METHANOL WINS FORD COMPETITION

Ethanol and methanol, liquified petroleum gas (LPG), liquified natural gas (LNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) are the principal alternate fuels being investigated at Ford. The alcohols (ethanol and methanol) can be used in 100% concentrations or combined with gasoline to make gasohol. Methanol has only the energy content of gasoline and is very corrosive, but by raising compression ratios in methanol engines from 8.8 to 11.4, Ford engineers were able to get about two-thirds as much power from methanol engines as from gasoline engines. Ford handled the corrosion problem by applying special coatings to the inside of the fuel tank, the fuel pump and the carburetor, by installing nylon fuel lines and by making minor changes in the carburetor's rubber parts. Using natural gas as a feedstock, methanol can be produced for about 1.00 a gallon (.26 a liter)--less than two-thirds the national average price of gasoline. Since methanol produces about two-thirds the energy of gasoline, it's practically cost competitive. Starting a car fueled with methanol or ethanol can be a problem in cold weather. Ford has circumvented this on its U. S. research cars by adding isopentane, an additive with good front-end volatility for cold starting.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/31209162
• Corporate Authors:

  Chilton Company, Incorporated

  One Chilton Way
  Philadelphia, PA  United States  19089
• Authors:
  • CALLAHAN, J M
• Publication Date: 1981-6

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 74-75
• Serial:
  • Automotive Industries
  • Volume: 161
  • Issue Number: 6
  • Publisher: Randall Publishing Company
  • ISSN: 1099-4130
  • Serial URL: http://www.ai-online.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Carburetors; Coatings; Cold starts (Driving); Compressed natural gas; Compression; Corrosion protection; Ethanol; Fuel tanks; Gasohol; Liquefied petroleum gas; Methanol
• Uncontrolled Terms: Liquid petroleum gas
• Old TRIS Terms: Cold start; Compression ratio
• Subject Areas: Highways; Vehicles and Equipment; I96: Vehicle Operating Costs;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00348338
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Engineering Index
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 30 1982 12:00AM