Well almost everything...
I figured I would post up some info on this topic since there have been several threads about it, and we have gotten alot of questions as well. In addition, we spent a few days with Dan and Mike from Labonte Motorsports Water Methanol Injection a few weeks ago so we have even more info than ever.
The information contained here is from a variety of sources including our personal experiences installing and running these kits on various applications for years, Labonte Motorsports, Snow Performance, and others.
Why Water Methanol Injection?
In gasoline engines, as with any intercooler, this suppresses detonation so more power producing boost and timing can be utilized. Water, with its high latent heat of vaporization cools the intake charge and combustion. Methanol cools the charge and combustion but also acts like an extremely high octane fuel (some researchers claim as high as 120 octane) as well as adding more oxygen to combustion.
In diesels, the effect is three fold: 1. The intercooling effect provides for more available air and all the benefits of a higher positive pressure ratio (more power giving fuel can be utilized safely without high combustion temperatures). 2. The combustion of water provides for more power on the power stroke. 3. Methanol acts as an additional fuel for more power.
A brief History:
Water injection was evaluated scientifically in the 1930.s by H. Ricardo who demonstrated that one can basically double the power output of an engine using water/methanol. The first widespread use was during WWII on supercharged and turbocharged aircraft. In 1942, the German Luftwaffe increased the horsepower of the Focke-Wulf 190D-9 fighter aircraft from 1776HP to 2240HP using 50/50% water/methanol injection. The allies soon followed by fitting the P51 Mustang and other high performance aircraft with water/methanol injection. Following the war, the turboprop aircraft industry used water/methanol injection and called it the "automatic power reserve system (APR)" for use in hot or high altitude take off. It surfaced again in the 60's when GM used a system on the OEM turbo Corvair. It was used effectively in Formula 1 before being banned for adding too much power.
In recent years, water methanol injection has become ever more popular and recognized as an invaluable tool for both gasoline and diesel forced induction engines as well as naturally aspirated applications. While often times referred to as a “chemical intercooler” it is more commonly used in forced induction applications due to it’s substantial cooling effects and added octane increase it adds to pump gas. Reducing air intake charge temperatures by 50-200+ degrees F almost instantly. Providing a substantially cooler denser air charge for a greater expansion of power within the combustion chamber. While also largely eliminating the problem of engine “knocking” and allowing user to run higher levels of boost, compression and increased timing.
As mentioned already. Water methanol injection has also become a tried-and-true proven way for users to effectively increase their 87-93 octane pump gas. Depending on the amount injected, gains up to 10-20+ points in octane can be achieved. Thus, making 91 octane pump gas act like 105-116 octane racing fuel in their engines. Thereby eliminating our dependency for notoriously expensive racing fuels, which can cost upwards of $8.00-$12.00 per gallon, as so many of us have reluctantly had to use in the past. Costing only pennies to operate when using 100% water, its also a far more effective, affordable and convenient of a solution to those expensive octane booster fuel additives as well.
What types of fluids can I use?
Water and various grains of alcohol, methanol, ethanol and isopropanol, are the primary fluids which are commonly used in a water alcohol injection systems. Depending on the application, we have found mixtures of 40/60 water and methanol to perform the best without the risk of being a flammable fluid. This surprises many the first time they hear it. When injected properly into the air charge of an engine, water and water alone, is a remarkable detonation suppressant. The most notable advantages of using water injection is it's inability to detonate as well as it's substantial cooling effect it has on air charge temperatures, combustion temperatures and exhaust gas temperatures. Best of all...it's basically free. Water has a high latent heat of vaporization. Approximately, 8 times that of gasoline and can reduce intake charge temperatures by 50-150+ degrees F on supercharged and turbocharged engines almost instantly when sprayed properly. It’s also an extremely effective octane booster. Since water does not burn “per‘ say, when atomized properly with pump gas, it will effectively increase the fuels octane. Doing so, by improving the fuels ability to resist self-ignition under higher cylinder pressures and hotter cylinder temperatures thus suppressing detonation.
The easiest fluid to use is a non detergent blue windshield washer fluid…this will contain water and methanol!
Through testing and research, comparing high-octane fuels vs. 87-93 octane pump gas combined with 100% water injection (no alcohol mix added). Depending on the build of the motor and volume injected, it is estimated octane increases of 10-20+ points can be achieved by using 100% water injection with 87-93 octane gas. This is after evaluating maximum allowable total timing advance and maximum attainable boost levels with out detonation or pre-ignition.
Benefits of Water Alcohol/Methanol Injection on NA application:
Lower air charge temperatures by 30-40 degree's
Reduces cylinder temperatures by 200+ degrees
Increase your 87-93 pump gas by 10-15+ points
Allows the use of lower grades fuels
Allows you to safely run more timing
Cools and protects the tops of your pistons
Longer more stable combustion expansion and progression
Removes carbon build up from combustion chambers, pistons and valves
Reduces & helps eliminate damaging engine detonation & pre-ignition
No need for expensive racing fuel or additives
Benefits of Water Methanol Injection on Forced Induction Application:
Lower air temperatures by 50-250+ degrees
Reduces cylinder temperatures by 200+ degrees
Reduce EGT's by up to 250+ degree's
Allows you to safely run more boost and timing
Removes carbon build up from combustion chambers, pistons and valves.
For our Hemi cars I see the benefits being HUGE. For the N/A cars heat soak and high intake air temps rob our cars of power. Running Water/Meth will cool these temps immensely which should help with that issue. Think about it this way…how does your car run when air temps are 50 degrees and IAT's are low vs when it is 90 degrees and IAT's are high.
Another benefit is the ability to tune and add more timing as you would if running race gas but without the expense of race gas. There are also huge benefits for cars running boost from Superchargers or Turbos. Now that we have a lot of options coming this will be a must have. These kits will reduce the intake temps and allow more boost and timing to be run safely..
Lisa saw a pickup of 70+ HP when using the Water Meth Injection on her S/C Mustang. In addition the effect was that she could run the same boost/timing with pump gas as she could with Race Gas and get the same results.
I hope this helps give you all some more information on the benefits of these products. If you have any additional questions post up or give us a call, and we will be more than happy to help. Lisa has been using these kits for many years on the Ford side with great success, I think we will also see great results from the Mopars!
Here is a link to all of our water/meth kits available at Speedlogix, your source for water methanol injection!
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