Methanol Corrosion Myth

dvldoc · 03-11-2008

I don't know how many time more I can read, (the methanol can corrode your pistons and internals)

Lets put out some strait facts, These are internal combustion engines not parts sitting in a vat of water and methanol. If you soaked a Head in methanol of course it's going to corrode the same thing for a engine block. intake manifold ect.

Here’s the facts (elevation dependent)
Methanol boils at around 150F
Ethanol boils at around 172F
Water at around 212F

All of these fluids are in vapor or steam form long before they reach the combustion chambers and hit the boiling points shortly after entering the intake. This is why your intake is ice cold after the water/methanol has gone through it because the change over has removed the heat in the process.

This is a pretty simple fact and concept I'm just wonder why people think it's going to eat pistons, Heads, blocks, intakes. Leaving it in aluminum tanks is not a good ideal as it can cause corrosion as well as metal fuel lines and tubing. Basically immersion is how corrosion happens not bening exposed to methanol vapor and steam.

Here's another simple fact E85 enough said. Its 85% Ethanol
Biodiesel contains methanol
Champcars, USAC sprint cars (as well as midgets, modified, etc.), and other dirt track series such as World of Outlaws.
Methanol is also used in radio controlled model airplanes (required in the "glow-plug" engines that primarily power them), cars and trucks. Drag racers and mud racers also use methanol as their primary fuel source. Methanol is required with a supercharged engine in a Top Alcohol Dragster.
Until 2005 All Indy 500 car were required to run it.

Many motors have come and gone on alcohol injection and have been pulled apart I can't think of one case of internal corrosion of any kind being reported. In fact it's the flip side everyone I have seen looks pretty much spotless in the intake, Heads, and combustion chambers almost no carbon buildup. And ZERO corrosion. I have seen corrosion in cheap intercooler pipes, Intakes and throttle body blade bolts and the bar that hold the blade but that’s about it.

Please feel free to put up some more observations.

BoostedSS · 03-12-2008

Good info. Should be a sticky.

BoostedSS · 03-20-2008

I see you honored my request.

03-11-2008	#1 (permalink)
dvldoc DevilsOwn Staff Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,884	Methanol Corrosion Myth I don't know how many time more I can read, (the methanol can corrode your pistons and internals) Lets put out some strait facts, These are internal combustion engines not parts sitting in a vat of water and methanol. If you soaked a Head in methanol of course it's going to corrode the same thing for a engine block. intake manifold ect. Here’s the facts (elevation dependent) Methanol boils at around 150F Ethanol boils at around 172F Water at around 212F All of these fluids are in vapor or steam form long before they reach the combustion chambers and hit the boiling points shortly after entering the intake. This is why your intake is ice cold after the water/methanol has gone through it because the change over has removed the heat in the process. This is a pretty simple fact and concept I'm just wonder why people think it's going to eat pistons, Heads, blocks, intakes. Leaving it in aluminum tanks is not a good ideal as it can cause corrosion as well as metal fuel lines and tubing. Basically immersion is how corrosion happens not bening exposed to methanol vapor and steam. Here's another simple fact E85 enough said. Its 85% Ethanol Biodiesel contains methanol Champcars, USAC sprint cars (as well as midgets, modified, etc.), and other dirt track series such as World of Outlaws. Methanol is also used in radio controlled model airplanes (required in the "glow-plug" engines that primarily power them), cars and trucks. Drag racers and mud racers also use methanol as their primary fuel source. Methanol is required with a supercharged engine in a Top Alcohol Dragster. Until 2005 All Indy 500 car were required to run it. Many motors have come and gone on alcohol injection and have been pulled apart I can't think of one case of internal corrosion of any kind being reported. In fact it's the flip side everyone I have seen looks pretty much spotless in the intake, Heads, and combustion chambers almost no carbon buildup. And ZERO corrosion. I have seen corrosion in cheap intercooler pipes, Intakes and throttle body blade bolts and the bar that hold the blade but that’s about it. Please feel free to put up some more observations. __________________ Deploying to Iraq Aug 2008

03-12-2008	#2 (permalink)
BoostedSS Water Injection Year: 2006 Make: Chevy Model: Cobalt SS/SC Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 19	Re: Methanol Corrosion Myth Good info. Should be a sticky.

03-20-2008	#3 (permalink)
BoostedSS Water Injection Year: 2006 Make: Chevy Model: Cobalt SS/SC Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 19	Re: Methanol Corrosion Myth I see you honored my request.