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methanol and Aluminum

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Old Mar 25, 2007 | 04:01 PM
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Default methanol and Aluminum

isn't methanol harmful to Aluminum? I understand that methanol has a high pH
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Old Mar 25, 2007 | 04:13 PM
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Yes an aluminim fuel cell must be anodized before you can run alcohol through it unless you drain it after your done everytime. It will eat it up.I've seen it happen.

Last edited by TOSTO RACING; May 9, 2007 at 05:57 PM.
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Old Mar 25, 2007 | 06:28 PM
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sooo... what about methanol injection on a stock ls1 with a turbo?
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Old Mar 26, 2007 | 08:40 AM
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absolutely fine
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Old Mar 26, 2007 | 08:58 AM
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If your worried about the aluminum engine components, dont. The only thing the meth injection would come in contact with is your cylinder head intake ports and TB. And its not gonna 'sit' on that aluminum long enough to cause a problem.
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Old Mar 26, 2007 | 01:01 PM
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gotcha. thanks guys
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Old Apr 3, 2007 | 04:02 PM
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Originally Posted by TOSTO RACING
Yes it must be anodized before you can run alcohol through it unless you drain it after your done everytime. It will eat it up.

Tim in that case what are you doing about that... did you have the ports and whatnot all coated/anodized so you could make the swap over to alky with your car?

I'm still waiting to see the results too on that setup change... any progress with it yet?
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Old Apr 3, 2007 | 04:27 PM
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You dont need to coat anything in the motor. We run Top Lube mixed in with the Meth and run all the fuel system in braided hose.
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Old Apr 3, 2007 | 06:46 PM
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Originally Posted by JL ws-6
Tim in that case what are you doing about that... did you have the ports and whatnot all coated/anodized so you could make the swap over to alky with your car?

I'm still waiting to see the results too on that setup change... any progress with it yet?
I don't have anything coated in the motor. Its getting there I'm fighting th emsd 6010 box right now I can't get it to spark I can't wait to try it though.
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Old Apr 3, 2007 | 06:46 PM
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I've never heard of methanol being harmful to aluminum. Even if it is, methanol is extremely volatile and will evaporate off the aluminum before it can cause damage.
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Old Apr 6, 2007 | 04:35 PM
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nitro methane is what will eat the **** out of your motor if left in the system!
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Old Apr 6, 2007 | 07:43 PM
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Many folks add Klotz Uplon fuel lube to methanol. It keeps the pump happy and makes the meth less corrosive.
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Old Apr 7, 2007 | 07:57 AM
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Originally Posted by mistermike
Many folks add Klotz Uplon fuel lube to methanol. It keeps the pump happy and makes the meth less corrosive.
The meth WILL take the anodizing off of AN fittings.. BTDT, on my FE rail. [Hilborn system.] Hard anodizing will fare much better.
Furthermore, it WILL attack the inner liner of braided hose.[Rubber] Eventually, the hose will get "harder than the back of Superman's head"..
O'rings, designed for gasolene, will also suffer the consequences of alky use.
I use the KLOTZ, and find it helps.
It's a PITA, but I drained the fuel system, and restarted the engine on gas, to minimize the effects.. Helped, but ??

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Old Apr 13, 2007 | 11:59 PM
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I ran a blown alcohol car for 6 years with an aluminum cell and the same fuel lines and fittings. Never had a problem with the aluminum, fuel lines, fittings or pump, (blower and pump were anodized.) I never drained the fuel after a day of racing and sometimes the car would sit for a month before racing again. I would use the old fuel in the cell for warm up and tech, then we would put fresh fuel in it for racing. I would use top lube every now and then, I never liked the idea of adding oil to my fuel.
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Old Apr 16, 2007 | 04:55 PM
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Little bit of top lube goes a long ways. I run a small amount of race gas with methanol and it has a similar effect as top lube. You can really tell when theres very little fuel left in the mix as it oxidizes the top of my fuel cell as it evaporates. Most likely the 15% gas/additives in E85 provides a substantial amount of protection also.
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Old Apr 16, 2007 | 08:52 PM
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Alchohol donesn't harm Aluminum componnents. but in conjunction with water, which alcohol is attracted to, Formic acid forms over time which will eat up any non stainless steel part in your car. This is why you need a different fuel system in E85 cars, also.
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Old Apr 17, 2007 | 11:45 PM
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Good thread, thanks! Answered some questions I have since I'm thinking of adding meth injection to my FI 383, and it has a bare aluminum single plane manifold.

Jim
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