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Read the WELCOME ALL BMWFANATICS post.
Ethanol Conversion
- Thread starter Juggy
- Start date
VictorMike
///Member
Juggy said:
Ask and you shall receive.
Lizzard
Active member
Methanol has better knock suppression (around 114 RON, I believe) than petrol and burns at a lower temperature. This is very advantageous in forced induction engines where the incoming air is hotter than it might be in an naturally induction engine (compressing air heats it up).
Hotter fuel charges ignite more easily, leading to an increased chance pre-detonation (knock). Knock kills engines very quickly.
Hotter cylinder temperatures kill exhaust valves.
The downside to using methanol is that it has a lower calorific value than gasoline, so you really need to run forced induction and the correct ignition timing (often advanced from what it would be if running gasoline) to gain power by using methanol as part of the fuel.
I didnt write this but want to copy it out of this post https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=888584 to show you what methanol is used for. Its more for asma, hu-hu sorry force induction cars then for our NA cars
Hotter fuel charges ignite more easily, leading to an increased chance pre-detonation (knock). Knock kills engines very quickly.
Hotter cylinder temperatures kill exhaust valves.
The downside to using methanol is that it has a lower calorific value than gasoline, so you really need to run forced induction and the correct ignition timing (often advanced from what it would be if running gasoline) to gain power by using methanol as part of the fuel.
I didnt write this but want to copy it out of this post https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=888584 to show you what methanol is used for. Its more for asma, hu-hu sorry force induction cars then for our NA cars
the money you investing vs the gains you chasing isn't really worthwhile but thats just my opinion. I would have sold the car and bought a 320d, it would be a better platform to do all this and will still give the 325i a serious scare on the road in stock form.
Eth will require you to double the rating of your injectors and fuel pump and then will need to be tuned for it.
A water meth kit isn't going to help as much as you think it would... not worth the money on your car. well atleast i think so... It worked well on my GTI and S3 but on a NA car, i dont think so...
Eth will require you to double the rating of your injectors and fuel pump and then will need to be tuned for it.
A water meth kit isn't going to help as much as you think it would... not worth the money on your car. well atleast i think so... It worked well on my GTI and S3 but on a NA car, i dont think so...
FerdiBotha
Well-known member
Get a forced induction car, throw money at it and actually see worthwhile gains.
N/A cars will see minimal power/performance gains in relation to the money you spend.
*edit - is see OP is looking at a 335i - smart move:coolShake:
N/A cars will see minimal power/performance gains in relation to the money you spend.
*edit - is see OP is looking at a 335i - smart move:coolShake:
TurboLlew
Honorary ///Member
Unless you have a 12+:1 comp ratio you will see no useful gains IMHO. Ethanol is cheaper (a bit) however you use a LOT more than regular fuel since it has a lower energy density but very different burn characteristics. I ran E50 on my Subaru which had map switching and it was still inconvenient. If running a mix, then you will need to ensure you mix is consistent. Cars that have JB4 available for them don't have this issue as you can do a flex fuel install to monitor ethanol %...
To do this on a 325i, you will need a big investment to ensure your whole fuel system can handle eth (or else your car will smell like it all the time as it leaks and eats away at bits of your fuel system), bigger injectors, totally different map (95 and eth require completely different ignition timing and fueling maps) - so you will either have to have backup all the time in the car or have a map switching system which is also $$$. Storing ethanol is an issue as the stuff evaporates on one hand and expands/contracts DRAMATICALLY especially in these transition months between seasons when stored in sealed containers. Go to a race day and watch the guys handling their fuel mixes to see what I mean. By-laws only permit 220L to be stored in a home (some places allow double that) and you must have signage and venting in your garage (I had this at home but of course you can choose to ignore this and if your house burns down insurance will repudiate your claim :crazylaugh
. You need an account with TAG solvents and they deliver to your house (they did to mine anyway) and you will need a pump system (I built one from some fuel line and a 12v pump from Midas), since siphoning only goes so far and then You will still have tiny gains (if any) and a lot of headaches.
TL;DR: Don't do it and follow the advice of others.
To do this on a 325i, you will need a big investment to ensure your whole fuel system can handle eth (or else your car will smell like it all the time as it leaks and eats away at bits of your fuel system), bigger injectors, totally different map (95 and eth require completely different ignition timing and fueling maps) - so you will either have to have backup all the time in the car or have a map switching system which is also $$$. Storing ethanol is an issue as the stuff evaporates on one hand and expands/contracts DRAMATICALLY especially in these transition months between seasons when stored in sealed containers. Go to a race day and watch the guys handling their fuel mixes to see what I mean. By-laws only permit 220L to be stored in a home (some places allow double that) and you must have signage and venting in your garage (I had this at home but of course you can choose to ignore this and if your house burns down insurance will repudiate your claim :crazylaugh
. You need an account with TAG solvents and they deliver to your house (they did to mine anyway) and you will need a pump system (I built one from some fuel line and a 12v pump from Midas), since siphoning only goes so far and then You will still have tiny gains (if any) and a lot of headaches.TL;DR: Don't do it and follow the advice of others.
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