Alternate fuels for autos

This is what i got.

The Magic of Methanol-The Promise of Ethanol

Methanol=CH3OH

Ethanol=C2H5OH

Methanol, also known as wood alcohol, because it was originally produced from distilling wood and now is made primarily from natural gas. It�s a dense and safe fuel as well as inexpensive and a plentiful one � especially in the United States, which produces almost one quarter of the worlds supply, and is the best high performance fuel available. Far better than any expensive "racing" petroleum fuel. It'll help any 4-stroke high performance engine produce more power and run cooler. Methanol is a safe fuel to use. But if anyone feels uncomfortable using or converting an engine for use with of methanol, please consult with a professional engine builder first..

Methanol will mix equally with water and it evaporates quickly. The important thing to remember when storing methanol is the keep it in an air tight container in a dry place. Because it can easily draw moisture when stored for a long period, especially in a metal container. (Unlike plastic, steel gets cold, which draws condensation.) If one suspects that water had gotten into the methanol, it can be separated easily by using a chamois. (The chamois will absorb the water and allow the methanol to pass through.)

If your club's sanctioning rules say that the methanol fuel must be able to pass a water test, then just use 100% pure methanol with no oil. (To some clubs, oil is also known as a "contaminant.") Pure methanol will remain clear in water, but turn cloudy in water when mixed with oil. And it's important that the main fuel mixture on the carburetor be richened slightly, to keep from burning the piston (because of the lack of oil in the fuel).

Methanol has no effect on rubber, neoprene or OEM carburetor or fuel system parts nor does it get stale like gas does. But it will corrode aluminum as plain water does if it is not drained and allowed to evaporate from the fuel system over an extended length of time.

Because methanol will ignite only in a narrow range of high temperatures, it is less likely to catch on fire should an accident occur. If methanol does catch on fire, water can extinguish the flames, unlike a gasoline fire.

Methanol burns much slower than the highest octane gasoline. (It has about 135 octane rating.) Therefore, the ignition timing must be advanced more than for gas when burning methanol. If the timing isn't advanced enough, some of the methanol will go unburned and little will be gained. Modifications to the point lobe on the camshaft may need to be made in order to achieve the full ignition timing setting. Methanol also requires a hotter spark. Therefore, a high-voltage/high performance ignition coil is needed, along with a wide spark plug gap (.060"). NOTE - Never run over-advanced ignition timing with any petroleum-based fuel (gas) just to try to get "more power." All that does is seriously overheat the engine and could weaken (collapse) the piston rings, shrink the piston, warp the cylinder head and exhaust valve and it could even cause the engine block to crack.

As methanol burns, it produces tremendous combustion chamber pressures under full throttle (even more so on cooler days). To prevent possible cylinder/crankcase separation, the cylinder must be "strapped" to the crankcase. Especially on 12hp engines and up. So strap it now, or scrap it later! Methanol works best in a high compression engine, too.

Moreover, if you had a 10hp block bored for a 12hp piston, or a 12hp block bored for a 14hp piston, and you use your tractor to push snow, definitely strap the cylinder to the crankcase! Because it now has a much thinner cylinder wall, and the cold winter air is more dense (like the air is thicker or there's more of it). Dense air will build up the compression pressure within the combustion chamber, causing the engine to produce more power. But what also happens is at full throttle, this high compression is pushing upward on the cylinder head, and pulling upward on the cylinder wall. And sometimes the cylinder wall will break, ruining the whole engine. I know, I've had this happen to me before. No joke.

Methanol produces a "cooling effect" as it enters an engine at high velocity (high rpms). And, it's a clean burning fuel, it won't carbon up the combustion chamber, foul-out the spark plug or even harm the ozone layer. The crankcase motor oil may need to be changed periodically though.

