Thread: some Ethanol info

We had a Datsun 240K with the 6 cylinder 2 litre race engine in it. It had water injection. Only ever used the water injection when we were mixing fuels. We would put even amounts of leaded and high octane in and then work it hard. It ran cooler with the water and as said didn't ping so you could push it that little bit harder.

Don't know much about ethanol, but I know a bit about methanol and the side effects sound similar.
Methanol is common in motorsport, Indy cars, speedway bikes, classic bikes all use it. Unlike your road car or bike they are drained after a meeting as it will eat into non anodized aluminium, it will also absorb water and become jelly like if left open to the atmosphere necessitating stripping of carbs, fuel pumps etc. I see it being impractical for road use except in weak blends.

As for water injection it was more a mist than a running tap as engines generally run better when the air is more dense, like early morning, compared to when the air is dry. Like drag racers who often go faster at night even though the cold track affords less traction.

Jeff