Bubbles in SMC Storage tank.WTF?

[Drewster]

its been pretty hot in my area. (105ºF) I notice that my SMC kit was not spraying the way that it should.
When i looked in the storage tank i saw bubbles coming out of the pump pick up tube.
I think the methanol is vaporizing in the suction tube causing the pump to loose prime.
i just thermo-wrapped the down pipe and meth pump pick up tube. it still makes bubbles but not as much.
My AC has been out for a really long time. I notice the AC accumulator is blazing hot. the meth pump is strapped to the accumulator with some foam insulation between.
I thought the nozzle check valve was bad but no bubbles until the engine water temp gets to around +175ºF

Any idea how to stop the bubbles? Add water?

is my AC unit burning up causing excessive heat or does the accumulator normally get really hot when not running?

 

[street6]

I'm having same problem recently, it sprays but looses prime even after a few minutes of driving. Seems with the excessive heat and my leaner air/fuel mixture (now 10.9 afr/ was pig rich before tuning) my exhaust gas is hotter. My 3" downpipe is putting off alot more heat making underhood temps rise. I called SMC and after discussion, I decided to add 10% water to my methanol making it a 10/90 mix. This will raise the boiling point of the methanol. Let me know how you make out, I also just thermo-wrapped my line with a DEI heat sheath.

think it's my downpipe heating up my accumulator, and accumulator pipes.

 

[1-CLN-GN]

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[Drewster]

glad to hear i'm not the only one!

I found out the boiling point of Methanol is 147ºF. Water is 212F. I think 10% water will raise the boiling point 6.5 degrees to 153.5ºF. A 50/50 mix will make the boiling point 179.5ºF. (assuming the mix's boiling points are linear). The lower boiling point makes for better cylinder cooling.
Ill have to check the temperature of the meth lines and pump. mounting the pump in a different location might do the trick. (like behind the head lights or some where away from the down pipe)

Heck it could be the braided line getting to hot. If the pump is a centrifugal style, the vapors created in the braided hose would push back into the storage tank at the same pressure of the nozzle check valve spring (1 psi?). A positive displacment pump would stop back flow and the meth gas would go out the nozzle.
If someone knows what type of pump is used in the SMC kit that would help.

Ill have to check temps this comming weekend and see where the vapors are being created

Andrew

 

[street6]

Another thing I will be doing is re-installing the factory slic fan (plastic fan), even though I have a fmic. I left it off after my recent engine swap, however I feel it may have helped with moving some air around under the hood. Moving the air around is the only purpose it will serve. I don't think the minimal drag and rotating weight it will add will make any difference in my application.

adding 20% water to the methanol will raise the boiling temp more than just adding 10%however I want to try and get by with adding the least amount of water as possible.

 

[street6]

SMC Enterprises......(ph) 270-522-9376

 

[Drewster]

thanks for the number

i give em a call. i agree less water the better.

I bet if the pump was lower than the tank the pump would keep prime on it regardless if the meth vaporizes.

watch the temps cool off before i get to do testing this week

 

[Drewster]

For a 95ºF day, the Pump, Suction hose and AC accumulator were all around 160ºF. 20% water would be needed to raise the boiling point to 160º. On a hotter day, 30 or 40% would be needed.
The Braided line to the nozzle was 120ºF. no problem there
The permanent fix would be to relocate the pump lower than the tank and away from the Down pipe. Like under the battery or head light.
We could also turn the boost down, and turn off alchy in extreamly hot weather.
I'll post pics if I ever get around to relocating alchy pump. maybe before next summer.
Andrew