Alky- what kind(s)

[Squid4life]

Well, got Razors kit finished up tonight, have a quick question for tomorrows tuning:

What kind of alcohol? I know you can run methanol, denatured, and isopropyl. Is that it? What type is inexpensive and readily available. I know (I think, anyways) that meth would be best for racing, but I am looking to tune it safely for my cross country trip. If I run low, I don't want to have to search for methanol. Are these in order of best to worst performance wise:
meth- denatured- isopropyl.

Where is it readily available? Do you have to buy a cart full of little bottles at Walgreens, or can you buy gallons at a hardware store, or Lowes?

 

[PhilM]

Razor should put his input since it's his kit you're running but we generally toggle between meth or meth/water (washer fluid) or eth. depends on the person - eth is easy to get anywhere but more expensive, meth gives a little edge but is harsher on the pumps. meth is cheaper but generally less readily available.

phil

 

[Squid4life]

Cool, thanks for the info. Since this is a DAILY driver (ie: my only ride) I am going to most likely set it up for denatured. Denatured should be readily available at Lowes and Home Depot/Ace hardwares so I am going to try that. If I were not driving it cross-country and were staying right here I have a race car shop 1 mile from my house that has barrels of methanol. I will tinker with meth when I get to San Diego probably, but for now, unless Razor disagrees, I will try the denatured. Thanks for the input Phil!

 

[turbota633]

denatured is abvailable at DIY/Lowes/Home Depot...etc. Isopropyl at the local drug store, etc....there's 2 types 71% and 91%, all places carry the 71% but 91% is only at some of the places. For meth sources check the sticky under this(alky) section.
HTH
-Joe

 

[volvoman]

I run meth

5 gal for $23 and it takes long time to get through that. I get the race stuff that is filtered at a gas station. They pump it right out of a 60 gl barrel. If razor say you can use it way use anything else. :biggrin:

Chris

 

[Squid4life]

Well, I ASSumed the denatured would be cheaper than meth, but I was WRONG. At home depot it was $15 a gallon jug! IIRC, meth is about 1/3 that price. Maybe I will buy enough meth for the trip, and make sure I can find some in Pensacola Fl. :biggrin:

 

[Blazer406]

Straight 100% methanol w/o lube is what I believe Razor recommends. I get that from my local speed shop for $2.99 per gallon. I go through about 1 gal or so per week in my everyday driving....

An interesting note..... I've found that my gas mileage ... is inversely proportional to the amount of alky I go through.... if I use alot of alky..... my gas mileage sux :biggrin: ...... and if I use hardly any alky..... my mileage is pretty good actually :biggrin:

 

[Squid4life]

Mileage: imagine that... :biggrin:

Well, I went to Home depot for some gallon jugs of denatured... $13 a gal

Called my buddy with a race car/fab shop to see if he had some. $2.50 a gallon. Much better.

Got the car to a baseline at 14-15 psi on the TT 91 street chip, little to no KR. Next outing will be boost down to about 7, alky chip in. Can't wait. :biggrin:

 

[BRAD_PADGETT]

Squid- I am currently tuning with denatured alcohol -no problems at all. I haven't had the time to drive 60 miles in order to get meth. Here it is $11.50 a gallon. Check out the Hot Air board-I started real testing with my Razor kit tonight. Brad