How To Do A Moonshine Turn In Your Car?

Can moonshine start an engine?

A car can run properly on moonshine instead of gasoline, without modification. – confirmed The Build Team decided to test the operability, performance, and longevity of cars running on moonshine. For operability testing, they obtained three cars of the same make and model, but from different decades: 1970s (carbureted), 1990s (fuel injected), 2010s (fuel injected, modern).

1. With 192 proof moonshine in the fuel tanks, each car was driven on a course designed to test acceleration and maneuvering.
2. In the 1970s car, Tory struggled with the engine stalling and was unable to complete a full lap.
3. Grant completed one lap in the 1990s car, but stopped on the second lap after his engine began to stutter and lose power.

Kari, driving the 2010s car, was able to finish three laps even though she noted slower-than-normal acceleration. The 2010s car was used for the remainder of the experiments. For the performance testing, the team tested three different strengths of moonshine: 151 proof, 170 proof, and 192 proof in a 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) acceleration test.

The car would not start on 151 proof, it averaged 19.4 seconds on 170 proof, and averaged 9.0 seconds on 192 proof (96% ethanol). Next, at Petaluma Speedway, Tory drove 3 laps running gasoline and 3 laps running 192 proof moonshine. The lap times in the moonshine-powered car were marginally better. Tory noted that even though the acceleration was slower on moonshine, the effect gave him better control on the dirt surface of the track.

For the longevity test, they went to Thunderhill Raceway Park. Grant, in a moonshine-fueled car, attempted to outrun Kari and Tori in an identical but gasoline-fueled car. Grant was able to stay ahead of them after 3 laps totaling almost 10 miles (16 km).

Is E85 a moonshine?

December 26th, 2012 7:32 AM AutoGuide ‘s regular “Under the Hood” segment has already explained the vagaries of octane and the advantages of Top Tier gasoline, but there’s so much more to fuel than that. Ethanol, for instance, is a major component of gas, and something that’s a potential peril for consumers.

But what is ethanol? And what is E85? Should you run these fuels in your vehicle? Simply put, E85 is gasoline that’s been blended with ethanol. It’s 15 percent gas and 85 percent alcohol. See where the name comes from? It’s an alternative fuel, and arguably the most successful one available in America today.

Competitors like compressed natural gas and bio-diesel have not come close to the impact ethanol has made. E85 sounds like a relatively new thing, as many drivers are unfamiliar with it, but the idea of using ethanol alcohol as a transportation fuel is far from new.

According to Robert White, Director of Market Development for the Renewable Fuels Association, “it wasn’t until 1998 that automakers started to make what we call flex-fuel vehicles,” but ethanol has been used for decades before that. Henry Ford even designed the Model T to run on alcohol. The Renewable Fuels Association is a national trade group for ethanol producers.

It’s a non-profit based in Washington D.C. that’s been around for more than 30 years. HOW IS IT MADE? Like top-shelf Scotch Whiskey or bargain-basement vodka, ethanol is basically a grain alcohol, and one you could drink. But don’t EVER think of bellying up to your local gas pump.

• Fuel-grade ethanol has literally been poisoned to prevent would-be partiers from getting a cheap buzz.
• Put your shot glasses down and step away from the filling nozzle.
• The alcohol in American E85 is generally made from corn.
• The starch within each kernel is converted to sugar; the sugar then gets mixed with yeast and water and is allowed to ferment.

After that it gets distilled, where the end product is 200-proof grain alcohol. Think of it as industrial moonshine. Later it gets mixed with a denaturant – the poison mentioned in the paragraph above – as well as gasoline to make the blended fuel sold at stations across the country.

BRAZIL LEADS THE WAY If there’s one nation that’s synonymous with ethanol it’s Brazil, and by a long shot. “They’re at it for 33 years now,” White said, noting ” got a very early head start on us under a military dictatorship.” The South American country has been promoting the use of ethanol for decades.