IMPORTANT! It's always a good idea to use a special upper cylinder lubricant to be mixed with methanol to prevent possible piston-to-cylinder scoring. If a lubricant isn't used and if the fuel is ran too lean, it could ruin a good high-dollar piston and cylinder wall! But I realize that some clubs don't allow any additives (lubricant) in methanol (it boosts the octane and will probably fail in a fuel test).

Here's another thing concerning methanol fuel - when it evaporates, it leaves behind some very small particles of white, flaky calcium deposits in the fuel system. Which is normal and unavoidable. These deposits can ruin a good fuel filter, but won't harm the engine or any other part of the fuel system. So to keep from having any fuel flow problems, don't install a fuel filter. Instead, filter the fuel with a paint, coffee or a fine mesh filter of some sort before it is poured into the fuel tank. Just place the filter in a funnel, and pour the fuel through it into the tank. If there are any very small particles of dirt present in the fuel, they should pass right through, being the jets have been enlarged.

Fuel filters can only filter so much of a grain of dirt. Anything smaller will pass right through, most of time causing no harm. Sometimes a hair will pass through a wire mesh fuel filter, lodging in the float valve, keeping it closing all the way because it can't get past the bend. It'll cause the carburetor to flood overnight. I've seen this happen a few times. On certain small engines, the flooding gas will seep down into the motor oil, ruining it. Briggs & Stratton riding mower engines are notorious for this. All you can do is clean out the carburetor and hope it doesn't happen again. And if there's enough fresh gas in the crankcase, sometimes the crankcase will explode if the engine backfires through the carburetor. The backfire flame will sometimes travel through the valve cover & into the crankcase.

Most garden tractor carburetors can be easily converted for methanol use. The main thing to keep in mind is that methanol requires about twice the volume of fuel than gas. (Approximately a 5-6:1 ratio for methanol versus 10-12:1 ratio for gas). So to run methanol, the fuel passage holes will basically need to be enlarged to about twice their original size.

So the bottom line is that if you want a power gain of at least 13%, convert to methanol

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Frequently Asked Questions...

1. What are the advantages to using ethanol blended fuels?
Ethanol is a renewable fuel. Gasoline is a fossil fuel. Using Ethanol will mean your engine will burn cleaner. Ethanol use will lower carbon dioxide emissions, ensuring a cleaner environment. Manitoba will be less dependent on imported gasoline. There will be more economic opportunities for rural Manitoba, not to mention improved farm incomes.


2. Will the use of ethanol void my car�s warranty?
Certainly not! When the use of ethanol began in 1979, most automobile manufacturers did not even address alcohol fuels. As soon as each manufacturer tested their vehicles, they approved the use of a 10% ethanol blend. Today, all manufacturers approve the use of 10% ethanol blends, and some even recommend ethanol use for environmental reasons. Many manufacturers do recommend against the use of methanol.


3. Will ethanol work in fuel-injected engines?

Absolutely! Ethanol never contributed to burning or fouling of port fuel injectors. Fuel injectors are manufactured to very exact tolerances, so it takes a very small amount of deposits to affect the efficiency of an injector. Components of gasoline, such as olefins, have been identified as causing deposits that result in fouled injectors. Since 1985, all ethanol blends and nearly all non-ethanol gasoline�s have contained corrosion inhibitors and detergent additives that are designed to prevent injector deposits. These detergents have been very effective in alleviating this gasoline problem.


4. If I use ethanol, do I need a gas line anti-freeze?

No! Gas line anti-freeze is alcohol � usually methanol, ethanol, or isopropyl, which may be used up to a .3% level in your car�s fuel tank. All alcohols have the ability to absorb water, and therefore condensation in the fuel system is absorbed and does not have the opportunity to collect and freeze. Since an ethanol blend contains up to 10% ethanol, it is able to absorb more water than a small bottle of methyl or isopropyl alcohol, therefore eliminating the need and expense of adding a gas line anti-freeze.


5. Won�t ethanol burn valves?

No. Ethanol will not burn valves. Ethanol burns cooler than gasoline. Many high-powered racing engines use pure alcohol for that reason.


