fastlt1

iTrader: (4)

Running nitro methane in a diesel???

Another question does a auto converted to run on propane make more power?

Formulated

iTrader: (16)

I don't know about the nitro to diesel. You will need spark plugs for the nitro, so if you plan to retrofit an existing engine you will need to add an ignition system. For all I know, you might be able to get nitro to compression ignite, but I've never heard of it.

The propane will make slightly less power than gasoline. It's really hard to beat the energy density of gasoline.

The best fuel for conversion is methanol. You can use the cooling effect of methanol to great effect, and boost your VE quite well. Likewise, methanol has very high octane and can tolerate a lot of ignition timing.

fastlt1

iTrader: (4)

Isn't methanol hard on rubber and plastic parts or something.

Sparetire

It can be, but at this point you should be replacing lines anyway. My roomate runs E85 on his DSM on some aftermarket lines without any problem. I used it in my beater truck to pass emmisions.

The thing is, Diesel is a very un-refined fuel. Its actually very similar to Jet A. It operates by being able to release its energy without a spark. Something with a very high octane character will not be as easy to run in that type of application. E85 is technically about 105 octane, but its resistance to detonation in the real world (and resistance to detonation is what octane is more or less) is more like a 110 octane fuel or more. So its not easy to blow up with pressure and possibly a glow plug. You might have issues with that.

chuntington101

not sure about running a deisel on other fuels, altough i think some tractors over here used to run on pariffin!

i have heard of people converting diesel engine run spark ignition engines and running meth. the strength of the deisel blocks and the high high dept resistance of pure meth mean they can run BIG boost!

thanks Chris.

GOaT Cheese

We used to convert the Olds "Y" engine to gas all the time. That bottom end was (is) indestructible. It was outlawed by NHRA though, the conversions that is.

chuntington101

how did you get the comp back down to reasonable levels (or did you run meth)?? how hard is a conversion??

thanks Chris.

spy2520

iTrader: (3)

as far as i know, top fuel nitro-methane engines only get a few sparks off before they melt plugs and compression-ignite the rest of the way down the track. i forgot where i heard it but it maked sense at the time. lol

rons 00z

iTrader: (10)

e-85 is ethanol not methanol. it sounds like you guys are confusing the two

RednGold86Z

Methanol has many downsides.
Methanol is hard on steel/metal that isn't stainless.
It also has no lubricating effects, so additives are necessary.
It forms formaldahyde when burned rich (causes insanity, cancer, etc...)
It strips paint.
It absorbs water from the atmosphere quite readily, so keeping it contained is priority #1. That water will rust anything that can rust.
It's easily absorbed through the skin as well, so safe handling is also important.
It requires about 2.3 times the amount of fuel per air compared to gasoline, so everything in the fuel system needs to be bigger and up to snuff.
It's difficult to start when cold. Has very high latent heat of vaporization.
It burns slower, so it needs more timing.
It needs more ignition energy to ignite.
Transient fueling is vastly different.

It's positives include:
More total BTUs (although less BTU's/pound) when injected at the corrected air fuel ratio (about 5.5:1 for max power). This means an engine of the same size can make more power with methanol. It's also forgiving on the rich side, i.e. too rich isn't a big power loss, if your ignition can ignite it.
Has >100 octane. Compression can be raised a few points. The cooling effect it has can also allow more compression. RON 105-115 MON 8-91.
It's cheaper, at least sometimes.
The high H to C ratio (C1 H4 O1 or C-H3-OH compared to ~C8-H18) means less CO2 production.
The cooler burning means less NOx production.

BTW, I'm working on a dual fuel project in China now (among other projects), that has 2 fuel systems (including separate tanks, pumps, and injectors) - one for gasoline, and one for methanol.

GOaT Cheese

You would basically only use the short block. You would install standard gasoline heads, cam, and intake of your choice.

Sparetire

IIRC thats accurate. Their fuel systems have a capacity something like a small fire hose. That kind of heat simply eats stuff. The only way to shut them down after the run is to cut the fuel. Valves last one run.....sometimes.

Besides that, the legend (myth?) is that the spark system is something like an arc welder in terms of the kind of spark energy created. Not much is going to survive that for any amount of time in additon to being subjected to the factors above.

Makes me wonder how they controll timing at all.

And methanol is nasty stuff. I worked with it breifly on a University FSAE car. It eats things. It kills people. The Prof we were working with basicly said that he had exposed himself to it over the years to a point where he would not be surprised if he had some mental problems.

Ethanol is good stuff IMO. E85 is the rawsome for forced indcution street cars with a decent fuel system. Yes. I said rawsome. I am bringing it back. For E85.

chuntington101

they do make you wonder dont they.

i mena fro mthe limited amount of top fuel drag racing i have seen, youy allways see them drop at least 2 cylinders by the end of the run. at the magenots look similar in size to the ones run on WW2 Spitfires! lol

can you imagine what they could do with turbos?????

Chris.