Gas stations typically offer several options ranging from “gasohol” blends with ethanol levels around the 20 percent mark, to E85, to pure alcohol. One contrast between the United States and Brazil is that American ethanol is overwhelmingly made from corn.

1. Thanks to a tropical climate, Brazil’s is sourced from sugarcane.
2. Despite these factors, the U.S.
3. Actually produces more ethanol than its southern-hemisphere rival.
4. According to White, it’s estimated American companies will produce more than 13 billion gallons of it this year.
5. ALCOHOL ADVANTAGES Ethanol is a renewable fuel, one derived from plants.

Unlike oil, coal or natural gas it can grow back every year, but that’s not the limit of its benefits. “It’s a domestic product – more jobs for Americans – it’s not coming from overseas on supply routes we’re protecting with our military,” White said.

Also, he said ethanol has the potential to drastically reduce emissions because on a molecular level it contains more oxygen than gasoline. This allows it to burn more thoroughly inside an engine. Additionally, “E85 has a very high octane level” White said. It’s typically rated anywhere from 96 to about 105 on America’s (R+M)/2 scale.

Straight alcohol performs even better, clocking in at 113. Premium-grade gasoline by comparison usually only has a rating of 93. This octane boost is something automakers have yet to take advantage of. SEE ALSO: Under the Hood: What is Octane? “I think a big help would be to have the vehicles more engineered for the fuel,” White said.

• They could be optimized to run on high-octane, high-ethanol fuel and make a lot more power in the process.
• Still, today, we have vehicles that are engineered for clear gasoline – E0 – yet over 95 percent of all fuel sold is E10.” If you haven’t guessed, E10 is gasoline blended with 10 percent ethanol.

Aside from a potent, renewable, domestic source of energy, ethanol has at least one more trump card in its hand: distiller’s grain, a valuable leftover from the production process. White said it looks like fine flour and that it’s just “fat, fibers and oils laying there without starch.” Remember, the grain’s starch was converted into sugar, which was fermented into alcohol.

1. He said “the vitamins, fats and oils can come back out for animal feed,” a saleable byproduct.
2. DISADVANTAG E85 S Of course there are downsides and tradeoffs to everything and ethanol is no exception.
3. One of the biggest hurdles it has to overcome is availability.
4. White said there are only about 3,000 gas stations in the U.S.

that sell E85, an impressive-sounding figure until you compare it to the total number of fueling locations in the country. Today that figure is right around 160,000. Ouch. Another downside is fuel economy. “It has lower thermal efficiency so your range is always going to be less than gasoline” said Jim Hall, Managing Director of 2953 Analytics, adding “there’s no way around that.” The U.S.

1. Department of Energy (DOE) estimates that when E85 is used in vehicles designed to handle it, drivers will experience a 25 to 30 percent drop in fuel economy because it is less energy dense than gasoline.
2. White disagrees.
3. Speaking from personal experience he said the loss is “usually between 15 and 20 percent” a significant reduction to be sure, but not as severe as Uncle Sam claims.

Ethanol also faces trouble at gas stations. “There’s nothing that pushes people to the E85 pump” White said because they’re inclined to use what they’ve been running for years – regular gasoline. Station owners find it hard to justify the expense of installing new pumps dedicated to E85.

1. Hall said “it’s always tough to replace the established technology.” There are other issues, too.
2. White said ” a huge disconnect when you got down to the dealerships,” adding that salespeople rarely push flex-fuel vehicles.
3. He said 50 percent of the cars and trucks produced by the Detroit Three can run on E85, but good luck finding a dealer that will point it out.

With all of this ethanol talk there’s one critically important thing to mention. If your vehicle is not specifically designed to handle E85 DO NOT USE IT. Ethanol can be corrosive to fuel lines. It can also deteriorate seals and O-rings leading to expensive repairs.

