Alternative Fuel Tuning

[WDRacing]

As most know, I'm a big fan of alternative fueling. I've had great success with denatured alcohol in the past. Although most of my tuning was done with a knock meter to detect detonation. I simply increased the alcohol spray slightly then increased the boost, repeat process until you get detonation or run into your motors internal limits.

What I'd like to discuss is the actual A/F mixture tuning. Say for example I can run 10 psi at an A/F of 12.5/1 with 91octane. This has been a well established A/F ratio to make real good power while maintaining some safety. But when you add an alternative fuel to the mix, you can safely run alot higher A/F ratio without the problem of detonation.

My plan is to use 4 main injectors that feed off of pumpgas. This will be tuned to control boost up to 15 psi. I'll be using an additional 4 injectors, 1 per intake runner, to inject a mix of toulene/gas at a 80/20 ratio. Since Toulene is considerably higher octane, I will be able to increase boost quite a bit. My final goal is 35 psi. To tune the additional injectors, I would simply do like I did with the alcohol. Add fuel then increase the boost accordingly.

What I would like is some alternative suggestions to this method. Or any changes to my methods.

WD

[Checkered-Member]

check out this link...It mainly talks about water injection and a bit about alcohol that the combination of these two things can allow for higher boost

http://www.7thgencivic.com/for...07593

[toki]

just remember that exceding 30% net toluene will be a big no no, doesn't matter how well you tune it, it will burn the internals. Even 50/50 on a stock N/A engine will damage the pistons, running 35psi at 30% seems like it would be about tops.

edit: i take that back - with something to reduce combustion temperature (cough*tuning*cough) it could probably be run at a higher mixture safely. so yeah. im sure tuning could solve that .

[MikeMurphy]

35psi? Wow.

Well I dont particularly like the idea as its considerably more complicated than a straight fuel system. So many things to consider, and if even one fails at 35psi it would be game over.

I think combustion chamber cooling would be the problem, not the fuel. Though consider that im not familiar with alternative fuel burning temps, but its just a guess.

What exactly did they use in F1 during the 80s? It wasnt straight toulene was it?

[WDRacing]

Toulene burns colder then gasoline buy a ton, thats why its been used as race gas in F! for years, the only reason they don't run 100% is because the rules say they can't. So I believe they run 90/10 Toulene/water mix. The motor will also eat N2O for cooling as well. This engine isn't going in my daily driver, so I'm not worried. I decided I need high boost and N2O to have the quickest 240 title. The higher revving KA was to costly, Titanium parts are a bit to much and to brake somthing would really piss me off. SO good old forged is what I'm left with. Mike, if I never told you this before, I love your car, not so much the wing, but the rest looks real clean.

WD

[fiznat]

thatd be a pretty damn big turbo to be efficent at 35 psi... nevermind your intercooling and fuel requirements. There is a lot you need to take care of as far as heat before you even consider other things. That said though, It's just straightforward AFR tuning, isnt it? As long as you're not knocking and the alternative fuel isnt harming your internals I dont see how this is any different from any other turbo project...

[absolute]

there's a kid in my area who runs a cavilier at 25 psi and is putting out 410 fwhp and 407tq with a t304e i beleive and an intercooler he uses his laptop to monitor and probably tune but his motors built, good for 40 psi he said

[WDRacing]

We're not talking about tuning a motor, we're talking about tuning a motor that runs off of fuel other then pump gas.

[Projex240]

If thats the case--then why not just swithc over to race gas? 116 is good for 35 pounds. Using an alternate fuel other than race fuel should be for supplemental use only. It would have lots of cool factor, but no practical use. You would have to fabricate, install tune adjust tune adjust, make sure the mixture is ok, tune and adjust more. All instead of just going with an alky setup or using pump gas. Alky and water/methanol are supplemental. And even then--i wouldnt use em unless i was on race fuel at 35 lbs. Dont get me wrong..it would be really sweet to have a setup like that on your car--and it would make a good amount of power--but for a ka, the power curve wouldnt allow for all the top end needed to take advantage of a turbo big enough to support 35lbs. Also---toluene burns clear--so its dangerous to use. If it leaks--it can ignite and you cant see anything. Not to crazy about toluene--that why f1 cars stopped ising it unless mixed.