6. Will ethanol hurt my older engine designed for leaded gas?

No. The concern about older engines came about because of the lead phase-out. Lead oxides that were formed during combustion provided a cushion that reduced wear on non-case-hardened "popet" style valve seats. Therefore, it is the absence of lead, not the presence of ethanol, that is of concern.


7. Does ethanol lead to plugged fuel filters?
Ethanol can loosen contaminants and residues that have been deposited by previous gasoline fills. These can collect in the fuel filter. This problem has happened occasionally in older cars, and can easily be corrected by changing fuel filters. Symptoms of a plugged fuel filter will be hesitation, missing, and a loss of power. Once your car�s fuel system is clean, you may note improved performance.



8. Why do some mechanics say not to use ethanol?

A mechanic who says not to use ethanol does not have correct information. About the only thing most people (including many mechanics) know about gasoline is that some of it is blended with ethanol. When there appears to be a fuel-related problem with an engine, some mechanics will immediately ask if ethanol has been used. One reason ethanol is suspected is that in many jurisdictions it is the only gasoline component that requires an identifying label.


Use in Two and Four Cycle Engines

9. Can I use ethanol in my ATV and chainsaw?

Yes. An ethanol blend may be used anywhere that unleaded gasoline is used.

10. If ethanol can be used in outboard motors, why do some of the owner�s manuals say not to use it?

When these cautionary statements were first put in the owners manuals, there was confusion with methanol, and also a concern about the quality control of ethanol, which was produced by a brand-new and rapidly growing industry. Since boats are usually in close proximity to water and often stored outside, there was concern about "phase separation" if the fuel was contaminated with excessive water. All marine motor manufacturers now approve the use of 10% ethanol blend.


11. What testing has been done with ethanol in small engines?

A number of tests have been done. One of them was done at the Lake Area Vo-Tech at Watertown, South Dakota; where they put a lifetime of use on seven different models of small utility equipment. They acquired matched sets of each of the seven models, and ran one on an ethanol blend and the other on an unleaded gasoline. After each test, each motor was torn down for laboratory analysis. The most significant difference was that the ethanol blend engines had slightly fewer carbon deposits. The Detroit Lakes Technical College at Detroit Lakes, Minnesota studied the "Hydroscopic effects of a marine environment on ethanol blended gasoline", and concluded that the amount of water in ethanol blend will absorb from the atmosphere is minimal, and should not be a concern.


12. What is phase separation?

When a 10% ethanol blend is contaminated with over .5% water, the ethanol and water mixture will separate from the gasoline and fall to the bottom of the gas tank. This is an inconvenience, because the fuel system must then be drained and new fuel added. Before using ethanol-blended fuel for the first time in an older small engine, it is recommended that all water be removed from the tank. Since many outboard motor carburetor problems result from water in the fuel system, continuous use of an ethanol blend can prevent water accumulation and unnecessary maintenance.


13. Will two-cycle oil separate from an ethanol-blended gasoline?

No, once properly mixed, all approved two-cycle oils will remain in solution with an ethanol-blended gasoline.


14. Does ethanol make gasoline go bad in storage?

No! Storage problems are primarily caused by the storage conditions and the chemical composition of the gasoline itself. Whether you use ethanol blends or not, avoid carrying gasoline over from one season to the next. Don�t fill a storage tank at the end of the season. Try to run the tank dry in your seasonal equipment before it is time for storage.


The Economics of Ethanol

15. Is ethanol-blended gasoline more costly than petroleum gasoline?

No! Ethanol-blended gasoline is generally available to marketers at a lower cost than petroleum gasoline (petro-gas) of the same octane. After the federal and provincial ethanol tax credit is applied, the cost of ethanol to marketers is about the same as Regular Unleaded gasoline and often less. Ethanol is relatively inexpensive to blenders and can increase the octane value of gasoline considerably.