A gallon or two may not cause any harm but long-term use will certainly cause damage. Exercise caution at the gas station and always double check you’ve grabbed the correct dispenser. E85 nozzles are typically bright yellow. TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT: ETHANOL CONTROVERSY Some people are worried ethanol is cutting into the food supply, a legitimate concern.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 2010 13.2 billion gallons of corn-based alcohol were produced in the U.S., a figure that accounted for nearly 40 percent of the nation’s crop. Still, those billions of gallons of ethanol replaced some 445 million barrels of imported oil.

1. Corn is used in practically everything from soft drinks to animal feed.
2. Increasing global demand for this commodity grain – both as a fuel and a food – will naturally have an impact on its price and availability.
3. Downplaying these concerns, White said modern farmers are phenomenally productive and that there are actually fewer acres of corn planted today than in the 1930s.

They’re producing more grain using fewer resources. They’ve also implemented more responsible farming techniques. He said “the fertilizer used per acre has dropped 30 percent over the last decade.” DRUNK ON OIL Ethanol could be the eco-friendly fuel of the future.

As controversial as it is, even corn-based alcohol is offsetting significant amounts of oil and that is a step in the right direction. As it was in the early days of the automobile, ethanol is incredibly promising. Every red-blooded, gun-totin’, beef-eatin’ ‘Merican loves a good V8 engine, and this fuel could satisfy our lusty automotive desires in a responsible, sustainable manner.

What’s better than having your cake and eating it too? Owning the bakery and not getting fat from all the carbohydrates. When it comes to fuel that’s just what ethanol promises.

Can a gasoline engine run on alcohol?

Chapter 1 Alternative Fuel Source – Are you as tired of the “gasoline shortage” as I am? Long lines at the pump, shorter service station hours and higher prices are here to stay. Rationing has affected various areas of the nation. Unstable, international politics threaten our continued dependence on foreign crude oil.

Politicians and oil executives predict the situation to worsen. Faced with these grim facts, I began to search for an alternative energy source. I wasn’t looking for a solution to the entire country’s energy problems. I simple wanted to insure that my family and I would have the fuel to power our vehicles when and where necessary, without interference or restriction from Uncle Sam’s energy “experts” or the whims of a greedy oil sheik in the Middle East.

Alcohol fuel is the little man’s best hope for relief from gas “pains”. The all-but-untapped, domestic resource has many advantages. The following is a list of the ones I feel are most significant:

Almost any gasoline-powered engine can be made to run well on alcohol. Only minor and inexpensive modifications to the engine are required. Anyone with reasonable, mechanical skill and common handtools can make the modifications once they’ve learned the procedure. Alcohol can be produced from a variety of organic materials and is a natural substance. Distilling can be done a small scale by individuals or on a very large scale by local companies. And profit generated by production of domestic alcohol fuels will stay in America and will pay American farmers.

With these thoughts in mind, I decided to undertake a test project. The first goal was to successfully convert a vehicle fuel rather than “gasohol”. The vehicle was then to be driven daily to determine was practical for use under normal everyday conditions.

Can you mix gasoline and alcohol?

Mixing alcohol with gasoline produces gasohol. Advantages of fuel blends are that alcohol tends to increase the octane rating and reduce carbon monoxide (CO) and other tailpipe emissions from the engine.

Can I run ethanol in my car?

This seems like a rather strange question. Is ethanol-free gas bad for your car? Isn’t that the same gas we all used before they started putting ethanol in our gas en-masse in the 2000s? Well, technically, yes it is. I mean, it may not be exactly the same (because there are all sorts of modern detergents and additives that get developed over the years). But by and large, it’s the same stuff. So why ask what would seem to be such a simple question? We know not the contents of the human heart.I mean.people ask these kind of unexpected questions all the time. And we’ve been asked this before. People are used to thinking about the gas they buy as being ethanol gasoline.

