Anybody know anything about what it takes to convert an engine to run on methanol safely ? I know lots of race cars run pure methanol, alcohol dragsters and monster trucks and stuff. I know ford built a mustang that would run on methanol or gas.

 

Pure methanol is not a good year-round street fuel because it doesn't vaporize at low temperatures. It is also corrosive, highly toxic and burns with no visible flame. To correct part of the problem, the few methanol vehicles that exist usually run M85 with 15% gasoline added to improve cold starting and give it a visible flame while burning.

You cannot use methanol in a standard gasoline vehicle or even in a Ford FFV designed for E85 Ethanol blend. The FFV has upgraded fuel system components to resist the efects of ethyl alcohol but they still won't stand up to the more corrosive methyl alcohol. I don't know of any "kits" to upgrade to methanol. It would be an expensive proposition in any case because so many high-dollar fuel system items would need to be replaced. Plus, M85 requires special, more expensive methanol-compatible lubricants.

Methanol and ethanol both deliver significantly lower fuel economy numbers that pure gasoline because they contain less energy per gallon. Unless you can get an alcohol blend for a far lower price than gasoline, your per mile costs will not change much anyway.

 

I can get methanol very cheap. About half the price of reg gas or less. Its avalible at any local dragstrip. I was thinking this was not very practical but thought I would ask. I would like to know what it would take.

So what are we talking about fuel pumps, tanks, lines, injectors, all need upgrading ? How about valve seals and gaskets and all that stuff, I guess that needs upgrading also ?

 

well if you have a e85 tank you could buy a big drum and mix gas and methonal at the 15% to 85% ratio, might be a pain to do but it would surley be chea[

 

This is just something I am thinking about out of curiousity if nothing else.

 

E85 contains no methanol. Ethanol and methanol are two different alcohols with different properties that require different material upgrades. You cannot successfully use M85 in a vehicle designed for E85 or gasoline. You cannot successfully use E85 in a vehicle designed for gasoline.

 

lol i knew it was an "anol' i got them confused

 

why not go with propane even cheaper. burns cleaner and hotter which makes more horse power.(higher octane rating)

 

I think that only works in diesels

 

Nope you can convert a gas motor to run on propane. Gets you a tax reduction too.

 

i am a industrial truck mech. most of the trucks i work on are propane powered, they are converted 4.3 chevy marine motors. i think it would be a very easy conversion, the only problem i can see is the gov. is now making industrial truck co. meet strict emissions just like in cars. so if your in a state the has emission test that my be a problem.

 

I didn't know that propane is cheap. Man what is involed in that ?

 

the propain conversion is very veyr common with the K5 blazers and sorry i can't tel ya how to do it but i know there are kits for propain...i know it's pretty expensive at first but it pays for it self

 

its is pretty easy but i think one of the problems with the ranger v6 would be finding a carb. intake. other then that all you need is a tank ,fuel lock off and a vaporizer. you could use the carb off the 4.3 chey i think with a custom adapter. You could get all the parts from impco( spelling ?). Just some more info just heard on the news propane going up 50% this winter.