Octane is a measure of gasoline�s resistance to burn prematurely under high compression causing an engine to "knock" or "ping" under load. For many years gasoline quality, and therefore its price, has been expressed in terms of its octane or "anti knock" rating. "The higher the octane the higher the price." In some markets ethanol is found only in high octane (higher priced) gasoline. This made some people think ethanol blends were more expensive.

In most markets the standard grade of gasoline "regular unleaded" has an octane rating of 87. Mid-grade gasoline sometimes called "Unleaded Plus" (89 to 90 octane) and Premium (91 or higher octane) are usually offered at wholesale and retail outlets for a higher price than Regular Unleaded. The wholesale price per litre of Premium or Unleaded Plus (89-90 octane) gasoline may be 3� to 5� higher than Regular Unleaded.

The standard "blending octane value" for ethanol is about 113. Normally one litre of ethanol blended with 9 litres of petro-gas raises the octane of the 10-litre blend to the next grade level. For instance after blending 9 litres of petro-gas with one litre of ethanol, Regular Unleaded (87 octane) becomes Unleaded Plus (89-90 octane) and Unleaded Plus becomes Premium (91+ octane). Consequently, marketers can often buy 89-90 octane Unleaded Plus ethanol blended gasoline for the same price, or less than they would have to pay for 87 octane Regular Unleaded petro-gas. In order to produce Regular Unleaded gasoline with ethanol, a blender must have access to an 84.5 octane (or "sub-octane") grade of petro-gas. In some markets sub octane gasoline is not made available to blenders. In these locations, Regular Unleaded (the lowest price grade gasoline with the highest sales volume) does not contain ethanol. In markets where sub octane gasoline is available, however, ethanol blended Regular is usually less costly than petro-gas Regular.

The factors discussed above may not be apparent to consumers or even to some retailers. But contrary to a common rumor, ethanol blended gasoline (where available) is almost always less costly than petro-gas of the same octane.

16. If the price of wheat goes up, will ethanol become non-competitive with gasoline?

Wheat prices and oil prices can be volatile. Periods when wheat prices drove ethanol prices significantly higher than gasoline have been very short and rare. Distiller�s grains and gluten feed are high-protein feeds that are the co-products remaining when the starch portion of the wheat kernel is made into ethanol. Therefore, when the price of wheat is high, a greater portion of the processors� costs can be recovered through the sale of protein feeds. Unusual factors, such as drought or flood, could have short-term implications for the ethanol industry.

17. Will ethanol ever be produced as cheaply as gasoline?

Yes, but ethanol should be compared with other high-octane components of gasoline, rather than with gasoline as a whole. In fact, technology is constantly reducing the environmental and monetary cost of ethanol production. Since ethanol reduces exhaust emissions from cars, and is a domestically produced, renewable fuel it provides benefits that gasoline never can. According to recent studies the petroleum industry has enjoyed many years of large tax breaks and subsidies. Studies also suggest that costs of air and water pollution should be attributed to the overall cost of gasoline. On the other hand, wheat and ethanol production is becoming more efficient and less energy intensive each year. When the conversion of cellulose to ethanol is perfected the cost of ethanol production is expected to decline drastically. Perennial fiber crops and solid waste will then be used to produce ethanol.

18. How much will the use of ethanol help the price of Grain?

There have been numerous studies done, in the U.S., on this issue, and the consensus is that, in the case of corn, the price of corn will increase from 6� to 8� per bushel for every 100 million bushels of corn used.

19. Shouldn�t we be using wheat for food instead of fuel?

Canada has a surplus of grain. Today, many farmers are loosing their businesses because large surpluses lead to low crop prices. World hunger is more the result of politics and policies, than a shortage of food. In ethanol production only the starch portion of the kernel is converted to ethanol. What remains is put back into the food chain (Distillers Dried Grain, DDG). Much of the world�s population suffers from protein and vitamin deficiencies. Many people suffer from hunger not because there isn�t enough food, but because of economic, political and transportation barriers. The development of renewable energy sources like ethanol can make energy more available to remote areas of the world. That should make it easier to get food to isolated people.