1. So when they see ethanol-free gas, they think it’s abnormal now.
2. The short answer is, no, ethanol-free gasoline is not bad for your car.
3. Most cars today can run on ethanol gas blends up to E15 (15% ethanol) and on non-ethanol gasoline.
4. And flex fuel vehicles can handle up to E85 (85% ethanol) without a problem.

This isn’t to say that there isn’t a kind of gas that IS bad for your car. There is at least one kind that can cause problems.

Can making moonshine explode?

The Explosive Power Of Moonshine – Methanol and ethanol, the safe-to-consume alcohol, come out during the fermenting process of any alcoholic drink. Both are highly flammable with the potential to explode during distillation if they are not properly sealed and vented.

If there is a leak releasing ethanol gas in the still, the equipment used to process moonshine, a single spark could cause an explosion. Without proper ventilation, a tank boiling out the toxic alcohol can easily buckle. “In an aluminum shed among postcard orchards in Columbia County in New York, Derek Grout inspected a collecting tank of his state-of-the-art copper-pot still.

A blocked vent had caused the tank to buckle. “I’m just kind of glad we didn’t kill ourselves,” he said with a laugh.” – Toby Cecchini, Just Don’t Call it Moonshine

Can I drink ethanol?

Ethanol: Versatile, Common and Potentially Dangerous – VelocityEHS We have all heard of ethanol, somehow, somewhere. But what is it, exactly? How is it used? And most importantly – how can ethanol be dangerous in the workplace and beyond?

(Photo: by Seth Anderson) In this information post from the experts at VelocityEHS, we’ll take a look at what ethanol is, how this chemical is traditionally used, and the safety precautions needed to handle this substance safely. What Is Ethanol and how is It Dangerous?

Ethanol is a colorless, volatile and highly flammable liquid that has a slight odor. Ethanol has been around for centuries, having been discovered as a by-product of fermentation for alcohol. Ethanol is part of the hydroxyl group, which makes it a substructure of the water molecule.

Because of its incredible versatility, ethanol mixes very well with other solvents and water, as well as chlorides and hydrocarbons. Being this versatile, ethanol is used for a great many things – but it can also be quite dangerous. The most common blend of ethanol is E85, which is comprised of 85 percent denatured ethanol fuel and 15 percent gasoline or other hydrocarbons.

Where is Ethanol used in the Home or Workplace? Ethanol is most commonly used in alcoholic beverages; however, there are many more household and workplace items in which it is used:

Manufacture of varnishes Nail polish remover Perfumes Biofuel Gasoline additive Preservative for biochemical samples Medicines Household cleaning products Beauty products Various solvents

Hazards Associated with Using Ethanol Even though ethanol is very commonly used, it is a dangerous chemical. As previously mentioned, it is highly flammable; as such, it has exact which are important to know when using it. While ethanol is consumed when drinking alcoholic beverages, consuming ethanol alone can cause coma and death.

• Ethanol may also be a ; studies are still being done to determine this.
• However, ethanol is a toxic chemical and should be treated and handled as such, whether at work or in the home.
• Safety Practices when Handling Ethanol Ethanol safety guidelines are similar to those for handling gasoline.
• Protective gear is important when handling any toxic substance.

The following should be worn whenever using ethanol:

Respirator Boots Long rubber gloves Industrial aprons Overalls Chemical safety goggles Face shield

Managing Exposure to Ethanol Exposure to ethanol can be in vapor form (breathing it in), skin/body contact or ingestion. All are serious and need to be managed appropriately to ensure more damage is not incurred while trying to attend to the exposure: Inhalation – if you are exposed to ethanol vapors, move to a well-ventilated area to access fresh air.

Contact emergency medical personnel for further assistance. Skin contact – should ethanol come into contact with your skin, gently wash the area with warm water and soap. If the skin is still irritated, seek medical assistance for further treatment. Contact with eyes – if ethanol splashes into your eyes, find a flush station and flush eyes for at least 15 minutes.

