Methanol racing fuels

Initially, at least, methanol vehicles should be capable of operating on either M85, gasoline, or any mixture of the two. These vehicles are caHed flexible fueled (EEV) or variable fueled vehicles (VEV). It is expected that methanol could be sold in existing service stations out of tanks constmcted of methanol-tolerant material such as carbon steel or certain fiber glass formulations. EventuaHy, if enough EEV/VEVs are sold and methanol becomes widely avaHable, dedicated vehicles would likely be buHt and sold. Methanol has been used for years as a racing fuel. 

Methanol, along with nitromethane and isooctane, has been used as a racing fuel for many years. When used in high compression ratio engines, methanol has good... 

Alcohols are some of the most common organic compounds. Methyl alcohol (methanol), also known as wood alcohol, is used as an industrial solvent and as an automotive racing fuel. Ethyl alcohol (ethanol) is sometimes called grain alcohol because it is produced by the fermentation of grain or almost any other organic material. Isopropyl alcohol is the common name for propan-2-ol, used as rubbing alcohol. ... 

Methanol can itself be used as a motor fuel. It has been used as a racing fuel for some time. Its use as a fuel does present some special problems. Methanol is toxic, hygroscopic, and (for a given volume of fuel) contains about half the energy content of gasoline. There are, therefore, good reasons to convert methanol to gasoline. 

Methanol CH3OH. A volatile colorless alcohol, derived originally as wood alcohol, used as a racing fuel and as a solvent. Also called methyl alcohol. 

Partly for these reasons, methanol has been the required fuel of the IndianapoHs 500 since 1965. Methanol is also used in many other professional and amateur races. However, transparency of the methanol flames has also been a disadvantage in some race track fires. The invisibiUty of the flame has confused pit crews, delayed fire detection, and caused even trained firefighters problems in locating and extinguishing fires. 

T. PoweU, "Racing Experiences with Methanol and Ethanol Based Motor-Fuel Blends," paper 750124, Automotive Engineering Congress and Exposition, Society of Automotive Engineers, Detroit, Mich., Feb. 1975. 

C04-0001. Some racing cars use methanol, CH3 OH, as their fuel. Balance the combustion reaction of methanol. 

In the 1990s the U.S. methanol industry was producing almost 4 million gallons of methanol per day. Only a third of this was used as fuel for transportation and much of it was converted to MTBE. Methanol is also popular in high-performance racing because of its octane-enhancing qualities. 

Like methanol, ethanol is a good motor fuel, with similar advantages and disadvantages. The race cars at the Indianapolis 500 have used ethanol as their primary fuel since 2006. A car s carburetor must be adjusted (for a richer mixture) and fitted with alcohol-resistant seals if it is to run on pure ethanol. Solutions of about 10% ethanol in gasoline ( gasohol ) work well without any adjustments, however. 

Methanol (CH3 OH) is used as a fuel in high-performance engines such as those in the race cars in the Indianapolis 500. The unbalanced combustion reaction is... 

Methanol is a high-octane fuel used in high-performance racing engines. Calculate AG° for the reaction... 

For the foreseeable future, methyl tertiary butyl ether is expected to provide for the greatest demand for methanol (unless the MTBE is banned from gasoline). Utilization of methanol directly as automotive fuel has not found strong support except in specialized uses such as racing vehicles. However, research is progressing to develop other uses for methanol. Potentially large new markets for methanol may be the following ... 

Almost half of this methanol is converted to formaldehyde as a starting material for various resins and plastics. Methanol is also used as a solvent, as an antifreeze, and as a convenient clean-burning liquid fuel. This last property makes it a candidate as a fuel for automobiles— methanol is already used to power Indianapolis-class race cars— but extensive emissions tests remain to be done before it can be approved as a gasoline substitute. Methanol is a colorless liquid, boiling at 65°C, and is miscible with water in all proportions. It is poisonous drinking as little as 30 mL has been fatal. Ingestion of sublethal amounts can lead to blindness. 

Methanol (naethyl alcohol), CH3OH, is a colorless and odorless liquid that is used as a solvent and as the starting material for the synthesis of methanal (formaldehyde). Methanol is often called wood alcohol because it can be made by heating wood in the absence of air. Methanol is toxic and can cause blindness and perhaps death if ingested. Methanol may also be used as fuel, especially for "formula" racing cars. 

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