Ethanol and Gasoline Marketing

20. Are the major oil companies against the use of ethanol as a fuel?

Some are, because ethanol is domestic, renewable and a direct competitor to the imported non-renewable crude oil used to make gasoline. However, the Canadian Petroleum Products Institute, which represents the refiners has stated it is neither for nor against ethanol blends.


21. Will ethanol ever be blended at levels more than 10%?

Brazil sells a 22% ethanol blend instead of 10% as a means to extend their gasoline supplies. While most cars produced today would operate on a 22% blend, testing by the auto manufacturers would occur before any new fuel formulation could be approved and covered under their warranties.

22. What are potential new markets for ethanol?

Ethanol is replacing some methanol in the windshield washing formula for automobiles and is also being used in the formulation of various household cleaners. As these products become more widespread they can help reduce the amount of toxic chemicals in domestic use. Fuel ethanol may become a common fuel for small aircraft since airplanes need a low volatility, high octane fuel to replace leaded "aviation gas". Other markets for both ethanol and the co-products from processing are sure to follow.


Ethanol and the Environment

23. How does the use of ethanol-blended fuel benefit the environment?

The environmentally beneficial attributes of ethanol-blended gasoline have resulted in its designation as an "Environmental ChoiceTM" product.

Gasoline blended with 10% ethanol will reduce carbon monoxide (CO) emissions by up to 30%. Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas that contributes to air pollution. It is of particular concern when vehicles are operating at lower temperatures. Oxygenated gasoline, such as ethanol blends, lower the levels of CO emitted, by promoting a more complete combustion of the fuel.

Gasoline blended with 10% ethanol will reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) entering the atmosphere between 4 and 7%. Carbon dioxide is a normal product of burning fuels that contribute to global warming. More CO2 is absorbed by crop growth than is released by manufacturing and using ethanol.


Ethanol and Other Gasoline Components

24. Does an ethanol blend burn cleaner than a premium gasoline?

Many premium gasolines�s are ethanol blends. If gasoline contains oxygen it will burn cleaner than a non-ethanol gasoline. Premium gasoline is no cleaner than gasoline of a lower octane.

25. What is the difference between ethanol and methanol?

They are both alcohols. Ethanol is fermented alcohol, also used as beverage alcohol, made primarily from grain but may also be made from starch or sugar from potatoes, cheese whey, sugar beets or even from the cellulose in forest products or waste paper. Methanol is usually made from natural gas or coal, and is also known as "wood alcohol". Methanol is highly corrosive, more volatile than ethanol, and can be damaging to plastic and rubber fuel system components (elastomers).

26. What are ETBE and MTBE?

Ethyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (ETBE) and methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) are both high octane, low volatility ethers. They are made by combining alcohol with isobutylene from oil refineries. MTBE was preferred by major oil companies and has been the largest selling oxygenate in the world while ethanol is second. Recently, MTBE has received a great deal of negative publicity because of water contamination problems in areas where it is used. MTBE has been banned in California and Iowa. The future use of either for oxygenates in gasoline is uncertain.

27. Why don�t we use 100% ethanol, instead of a 10% blend?

Brazil was able to operate nearly half of its cars on fuel ethanol, but it would be neither necessary nor practical to do it here at this time. Most engines need modification to run on pure ethanol and cold starting would be a problem. Fortunately, a 10% level requires no engine modification, yet still makes significant immediate contributions to carbon monoxide reduction.

28. Do we need the high-octane gasolines that the major oil companies are promoting?

An octane number is a measure of gasoline�s ability to resist pre-ignition, also known as "knocking" or "pinging." If your vehicle doesn�t "ping" or "knock" or if the manufacturer doesn�t specifically require a higher octane, then regular or "87" octane is all you need. A higher-octane gasoline will not reduce pollution or contribute to increased power or mileage. Since fewer litres of high-octane gasoline than low octane gasoline can be made from a barrel of crude oil it is actually wasteful to use unnecessary octane.

