Colder Weather and Alky Injection

[Jerryl]

In my mind, there are three separate issues described in this thread, of which each should be addressed separately.

1. Boost increase from increased mass flow due to colder ambient air.
2. Injectors – PW requirement due to increased mass flow.
3. Alcohol distribution due to ambient temp drop and mass flow increase through the TB.

 

[murphster]

For years all the EFI snowmobile guys would always say how there machines would lean out on the ethanol blended fuel. I always thought it was BS. I never had a problem with the ethanol blended fuel, but I also don't run an EFI, so maybe there is some truth to that.

Ethanol needs to be run richer compared to gasoline, so as you add more ethanol to the fuel you need to run richer A/F ratios. If you run the same A/F ratio as with pure gasoline then it can cause you to run leaner. But this has nothing to do with the issue we are talking about with potential uneven distribution of injected alky in cold weather.

 

[forzfed]

Ethanol needs to be run richer compared to gasoline, so as you add more ethanol to the fuel you need to run richer A/F ratios. If you run the same A/F ratio as with pure gasoline then it can cause you to run leaner. But this has nothing to do with the issue we are talking about with potential uneven distribution of injected alky in cold weather.

I am totally aware of that. My snowmobile always has bigger jets in it for that reason. I don't think it is an issue anymore since all gas around here is ethanol blended.

You never answer what your definition of cold is? Have you ever run your car in cold weather? Gasoline and Diesel blends are not the same for summer and winter, and there is a reason for it. You can't use summer gasoline in weather below freezing conditions. What's done to Methanol to make it winter proof?

My buddy had to pump out the diesel fuel from a Semi that ended up here in January. The whole thing froze up. The truck was from Florida, when he phone for a work order the girl who was processing the transaction called by buddy a liar, and that there is no such thing as winter diesel.

 

[forzfed]

In order to have proper or complete combustion you need the 3T's. Does anyone want to guess what they are?

 

[BadAssGN]

In order to have proper or complete combustion you need the 3T's. Does anyone want to guess what they are?

Temperature , Turbulance and Time......

As for winter Methanol... being from Winterpeg and it sounds like you know a bit about the trucking industry, you must know about air brake antifreeze.... its pure methanol (from most suppliers)

 

[murphster]

You never answer what your definition of cold is? Have you ever run your car in cold weather?

I've made low 10 sec passes with the outside temps in the high 30s. For example, on 11/23/08 at Englishtown I went 10.19@129 in 37 degree weather. The last time I had an issue with the motor it was in 80 degree weather. I've made many passes before and since then in cold weather and never had an issue.

Having run that fast in that cold of weather, 40 and 50 degree weather doesn't worry me. I just don't see how this can be a real effect when I've raced in 30 degree weather with the alky maxed on a dual nozzle setup with no problems. That should be the one of the worst case scenarios. And I'd verified my alky pump put out 160-170psi. That's a lot of alky. Unless there is something different about my car??

The only other thing I can think of is the power plate with a stock style plenum. We know the power plate works by limiting the airflow the the rear cylinders so that the airflow is similar to the front cylinders. So without the power plate more air goes to the rear cylinders and thus more alky could go to the rear cylinders in the cold weather if the effect is real. With the power plate in place, air to the rear cylinders is reduced and maybe the effect would be minimized since less alky would go to the rear cylinders. I do use a power plate.

 

[usetaboost]

I never had any problems when I run the stock setup with 23psi, but when I went to the bigger turbo, dp, and progressive meth I noticed that I have to add quite a bit more fuel when the temp drops to 60* or less. I think it comes down to needing more fuel because of the colder air over anything else.

 

[SS/GN]

Weather gets colder.. air is denser.. car makes more boost and needs more fuel. You leave things alone and kaboom. Thats why more fuel is needed and a lower target afr typically takes up any slack from colder weather racing.

Does anybody use a portable weather station to monitor air from one race to another and keep notesJust curious

Kevin

 

[SCOOBY DOO]

Does anybody use a portable weather station to monitor air from one race to another and keep notesJust curious

Kevin

Some of us do...and some don't.

 

[SS/GN]

I used this when we raced jrs but found it just as usefull with the Buick

http://www.nkhome.com/kestrel/kestrel-4250/

Kevin

 

[Pronto]

That tool might be the difference from running or blowing head gasketes.

 

[EVIL]

I've made low 10 sec passes with the outside temps in the high 30s. For example, on 11/23/08 at Englishtown I went 10.19@129 in 37 degree weather. The last time I had an issue with the motor it was in 80 degree weather. I've made many passes before and since then in cold weather and never had an issue.

Having run that fast in that cold of weather, 40 and 50 degree weather doesn't worry me. I just don't see how this can be a real effect when I've raced in 30 degree weather with the alky maxed on a dual nozzle setup with no problems. That should be the one of the worst case scenarios. And I'd verified my alky pump put out 160-170psi. That's a lot of alky. Unless there is something different about my car??

The only other thing I can think of is the power plate with a stock style plenum. We know the power plate works by limiting the airflow the the rear cylinders so that the airflow is similar to the front cylinders. So without the power plate more air goes to the rear cylinders and thus more alky could go to the rear cylinders in the cold weather if the effect is real. With the power plate in place, air to the rear cylinders is reduced and maybe the effect would be minimized since less alky would go to the rear cylinders. I do use a power plate.

Isn't there a thread on here about NOT using a power plate with alky?
I thought i came across it a while back.

This has been a great read.


D