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Old 11-14-2006, 03:32 PM   #1
xcntrk75
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Default Methanol or Ethanol for power/performance???

I've been using the SMC system for over a year now having great luck using 50/50 blend of denatured alcohol (ethanol) and water. I just got my kit overhauled as I transition from the washer tank under the hood, to the 12L sti tank in the trunk, and am wondering if I should switch over to methanol instead? Both are pretty easy to obtain in my area and I'm also considering stepping up to a 75% alk 25% water blend.

Any thoughts on which alcohol is better, Methanol or Ethanol (denatured alcohol), combined with water for power/performance?

All comments appreciated***8230;
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Old 11-14-2006, 04:04 PM   #2
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isn't methanol cheaper
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Old 11-14-2006, 05:30 PM   #3
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I did research on Methanol and Ethanol awhile back. Denatured Ethanol has a higher octane than Methanol. But in a trade off it has less evaporative power than Meth. But if you are mixing water with it, that would kind of offset the heat absorbsion difference. But the much higher octane of Ethanol is enough to convince me.

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...40&postcount=5

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...67&postcount=7
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Old 11-14-2006, 07:05 PM   #4
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im interested in running meth but have no idea where to start or if i even can....i have an EJ20 in a 05 WRX with the following mods....VF22 turbo, STI intercooler, PE 650cc injectors, walbro 255 pump, accessPORTwith street tuner software upgrade, TXS turbo back exhaust (HUGE down pipe), TXS up pipe, K&N typhoon intake, avid motor mounts, Greddy RS BOV, Greddy Profec B spec II boost controller, HKS turbo timer, and misc guages n stuff. thats about all i can think of for mods right now. ok so thats what i have, now i want to know everything anybody can tell me about meth...EVERYTHING!!!!! positives, negative, how does it work and will it work with my set up?.
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Old 11-14-2006, 07:11 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Subarubaque View Post
now i want to know everything anybody can tell me about meth...EVERYTHING!!!!! positives, negative, how does it work and will it work with my set up?.
Read the FAQ at the top of the page. There's good information there. Also check out enginerunup.com. Then read the forums and FAQs at alcohol-injection.com, coolingmist.com and aquamist.co.uk.
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Old 11-14-2006, 07:14 PM   #6
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actually after reading this thread now I'm interested in running ethanol! I didn't know it was denatured alcohol. that's got to be easy to get. isn't that what you can buy at walgreens?? and I would imagine its pretty cheap depending on the consumption and the mix ratio...any help of sites where to buy kits or info explaining how it woks would be super!
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Old 11-14-2006, 08:25 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Master2192 View Post
I did research on Methanol and Ethanol awhile back....
Great info thanks! I tried to some searching but couldn’t find anything comparative. This looks pretty good...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Subarubaque View Post
actually after reading this thread now I'm interested in running ethanol!
Yeah I’ve been using the 1Gal cans from your local home-improvement store in the paint isle. Says right on it “Denatured Alcohol” then as you read the details it states 99% ethanol (with a splash of meth of course). I had great luck on it, but seems everybody is running methanol, so I figured there’s got to be some better reason?
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Old 11-14-2006, 08:35 PM   #8
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Read the FAQ at the top of the page. There's good information there. Also check out enginerunup.com. Then read the forums and FAQs at alcohol-injection.com, coolingmist.com and aquamist.co.uk.
I'm going to check these sites out! thank you very much.
also the alcohol I'm thinking of we use in the machine shop to clean with and sometimes we get 55 gallon drums of it so if that's the same stuff the I should go that route cause it will be free!! it says denatured alcohol on the label. I'm going to look this week and see if it says ethanol on it somewhere!
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Old 11-14-2006, 08:45 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xcntrk75 View Post
Great info thanks! I tried to some searching but couldn’t find anything comparative. This looks pretty good...


Yeah I’ve been using the 1Gal cans from your local home-improvement store in the paint isle. Says right on it “Denatured Alcohol” then as you read the details it states 99% ethanol (with a splash of meth of course). I had great luck on it, but seems everybody is running methanol, so I figured there’s got to be some better reason?
yeah that's the stuff!! I don't know ANYTHING about how it works though! where did you get your kit and what exactley does it do? like...this may sound stupid but I'm asking anyway...where does it go and how does it get there lol! I just want to understand how this works and how complicated of a thing would it be to do to my car and how much do you gain from it?
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Old 11-14-2006, 10:45 PM   #10
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Ok that is great news about the Ethenol. I have a can of Denatured Alcohol in my hand and in the back it says:

"the finest ethyl alcohol combined with small amounts of methanol and other chemicals to denature it......"

Is this the right stuff? Ethyl and Ethonal the same exact stuff?

Its from ACE, and the front reads Pure Denatured Alcohol
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Old 11-14-2006, 11:11 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by xcntrk75 View Post
I had great luck on it, but seems everybody is running methanol, so I figured there’s got to be some better reason?
It's cheaper. I think it has a certain cache, too. Reading the arguments about ethanol vs. methanol is like listening to people argue about Star Trek: The Next Generation vs. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Can get pretty nerdy.

BTW, Klean Strip SLX Denatured Alcohol at Home Depot stores is about 50% ethanol and 50% methanol. I'm getting a 5 gallon jerry can and I'm going to mix two gallons of the SLX stuff with three gallons of distilled water, then keep it in the trunk so I'll always have a supply handy. I'm estimating I'll use about 2 - 2.5 quarts of the mix per tank of gas, so that works out to about $2.60 worth of mix per tank and the jerry can should last about two months. Not bad. I'd use methanol but the closest place is 20 miles away and I prefer the convenience of Home Depot or the mom and pop hardware store down the street.
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Old 11-15-2006, 01:32 AM   #12
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i found a flaw in ethanol...its corrodes the injectors and the pump! if you go to enginerunup.com it will say the same thing and explain it in detail. anybody want to trade an almost brand new TD04 for a water injection kit? i may even thrown in the stock TMIC!
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Old 11-15-2006, 01:34 AM   #13
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ethyl is ethyl methyl ketone. its probably slightly different
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Old 11-15-2006, 02:07 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Subarubaque View Post
i found a flaw in ethanol...its corrodes the injectors and the pump! if you go to enginerunup.com it will say the same thing and explain it in detail. anybody want to trade an almost brand new TD04 for a water injection kit? i may even thrown in the stock TMIC!
Methanol is corrosive, too, you know.
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Old 11-15-2006, 08:23 AM   #15
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Meth-Ethyl-Isobutyl KETONE is different stuff and as far as I know, should not be used. There's a thread floating around about it***8230;

Subarubaque: This thread is about Ethanol vs. Methanol for injection system use, combined with water. Please reference the FAQ and SEARCH button for all other unrelated questions. (IOW: quit clogging up my thread with your noob questions please).

As mentioned in the original post, I'm using the SMC kit with the latest pump design. According to Steve it can support all the popular alcohol types; Ethanol - Methanol - Isopropyl.
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Old 11-15-2006, 08:55 AM   #16
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I talked w/Steve@SMC back in March & he recomended meth with his system. I have been using SMC with 50/50 h2o & VP meth ever since with perfect results. I assume alky would be just as good(or better)but I am going with the manufacturers advice.
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