trails

iTrader: (41)

As said, great write up; informative and well written

I'm assuming if you do add too little and don't meet your mapped percentage it will just run rich?

banny sti

iTrader: (68)

It will run lean not rich if you add methanol on a unmapped car.

Banny

trails

iTrader: (41)

sorry, bad description on my part; what I was trying to ask was what would happen if you didn't add enough Methol to a car mapped for it...

dynamix

iTrader: (3)

it would run rich

and ... depending on how much advance was able to be mapped in, it would det like a can of marbles

trails

iTrader: (41)

thank you Sir

my main worry about moving over to a meth would be me making a mistake with the mix...

lunar tick

iTrader: (2)

Yes - Paul said that if in doubt, add a bit more methanol to the mix rather than less to ensure resistance from det. If you think about it, providing you add the methanol first, and then top up with the right amount of fuel, the only time you'll not hit 10% is if you can't fit the required amount of fuel in, in which case it'll be OK as you'll be running more than 10% meth and on the safe saide with regard to det

BTW, I've just been dispensing some methanol and NF into clear canisters and it appears to have mixed very well and not separated out as yet

dynamix

iTrader: (3)

it really isnt that critical whether it is 8% or 12% the mapper is highly unlikely to map it that close to the edge anyway unless you specifically ask them to.

ZEN Performance

That sounds about right, but you would probably get the same gain with a lesser race fuel unless you biuld the engine specifically to benefit from mega octane ratings. And something lije a 109 ron fuel will cost half of what VP import does!

As andy (in a round about way) says, try it and see for yourself, it's certainly worth a shot.

Racefuel is consistent though, and that can be very important if you run exclusively on it.

trails

iTrader: (41)

I'm hoping my standard bottom end lasts until the end of this year when I'm planning on moving over to a built lump but will be speaking to Zack before then to discuss methanol

ex-webby

Ok... thats handy to know. Especially since VP is about £170 per 5 US Gallon container.

Andy916

iTrader: (8)

What would be the gain of 10% meth on a lesser state of tune, properly mapped?

Have STi4 with decat, panel filter and PFC ready to be mapped, and am weighing up what else would be cost effective to add before mapping.

Am about an hour down the road from Zen.

Andy

ZEN Performance

Easy 20hp I would say, maybe as much as 30hp but varies from car to car.

dynamix

iTrader: (3)

Andy - I got 23 whp on my back to back experiment with it

p1dazza

Some guys on here will knowwhat thy are doing but others will not.

stoich for petrol is 14.5 butmethanol is 13.?so the engine will run weaker without a remap. This is a good thread but be careful.
Mappers will be rubbing their hands with the extra work and few engine builders will be waiting for a call from the unwarry who are caught out. Be careful.

dynamix

iTrader: (3)

the new stoich of the mix with 10% methanol is 13.80

I had been warned to keep an eye on the oil quality as methanol is effectively thinners and can cause the oil to degrade quicker than normal. Fine if you are changing oil regularly and/or using good quality oil.

Ian

iTrader: (10)

how often are you changing your oil now? i do mine every 5k with silkolene pro s 10/50

would you just need to keep a eye on the oil pressure to know what the comdition is like of it?

Andy916

iTrader: (8)

What's the shelf life of meth? 200L at 10% would be about a year's worth for me.

Andy.F

Unlimited life in a sealed container, I buy it in 200ltr drums and normally store it over the winter.
If left open it will absorb moisture from the atmosphere which should be avoided.

You would need to be drastically overfueling to contaminate the sump oil when running only 10%, the indication would be the oil taking on a cloudy/milky appearance.

I have been using Methanol for over 5 years now in Subaru engines with some 'reasonable' results.

Andy

Godspeed Brakes

iTrader: (259)

I have just bought a group N rally car that runs on Carless 102 , how does that compare to this set up ?

Cheers Ian

ZEN Performance

neither the MSA or FIA would like it I think.

Godspeed Brakes

iTrader: (259)

The rallies I will be doing , they wouldn't bother checking , and I wont tell them if you dont

Do you know which would be the better fuel ?
Cheers Ian

dynamix

iTrader: (3)

i know which would be cheaper

Godspeed Brakes

iTrader: (259)

yes and me , the carless is £70 per 25lt drum ...

Ian

iTrader: (10)

thought i would see how you are getting on with the meth, any problems, good things etc