is running meth good for the engine. I'm not talking about cooling or adding octane, but the actual core of the engine. I've gone through the threads and a couple people have asked about it but there really hasnt been an answer except for a single person saying it will clean the engine. Is this true? I've heard the opposite, that it actually eats the engine/pistons and the engine should be cleaned with gasoline after each use. Anyone got any info about this?

thanks!
makani

 

Well, I'll give you my take on this subject. Methanol is very nasty stuff (corrosive). It works really well to add octane/cool, but some prefer to use denatured alcohol. It will also have the stated "cleaning effect" that Methanol has.

My buddy has run denatured alcohol on his Lightning for well over a year and a half with great success. He just orders it from the local hardware store in five gallon quantities. It costs about $7 to $8 a gallon. His alky tank will last about three to four gas fillups before it needs to be re-filled. The added cost to each fillup (of gas) is about $3 to run the deanatured alcohol (not bad in my book). The denatured alcohol is much less corrosive and still has a high octane rating and really good cooling effect.

Methanol on the other hand is generally around $3 to $4 dollars a gallon at local places. You also are told to use a lubricant additive when using Methanol. You don't need to run this with the denatured alcohol.

So, if you want to go the cheaper route and use Methanol, go for it. As for the long term effects of it's use, I really don't know, but it can't be good. But, if you want to play it safe, just use denatured alcohol.

I plan on running a Snow Performance kit with denatured alcohol when I get my Kenne Bell blower.

Steve

 

The only time the "corrosive" properties of meth are a concern is if you have the type of non sealed pump that some older SMC kits used. Gasoline is corrosive. Meth is very similiar to denatured alchohol in structure so no difference there. The fact of the matter is that meth makes/ allows you to make more power and the meager cost difference is inconsiquencial (sp?).
Is it good? Well it does help remove and prevent carbon buildup and staves off detonation to a higher degree as well as lowering temps... all good things.

 

When is it "worth" running? Would I see a significant gain? I have a procharged 6.0 ( forged bottom end/ stage 3 6.0 heads,2.08's 1.60's, p1sc) making 13lbs of boost. 2 core intercooler, 43lb'ers, HPT. Is it something that needs to be there ( as in being injected) all the time or is it similar to n2o ( as in use it when you "need" it)?

 

meth rocks, if you have reached the limits of pump gas and want more then i think it is the way to go. it is only sprayed in small quanities at wot so the effect on the motor should be minimal but like any motor you are pushing hard the oil should be changed often. i have been changing my oil about every 1500 miles but i push it prety hard.

on my set up i was able to gain 5psi and 90rwhp spraying some meth. that was the limit of the turbo so there is more power than that.

 

Badzracing,

It's worth running it now if you want. Like the others have stated, it'll allow you to bump your timing up (and add some more boost), therefore giving you more hp/tq.

For instance, it will be the difference of running about 14 lbs of boost and 12 to 13 degrees of timing with my Kenne Bell blower (crappy CA 91 octane) and running 15 to 17 lbs of boost and up to 17 or 18 degrees of timing (I'm on the stock block, so I won't go crazy).

Now, that's approximately a difference of seeing 440 to 450 rwhp (on the lower boost/timing) and seeing 450 to 480+ using the alky injection (higher boost and timing). With a built motor, I could bump the boost up more and see more gain.

This may answer some of your questions too about alky injection.

Steve

 

Yep, and that's probably why you had to add the lubricant additive to the tank. I've read of lots of folks not doing this and seizing up the pumps.

Steve

 

Steve, what lubricant additive did your buddy use and where did he pick it up from? TeeGarden in rancho?

 

Click on the link two threads above titled "alky injection." The name of it is at the very bottom of the page.

My local friend doesn't use the additive with his Snow Performance setup running denatured alcohol. The other guy I know uses it with his older SMC setup and he runs methanol.

As far as where to get it, I would think any performance shop would have it. Try Motorsport Dynamics off of Arden in Sac. (import place, but they should have it or know where to get it) or even Tognotti's on Fulton Ave. in Sac.

Steve

 

One of the reasons I went with Snow is b/c he uses the sealed pumps. I will also say this. I had a couple problems and was very irritated and they bent over backwards for me. The sent me new parts simply based on my word that they were broken and sent out new parts express to me for free. Good guys