RACING EXPERIENCES WITH METHANOL AND ETHANOL-BASED MOTOR-FUEL BLENDS

Specialized experience with alcohols as high-performance racing fuels more or less parallels World War I era results with substitute motor fuels. These indicate several types of practical operational problems with water solubility, plastics solvent action, metal corrosion and galvanic effects, low air-fuel ratios and low calorific content, and high latent heat. Some of the modern-day racing techniques for handling alcohol fuels include: anodizing and plating of nonferrous alloy fuel system and engine castings; using solvent-resistant plastics and corrosion-resistant metals; draining and flushing out the fuel system and engine with hydrocarbon-fuel oil mixes after running; using alcohol-soluble synthetic lube oils; sealing and storage of fuel containers and tanks so as to reduce atmospheric moisture absorption; using higher- energy ignition systems to better fire the "wet" alcohol fuels at high C.R.'s; and nearly tripling and doubling the fuel system capacity.

• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

  400 Commonwealth Drive
  Warrendale, PA  United States  15096
• Authors:
  • POWELL, T
• Publication Date: 1975-2

Media Info

• Pagination: 10 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcohols; Blends; Corrosion resistant steel; Energy; Fuel air mixtures; Ignition systems; Methanol; Motor fuels; Race cars; Racing
• Uncontrolled Terms: Air fuel ratio
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00097741
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: SAE Paper No. 750124
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 13 1975 12:00AM