Methanol + gasoline
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: Holbrook NY
Methanol + gasoline
I have been adding a pint or two of methanol to my gasoline for a very long time. The theory is that it will bump up the octane. But now my favorite Sunoco premium fuel is 10% methanol -or about 16 pints per tank. Why is so much alcohol being added? Is it hurting my car's performance?
I seem to suddenly have developed WOT detonation, and even occasional "surging" when accelerating hard in a tall gear. Could any of my trouble be due to the new gasoline formulation that Sunoco is forcing on me?
-George :confused:
I seem to suddenly have developed WOT detonation, and even occasional "surging" when accelerating hard in a tall gear. Could any of my trouble be due to the new gasoline formulation that Sunoco is forcing on me?
-George :confused:
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,521
Likes: 0
From: West Islip New York
Re: Methanol + gasoline (George West)
Yeah I've noticed the signs on the pumps as well. So far it has not shown any negative affects on any of my cars.
Because of recent regulation changes, gas companies can not put MTBE (I think thats it) in the gas for use in the winter. That was a by-product (waste) of oil refining that the oil companies convinced congress would work well to clean up emissions. Gotta love those guys huh, they got to dilute the gas with the crap they threw out. That stuff gets in the groundwater and really screws it up so now its banned in New York.
Because of recent regulation changes, gas companies can not put MTBE (I think thats it) in the gas for use in the winter. That was a by-product (waste) of oil refining that the oil companies convinced congress would work well to clean up emissions. Gotta love those guys huh, they got to dilute the gas with the crap they threw out. That stuff gets in the groundwater and really screws it up so now its banned in New York.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 470
Likes: 1
From: Kingwood TX
Re: Methanol + gasoline (George West)
There undoubtedly is such a thing as too much octane for your motor but if your problem persists after a full tank or two of straight up premium with no additives i would guess you have a different problem.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: Methanol + gasoline (George West)
Fuel companies put ethyl alcohol in gasoline, not methanol. Alcohol adds some oxygen to the fuel (upon burning) and reduces emmissions. Octane isn't the reason fuel companies add alcohol as each batch is controlled to obtain a specific octane rating.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 937
Likes: 0
From: Bedford Tx
Re: Methanol + gasoline (1MoorTym)
Methanol and mtbe are not the same thing.....
(the state of NY banned mtbe effective 1-1-04)
When summer comes around, I hope NYers enjoy sending
billions to the oil companies to buy botique gas, thats when the trouble
will start.
Are you sure its not ethanol?
(the state of NY banned mtbe effective 1-1-04)
When summer comes around, I hope NYers enjoy sending
billions to the oil companies to buy botique gas, thats when the trouble
will start.
Are you sure its not ethanol?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 810
Likes: 4
From: Austria
Re: Methanol + gasoline (silver84)
methanol is very corrosive to plastics ( was used as a component in clearcoat strippers, combined with dichloromethane)
usually they blend gasoline with ethanol, helps to burn cleaner and also acts as binding agent for water traces
MTBE is a ether between methanol and tert.Butanol..very fine for combustion
hope this helps :cheers:
usually they blend gasoline with ethanol, helps to burn cleaner and also acts as binding agent for water traces
MTBE is a ether between methanol and tert.Butanol..very fine for combustion
hope this helps :cheers:
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,521
Likes: 0
From: West Islip New York
Re: Methanol + gasoline (silver84)
Methanol and mtbe are not the same thing.....
(the state of NY banned mtbe effective 1-1-04)
When summer comes around, I hope NYers enjoy sending
billions to the oil companies to buy botique gas, thats when the trouble
will start.
billions to the oil companies to buy botique gas, thats when the trouble
will start.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,013
Likes: 9
Re: Methanol + gasoline (George West)
Gas with 10% methanol or Ethanol will cause your engine to run leaner. Methanol or Ethanol alone has an ideal air/fuel ratio substantially higher than gasoline (and has half the energy content per volume, therfore you will loose 5% fuel mileage as well). At part throttle, your closed loop system with oxygen sensor feedback, will compensate and inject 5% more fuel. But full throttle is open loop, the computer cannot compensate, and it will run lean. BTW, if you have the Rochester Products style (not the bosch) injectors, the 10% Alcohol will eat them (ask me how I know).
[Modified by Mr6spd, 9:40 PM 1/2/2004]
[Modified by Mr6spd, 9:40 PM 1/2/2004]
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,521
Likes: 0
From: West Islip New York
Re: Methanol + gasoline (silver84)
1MoorTym, please clarify...
the signs on the pumps concern methanol or ethanol?
regards.
the signs on the pumps concern methanol or ethanol?
regards.
Pumps now say "Contains 10% Ethanol" or just "10% Ethanol" depending on the station. They used to say something like - contains .. or MTBE added for improved oxygenation for winter driving.
Reminds me back in the day when we had a "gas crisis", a lot of oil companies were adding alcohol to stretch the fuel supply.
