Hi everyone this is my first thread as I have just acquired my first FD. I am having such a blast with this car. I can't stop driving it.

But my question is, when I bought the car the previous owner was running 100% methanol but I am almost out with no places that sell it near by so my question is can I swap over to washer fluid that's 50/50 without having the vehicle tuned for it or should I wait to switch when I actually get the car tuned?

 

Wait until you can have it tuned.

 

Depends on if the car was tuned in for methanol before. If not, there is no need to wait for a tune. You dont even have to run Methanol at all just strait Distilled water is enough. My car for example can run whatever because the car was tuned with the AI injection off. I know guys who run 100% meth some run 50/50 and some run 100% distilled water. Chances are your car has it for reliability and not tuned in for power therfore safe to run what you want.
Washer fluid is very diluted when it comes to it's methanol content.

30f fluid = 1% methanol

0f fluid = 24% methanol

 

yeah I'm not exactly sure whether the car was tuned with the methanol but most likely you're right that it isn't tuned for it but there for reliability. I will try to ask the previous owner if he knows but if not it's ok i have a appointment with the tuner next month. So I will find out then regardless. Thanks for all your help guys really appreciate it.

 

IIRC most commercial windshield washer fluid in my area is about 20% alcohol (I believe by volumn). Unless you have a fire suppression system I'd stay away from mixtures 50/50 or higher.

Since the car is new to you and (I assume) a streeted car, I recommend you NOT tune with AI. Have it safely tuned WITHOUT and then add it as an additional safety factor. If your not already aware, rotarys do NOT tolerate knock very well/at all. AI is good at suppressing it.

 

Thanks for the advice. I will definitely stay safe and tune without a.i. and only have it as a backup. Dont want to blow my car up so soon. Lol.

 

for safety sake you should wait until you can have a tuner go over the car and recheck it after removing the alcohol from the system.

no matter what anyone sais we can only guess that it might be ok to switch it without any ill effect. if the nozzle is large enough and tuned lean enough to accomodate the additional fuel then it would not be safe to run it as it was after removing the methanol.

methanol is a fuel and generally IS tuned with the fuel trims during tuning unless the nozzle is a smaller one which will only vary the AFRs a small amount. usually when running straight methanol you use a larger nozzle because you need alot of AI in alcohol form to work well as a knock suppressant, so... i would say no, stay safe and have it checked.

if you do look into washer fluids, many do not have methanol at all in them. read the labels and look up MSDS information on the product before using it. best bet is to just order "boost juice" from one of the big speed shops like jegs. it is a little pricey but it is premixed already to meet safety standards as a 49%methanol/51%distilled water mix as a non combustible liquid that will not ignite compared to straight methanol which will catch fire in liquid form.

alternately if you switch, you may have to step down your nozzle size if you run straight distilled water.

 

Thanks for the info. The car is setup with dual nozzles right before the throttle plates. I'm okay now as I have found a place locally to purchase 100% methanol.