piston for methanol
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From: Nowhere'sville, No where
With methanol, i'm sure that there are some little things that may would need to be different with the design of the piston, but in my opinion, things really shouldn't change too much. Just know that there will be a lot more fuel injected in regards to volume of fuel when running methanol versus gasoline, which has given rise to a supposed "wash out" effect in the cylinder and the rings more specifically. Just as you do with a gasoline fueled engine, after a day of racing, pull the plugs out and squirt Marvel Mystery oil a couple of times into the cylinders and put the plugs back in. Spin the motor over (WITHOUT STARTING IT) for a couple of seconds, and it's ready to set up until the next race. Methanol vs aluminum = a bloody boxing ring.
On another more dynamic note though, the overall dome design and its effects on the swirl pattern, or more genarally, the flow pattern, of the "atomized" air flow characteristics may become a little more sophisticated. Just as you would want to do with a gasoline engine, you'd want to do the same for sure with an alcohol engine. There's more fuel per volume of air in the alcohol engine, which gives rise to a problem of keeping the fuel "piggybacking" the airstream when it comes into contact with the piston whether it be in the form of a nice swirl pattern or not. There are a lot of things to do to promote a more EFFECTIVE flowing piston in regards to fuel atomization (but may not be necessary) such as let's say.....hmmmmmm....dimples, radiuses where they need to be, a coarser surface finish, etc. Some pistons, depending upon the required shape or design that it already has, may be just fine the way it is. For example, a piston with an unusually short dome profile that may not distort the incoming air and fuel mixture too badly. So in this scenario, you could probably add some radiuses and the like to the valve pocket eyebrows if it is at all possible. What's cool about all of this though is that most of it doesn't require large machinery. You can it with simple tools.
Just as with gasoline, keep the fuel in the air, and make more power, and make "tooning" that much easier.
Just my two cents.
On another more dynamic note though, the overall dome design and its effects on the swirl pattern, or more genarally, the flow pattern, of the "atomized" air flow characteristics may become a little more sophisticated. Just as you would want to do with a gasoline engine, you'd want to do the same for sure with an alcohol engine. There's more fuel per volume of air in the alcohol engine, which gives rise to a problem of keeping the fuel "piggybacking" the airstream when it comes into contact with the piston whether it be in the form of a nice swirl pattern or not. There are a lot of things to do to promote a more EFFECTIVE flowing piston in regards to fuel atomization (but may not be necessary) such as let's say.....hmmmmmm....dimples, radiuses where they need to be, a coarser surface finish, etc. Some pistons, depending upon the required shape or design that it already has, may be just fine the way it is. For example, a piston with an unusually short dome profile that may not distort the incoming air and fuel mixture too badly. So in this scenario, you could probably add some radiuses and the like to the valve pocket eyebrows if it is at all possible. What's cool about all of this though is that most of it doesn't require large machinery. You can it with simple tools.
Just as with gasoline, keep the fuel in the air, and make more power, and make "tooning" that much easier.
Just my two cents.
Last edited by integrawow; Nov 27, 2008 at 01:17 PM.
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DC4_MADMAN
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Aug 23, 2006 08:52 AM
