Trunk fuel cell for methanol

[EVO8LTW]

Can anyone suggest good candidates for a trunk-mounted fuel cell for injecting methanol?

What I've gathered is that the cell can't have foam inside and it has to be plastic. Anything else?

I guess that you wouldn't use the pickup fittings on the bottom of the cell and you'd just be drilling holes in it for the feed line, vent and level sensor?

I'd like for the cell to be fairly crash-proof, so maybe enclosing a plastic cell in an aluminum box would help?

Not looking for big capacity. Just 1-2 gallons probably.

Any suggestions?

 

[Razor]

Thats a lot of work for a 1 gallon cell.

The feed has to be from the bottom., vent outside the vehicle, rollover valve if you wish, and use supporting brackets to mount.

Any of the Jazz or RCI cells will handle the job. Want something to throw money at, the "Fuel Safe" cells. Aluminum fittings have to be replaced.

There is foam thats methanol compatible, tho using it you cant use the low level sending unit.

Notice your name, if its for the EVO, what's wrong with the IC spray tank? It holds about a gallon, is easy to use, no issues. I wouldnt do a 1 gallon cell in the trunk, its too much $$$ by the time you get all the bells and whistles, for that trouble i'd go bigger like 4 gallon. Unless there is zero space.. and thats all that can be used.

HTH

 

[EVO8LTW]

Thanks for the thoughts.

I do have an Evo and I'm aware of the AMS and SMC kits that use the IC resevoir.

I'm thinking about a trunk-mounted cell to minimize the risk of a methanol fire in a light front-end collision and also to get a set-up that would be more impervious to sloshing under cornering loads, such as what I'd see in autocross.

I would consider more than a 1 gallon cell, particularly if there is methanol resistant foam. I wasn't sure if a larger cell would work properly without the foam inside (problem of uncovering the pickup under heavy cornering).

One other thing I'm considering is using a sturdy stainless steel tank under the hood. I know someone who can fabricate nearly anything in metal.

I know that there is some extra $ involved in this sort of system, but if I don't find a way to feel comfortable with the system then I'll be injecting some watered down mixture, and then it REALLY won't seem worth the effort.

By the way, what's a rollover valve?

And is there any functional problem with a trunk mounted cell? Does the system respond any slower to the controller, for example, if you have a particularly quick spooling turbo setup?

Thanks!

Originally posted by Razor
Thats a lot of work for a 1 gallon cell.

The feed has to be from the bottom., vent outside the vehicle, rollover valve if you wish, and use supporting brackets to mount.

Any of the Jazz or RCI cells will handle the job. Want something to throw money at, the "Fuel Safe" cells. Aluminum fittings have to be replaced.

There is foam thats methanol compatible, tho using it you cant use the low level sending unit.

Notice your name, if its for the EVO, what's wrong with the IC spray tank? It holds about a gallon, is easy to use, no issues. I wouldnt do a 1 gallon cell in the trunk, its too much $$$ by the time you get all the bells and whistles, for that trouble i'd go bigger like 4 gallon. Unless there is zero space.. and thats all that can be used.

HTH

 

[Razor]

If you have a lite front end collision, and the tank ruptured, it would leak out then evap. Only way alcohol can pose a problem is "IF" it gets exposed to an open flame. In other words dont crash into a BBQ grille. One gallon is not a lot, and this is assumming your tank were full. Lastly there are no documented fires ever occurring with any injection kit. And these kits have been on cars for year's'. Its not gasoline, there are other combustible fluids in the car, like engine oil, axle fluid, 20 gallon tank of gasoline, etc. Thats why its called a "Firewall".

If your concerned, dont race the car. This itself is more dangerous than a gallon of alcohol sitting under a fender.

There is foam that can handle methanol. Tho it should be replaced every year.

Rollover valve has a stainless steel ball in a plastic fitting and what happens is if the car rolls over, doesnt allow fluid to escape the vent on the tank. IOW the car is upside down. If the car is upside down, guess you'll have a lot more to worry about.

Lastly, alcohol has a very low flash point, if it hits anything hot, it will evep.. unless the heat source is an open flame. I believe the misconception is people think of it like Nitromethane, nitroglycerine, or some other really volatile liquid that will auto combust... Do this, get some alcohol and a container.. play with it. Put a hair dryer on it, pour it on the ground.. pour it on some heat sources.. it may ease your fears. And as always, there is risk associated with everything you do every morning.

The decision to modify your vehicle away from the design the MFG did is a personal one. Increasing its power levels has additional risk. As with any performance enhancement. It will always be your call on what that level of risk is.

If you operate a school bus with children aboard.. then the precautions should be elevated. Only use water in this scenario.

HTH

 

[EVO8LTW]

Thanks. You're making me reconsider just going with the straight IC sprayer tank. You make good points.

One other question about your kits. For how long have you been using the same pump and other parts in your kits and how much does a replacement pump cost?

Basically, I'd like to buy a kit that has been long-term tested for reliability and longevity with methanol.

I know that you've been running Meth in your car for years now. What do you do for maintenance?

Have you used the same pump for that whole time? Does it make sense to proactively replace the pump or any other parts periodically just to make sure that you replace them before they stop working from normal wear and tear (sort of like changing a timing belt periodically)?

Thanks,
Rich

 

[Razor]

Its a fine line between business and technical. And I try and keep myself and any business questions separate. Hope this makes sense.

Everything system out there has some maintenance. How its designed plays on how much maintenance. The Shurflo pump has yielded great results once properly setup. If the hoses are teflon based/ chemically resistant.. then thats a part that doesnt require maintenance. Running a filter prenozzle eliminates having to inspect the nozzle. Probably taking the tank out and washng any debris accumulation it may have. But if it looks clean, then it is. The pumps dont need any maintenance, maybe make sure all the screws are tight on the pump. Check fittings for leaks. Etc..

The alkycontrol kits have an in-line filter. Take it apart.. clean it out(backwash in alcohol) reassemble.

Would it be bad to swap the pump out every year or two? Off course not. But that also falls into the changing fuel pumps category. Would it be bad to put a fresh fuel pump before a racing season? Or doing plugs, wires, etc.. New parts are new parts.

I've had some customers once a year order just a pump. To heed of any issue. Call it insurance. Just depends where your at maintaining the car. How many miles its driven. How it is driven. How critical the system is. Etc..

I know of some that have gotten 5+ years on the pump. But just like a light bulb in your closet.. sometimes they last 10 years.. sometimes 2. The pump on my car is but two months old cuase this is a new car. My old car still has the 2+ year old pump.. which will probably get changed out soon. Just to stay ahead of any issue. Money saved using methanol over denatured has already paid for 2 pumps on that car(one gallon per week). 2.50 per gallon vs 10.00 locally. And not to say that denatured wont pose an issue. As any chemical/vibrations/heat etc.. can cuase issues over time.

Any pricing info needed specific to my system, please contact me off list. What I do to the pumps, why, etc.. are more "trade" type deals that I dont publish/discuss.

Great questions, HTH