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Methanol Injection instead of Intercooler?

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Old Jul 10, 2002 | 10:47 AM
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Methanol Injection instead of Intercooler?

Ok my terminalogy maybe off so bad right here....but let me try to explain what my friend is doing.

Here's the setup.
T05 Turbo

My friend will be doing a 2 stage Methanol Injection on his turbo. The way he explained it to be is that at stage 1 it will shoot Methanol at around 5-7 pounds of boost and at stage 2 shoot again around 10-13 pounds of boost.

Now this is on a Civic. He has a kit for all of this. So I go over to his place to see everything. Looked at the turbo and all the little parts for the Methanol stuff. Then I look around and ask where is your Intercooler. He said that there is no need for one. Methanol will keep it cool.

So I have to ask you guys. Has anyone tried anything like this on there Turbo II? Can it be done and do you think its better or worse for your Turbo/Car?

Excuse my ignorance as I am asking these questions to learn....don't worry Im not going to go out and do this to my car. The only way I would do this to my car would be A) I learn it all and B) It proves better for my car.
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Old Jul 10, 2002 | 10:55 AM
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From: dallas,texas
Ok guys I found some more information by going to this address:

http://members.tripod.com/turboracer/kits/
Tell me what you think.
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Old Jul 10, 2002 | 11:11 AM
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I've never heard of it, but unless the methanol was REALLY REALLY REALLY compressed while it was being stored at ambient temperatures, then decompressed into the intake, it wouldn't cool very much. Unless the evaporation of it causes cooling (sorta like water injection?) I don't know really.. I didn't look at the website too in-depth. An intercooler can never hurt, and plus, if you have to recharge the methanol tank all the time, what's the point?
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Old Jul 10, 2002 | 11:22 AM
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Methanol doesnt require an IC, because it has an octane of ~110. Your intake temps will still be high, but you wont detonate. It wont make as much power as an intercooled car, but it will run fine. BTW, methanol is alcohol, it evaporates in the intake, cooling the charge a good bit. Not as much as Nitrous though.
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Old Jul 10, 2002 | 11:28 AM
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Cooling is only part of the story. The big deal is the octane boost. But it must always be running under high boost - or else ping/ping/pop goes the Wankel.
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Old Jul 10, 2002 | 12:06 PM
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why would it ALWAYS have to be under boost or it'll ping? That makes no sense
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Old Jul 10, 2002 | 12:11 PM
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Well, as soon as it stops pumping the octane rating of the fuel goes back down to whatever is in your tank. Thus if you had it tuned to the limit on methanol and all of a sudden the methanol went away, there goes your high test fuel....BLAM-O
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Old Jul 10, 2002 | 12:55 PM
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Originally posted by Barwick
why would it ALWAYS have to be under boost or it'll ping? That makes no sense
Intercooler prevents detonation by keeping air intake temps low.

Methanol prevents detonation by adding more octane.

Without the added octane, at full boost, the heat from the turbo would create detonation.
Thus, you would always have to be injecting Methanol under boost.

It makes perfect sense.
Sean Cathcart
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Old Jul 10, 2002 | 02:15 PM
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He means, methonol must be on when under boost, not the car must always be running under boost
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Old Jul 10, 2002 | 10:33 PM
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From: Sterling Heights, MI
Originally posted by Piranha
He means, methonol must be on when under boost, not the car must always be running under boost
That's what I was thinking, the car must ALWAYS be under boost or it'll be pinging, I was like "that makes no sense"
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Old Jul 10, 2002 | 10:41 PM
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I bet Adams new sig gets his paged clicked on 75% more , sorry off topic
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Old Jul 10, 2002 | 10:52 PM
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Originally posted by Roy James
I bet Adams new sig gets his paged clicked on 75% more , sorry off topic
quote from AIM
Dr Maxit: i want to see a picture of him posing on my car and see what it looks like and put it on the internet like you
Dr Maxit: .. wait... that sounds gay..
AF24179: hahahahahaha

I REALLY worry about him.....

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Old Jul 10, 2002 | 10:55 PM
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You are the worst freind ever.. this is the last time im talking to you high.. LMFAO!!!!!
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Old Jul 11, 2002 | 05:16 PM
  #14  
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From: Savannah, GA
Just wanted to bring this back to the top, in case anyone missed it...
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Old Jul 11, 2002 | 06:27 PM
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Originally posted by sjordan
Ok guys I found some more information by going to this address:

http://members.tripod.com/turboracer/kits/
Tell me what you think.
"The use of these kits is at the operators own risk. There is no implied warranty, and I will not be held liable if damage is sustained during its use."
LOL, translated:
Methanol is extremely poisonous, and the fumes can build up and oxidise forming formaldehyde, causing blindness and insanity.
See the MSDS here:
http://www.udallas.edu/chemdept/hend...hanol_msds.htm

Originally posted by Barwick
I've never heard of it, but unless the methanol was REALLY REALLY REALLY compressed while it was being stored at ambient temperatures, then decompressed into the intake, it wouldn't cool very much. Unless the evaporation of it causes cooling (sorta like water injection?) I don't know really.. I didn't look at the website too in-depth. An intercooler can never hurt, and plus, if you have to recharge the methanol tank all the time, what's the point?
The latent heat of evaporation for methanol is about 472 BTU/lb, which means that it will absorb a heck of a lot of heat. Comparatively, premium unleaded is only about 135 BTU/lb, while water is still the king of heat absorbtion at about 970 BTU/lb.

Recharging the methanol tank is only half of the problem. Since methanol absorbs water, everything associated with its injection system is going to rust like crazy. Also, the methanol needs to be stored so as not to absorb water or create a hazard, and the methanol in the car needs to be changed out on a regular basis and/or the system drained and cleaned between uses. Methanol injection is not something for the average street car, although you can add methanol to a water injection system (aka ADI system) if you want something more streetable. IMO an intercooler and premium unleaded fuel (or race fuel) are much more practical.

Originally posted by mazdaspeed7
Methanol doesnt require an IC, because it has an octane of ~110.
Yes, the RON of methanol is about 110 +/- 5. However, since this thread is about injecting methanol only under WOT, the RON or PON has no bearing. The MON for methanol is about 90 +/- 1, as compared to premium unleaded with a MON of about 86 +/- 1, or racing unleaded with a MON of about 95 +/-1. Definitely an improvement over pump gas if using 100% methanol, although it's not going to make as much difference if only a small percentage of the fuel is methanol.
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Old Jul 11, 2002 | 06:30 PM
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His engine will blow up like a firecker on 4th of July. Gasoline and Methanol do not mix. We use methanol in our drag car. He will need injectors that can be used with methanol. Methanol clogs the injectors with a white chalky buildup that occurs when not used frequently. He will need a fuel pump desinged for it also. DO NOT USE THIS DANGEROUS MIXTURE!!!!!

Last edited by Angel Guard Racing Team; Jul 11, 2002 at 06:34 PM.
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Old Jul 11, 2002 | 11:08 PM
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YEAH THAT GIRL IS HOT!!!!!!!!!!!
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