Methanol

[Chris Marchand]

V P fuels makes a couple differant Methanol products. They call thier M -1 ,99 % pure. They also have a M-5 product that is oxygenated and the V P dealer tells me the performance is gonna be better than the M-1. What the heck is gonna be ok in these 40 plus year old Macs ?

I always buy whatever methanol the various tracks sell and did not know the stuff came in differant grades ! Thx, Chris

[Dick Teal]

Chris,

I use Methanol that I get about 5 miles from my home. We have two ovals in Beaver Dam and they run Late models, modern karts and sprint cars. The BP gas station has Racing Methanol for $2.97 per gal. and 110 octane Racing leaded gas for ??. I haven't used the gas. Both tanks are at least 1,000 gallons and I don't know how often they refill them. When there's a race the trucks with trailers are lined up like a Disney ride line.

The expensive stuff you can buy in the 5 gal cans is probably clearer but I bet there is very little gain in power if any. Some of the stuff you can buy has additional addatives that boost the power so you best be careful. Stay away from Nitro and other power stuff unless you really know what you're doing.

I hope to see you at New Castle,

Dick Teal

[Chris Hamm]

As long as your basic "old" engine (Mac, Bender, Homelite, PP, etc.) is sound and built strong for pure (no whiz-bang additives like nitro as you would risk whiz-banging your engine) alky burning, you can run either grade of methanol in warm through hot weather. Just be certain to run a properly jetted carb(s) with proper high compression (I ran approx. 18:1 in my Mc9's and others), and have your spark advanced to roughly 29 degrees (experiment) with maverick spark. Always, as with gasoline, start out with rich high speed settings. Please ask and post how the alky is "oxygenated."

[Chris Marchand]

I mis read the spec line on the M 5 methanol product. It talks about the 02 content and also says it includes "lubrication and combustion additives ".

So it looks like the M 5 has some kinda go juice added wheras the M 1 product is regular methanol.

I have run Methanol the last couple of years , just never realized there was a choice. Thx to all that replied.

[Gary Wlodarsky]

Chris....

if you need alky at New castle I can bring extra......regular old alky.....

let me know...and it won't be 5-6 7 dollars a gallon.....

Gary

[Chris Marchand]

Gary, Thanks, I need it before this weekend for a practice day . A 5 gal. can will last me a long time , plus I finnally found a dealer that stocks it. Cya at New Castle. Chris

[Rick Chapman]

Years back, we were sponsored by Tradco Chemical in Akron, Ohio. They explained that, at that time, methanol was distilled by Dupont Company. It is NOT refined. There was ONLY one grade and it is 99% pure. Methanol is a great fuel to run, no matter the choice of engine. I have found I can use less oil, it keeps the bottom ends cooler, bearings and parts last longer, engines deveolpe more bottom and mid range power, and burns cooler. The down side is, carbs must be altered to pass the more denser liquid. I believe most holes must be increased by 30%.
NOW, there is Re-cycled methanol on the market. It is used as a solvent to clean out pipes in oil wells. It is cheaper but it does not work. It cost us 2 engines at Barnsville a couple years back. Beware of that.
Methanol smells like wet wood and will leave a tingling sensation behind the eyes if it is good stuff.
Never leave alky sitting on the ground, weather you store it in a plastic or metal container. It will draw moisture out of the ground and water will blend with alky. Years back, some guys would add 10% water to their fuel believing that the water would turn to steam and create more power. It just turned everything rusty inside the engine.. And you can use water to extinguish an alcohol fire. Always set your fuel contained off the ground and keep the can sealed up.
Finally, if you want to color your fuel, you can add drops of food coloring and you can have Red, Green, Blue, yellow, etc easily.. Years ago, I had Brown Fuel... I called it "Fashit" Racing fuel..... LOL
Good Luck Guys...
Rick