M85 vs Gas

[Thor Johnson]

On Fri, 11 Apr 1997, Matthew Beaubien wrote:

> Thor,
> 
> >   Nope, just a normally (well, through a 20mm restrictor) aspiriated 
> > engine.  I switched to M85 so that I could use some Toyota fuel injectors 
> > that were donated (20lb/hr).
> 
> Formula SAE I presume? Choosing M85 on the basis of cheap injectors
> probably isn't the best reasoning. Methanol is very corrosive and will eat
> most injectors, as well as lines, pumps, etc. So, what you may save in
> injector costs will be eaten up by other costs, plus the fact that you'll
> have to replace your injectors after not too long.

  The main reason I chose it was that I couldn't seem to find injectors 
small enough to handle gas (multiport sequential).  As for adverse 
effects, the VW rabbit pump/system seems to be handling it well except 
that I am having problems with a *lot* of bubbles in the mix (more so 
with ethanol vs methanol).

Do you have any idea how long the fuel system (VW Rabbit) and injectors 
(Toyota Corolla 20lb/hr) will last?  Or any way to prolong their life?

The only thing that has me worried is that the pressure regulator has 
developed a squeek under ethanol (test fuel right now b/c our chemistry 
department will give it to us; seems to burn roughly the same as the 
meth, just more touchy about wrong mixtures), but it doesn't seem to harm 
anything.  We have a Triple gauge (oil psi, volts,temp) with the oil 
pressure hooked to the fuel line (doubt FSAE will allow this, so we have 
1/4NPT plug for the competition), and we haven't seen any funny readings 
*yet*.

Any ideas for the bubble problem or prolonging the lifespan?

Thanks!


                Thor Johnson
          johnsont at falcon.cs.mercer.edu
     http://falcon.cs.mercer.edu/~johnsont
                                                    
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