29. Does an ethanol blend require special handling?

Only in special circumstances. The gasoline marketer should pump any accumulated water from the storage tank, and add a final filter to the dispensing hose before using an ethanol blend for the first time. Since seasonally used small engines such as chainsaws and outboard motors are susceptible to water contamination, it is also wise to check them for the presence of water and remove all water before adding an ethanol blend. These precautions are nothing more than good housekeeping practices, but adhering to them will assure optimum performance of an ethanol blend.

30. What about moisture in ethanol blends?

Moisture contamination usually is not a problem until water "phase separates" from the gasoline and falls to the bottom of the tank. Ethanol blends do not draw more water into the tank. If gasoline must be stored, be sure the container has no "water bottom" and is water tight. Keeping the tank full or sheltered from weather will minimize "breathing" and condensation on tank walls. In most tanks it would take more than a year for conventional gasoline to draw enough moisture from the air to "phase separate", much longer for ethanol blends. The most common causes of water contamination problems are introducing ethanol blends into a tank with a water bottom and faulty tanks or covers that allow water to flow into the fuel.


Wheat Processing and Ethanol Production

31. How much ethanol can we get from one tonne of wheat?

The average fuel ethanol yield is over 370 litres per tonne of wheat. In addition the process can yield 1/3 of a tonne of high protein livestock feed, and about 1/3 of a tonne of carbon dioxide for beverage or refrigeration use.

32. What is the difference between a wet and a dry mill ethanol plant?

The wet mill process soaks the grain kernels until the components can be separated mechanically. The germ is removed; the starch is removed for industrial or food uses or converting into sweeteners, ethanol, degradable plastics, proteins, pharmaceuticals or a variety of high value consumer products. The remaining protein gluten meal and protein gluten feeds are sold on the protein market. A new product has recently been developed that combines with road salt to improve the effectiveness of, and reduce the corrosion resulting from its use.

The dry mill process grinds the grain to flour and the entire product goes through the fermentation procedure where the starch is converted to ethanol. After the ethanol is distilled off, the remainder is dried and sold as a protein product called Dried Distillers Grains with solubles (DDGs). There is a greater range of products that can be made in a wet mill and therefore, the potential for a more stable income base than a dry mill. The cost to build and operate a wet mill plant however is much higher.

33. Can ethanol be made from off-grade or damaged wheat?

Yes. Depending on the nature and extent of the damage to the wheat the ethanol yield may be reduced and the value of the distiller�s grains may be affected. A lower price paid for the damaged wheat by the ethanol processor may offset the reduced value of the end products.

34. Can fusarium contaminated or other contaminated wheat be used for ethanol production?

Yes, but there are limits on the use of the distiller�s grains if traces of fusarium remain. Cattle are not as sensitive to fusarium as are hogs.

35. It is true that it takes more energy to produce a litre of ethanol than is contained in that litre?

No, it is not true. A USDA study determined that 1.34 units of energy is produced for every unit expended in the production of ethanol.

36. Can ethanol only be made from wheat?

No. It is also possible to convert cellulose materials to ethanol. Cellulosic materials include grasses, trees, crop residues, wastepaper and even municipal solid waste! Cellulose to ethanol is currently too expensive to compete with grain as a feed stock but new technologies could make it a commercial reality within the next decade. This would mean not only having a greater supply of clean burning, renewable ethanol but would also reduce the volume of waste entering our landfills.

37. What is left of the wheat after the ethanol is removed?

Only the starch is removed for ethanol, so all the protein, vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and some of the energy remains. This is a very nutritious human or livestock food.

38. How much will the wheat increase in value after processing into ethanol and DDGs?

When one processes for example, wheat to ethanol, the initial value of the wheat would double. A $2.00 bushel of wheat could be processed in an ethanol plant to produce $1.00 worth of feed and $3.00 worth of fuel.