Contact emergency medical personnel. Ingestion – lay down and contact emergency medical personnel immediately. Do not induce vomiting as it can create more damage. Do not drink anything else. Safe Ethanol Storage Ethanol is a corrosive substance. If you need to store it, make sure the piping and container are not susceptible to the corrosion ethanol can cause.

The most recommended containers are those made of stainless steel when storing ethanol. Tanks need to have secondary containment, be fire rated and impact resistant, the same as those for gasoline storage. Underground ethanol tanks cannot be placed anywhere near water, and the preference is to have any ethanol storage tank above ground.

Ethanol is very prevalent. If you find yourself coming into direct contact, either through employment or home use, take the proper steps to maintain your personal safety. Follow all procedural steps and take care to wear the proper gear – just because it’s common doesn’t mean it can’t be very dangerous.

Can E85 cars run methanol?

The race fuel I use in my RWD Eagle Talon We drag race here at FTY Racing. As is the case with other types of racing, drag racers are always looking for more power. Sometimes, that comes down to what fuel you’re running. This is a tech article about the best fuel I’m pretty sure you’ve never heard of.

1. A common route toward higher horsepower goals is to go from pump gas to race gas.
2. Then some racers make the switch to E85 or E98, while other guys jump further to Methanol.
3. I’ve followed a similar upgrade path on my own racecar.
4. I ran VP fuels for a long time, and as E85 came on the scene and more people started running it, I looked at that as a potential fuel upgrade.

Methanol was something I always thought about, for ultimate power (aside from nitromethane!) but could never bring myself to going 100% methanol because of the fueling requirements. Often times multiple pumps, huge injectors, and many more of them than I have cylinders.

This lead me down a very long path to what I ultimately run today. Project fuel started. I wondered about if and how it would be possible to mix race gas with methanol to make up a blend that would ease the fueling requirements that methanol had and still allow me to glean some of the benefits of that methanol in the mix.

Power, exceptional cooling properties, and a relatively inexpensive race fuel. This was a winter project. I spent months on it. Talking to car friends, digging through forums late at night, finding SAE papers on the subject of fuel mixtures. Hearsay. Rumors.

Urban legends. I’d like to tell you it was exciting, but it wasn’t for a while. And then, I found it. GEM. GEM isn’t a brand name, nor is it a company name. GEM is an acronym for a ternary blend (a blend of three components) of gasoline, ethanol, and methanol that is isostoichiometric with E85 – meaning it has the same AFR.

I literally stumbled onto this paper published by a professor named James Turner from the University of Bath in the UK titled GEM Ternary Blends: Testing Iso-Stoichiometric mixtures of Gasoline, Ethanol and Methanol in a Production Flex-Fuel Vehicle Fitted with a Physical Alcohol Sensor – in it, Turner describes creating new iso-stoichiometric blends but replaces ethanol with methanol and a higher percentage of gasoline in order to keep the stoichiometric ratio of the blend right around 9.76:1. This graph summarizes the percentages of each component (gas, ethanol, and methanol) required at any given percentage of ethanol in order to maintain iso-stoichiometry with E85. Going further, the paper goes on to explain a few things:

You can theoretically run up to 57% methanol blended with ethanol and gas while still maintaining an E85 AFR. The ethanol acts as a co-solvent. It mixes with both gasoline and methanol. (Typically, mixing gas with methanol in 50-50 type blends results in an oily looking mess because gas an methanol do not mix well on their own.) Phase separation is much less likely to occur in many blends containing under 50% methanol. There is improved energy utilization, about 5% change from gas alone or from E85. When mixed properly, is a drop-in replacement for E85 from a tuning perspective.

So, there you have it. It was possible to run methanol blended with gasoline. As a happy accident, it was also completely, 100% drop in compatible with E85 from a fueling perspective. If I haven’t explained it well enough, the benefit from a racer’s perspective is that you have a drop-in replacement for E85, and you have a fuel that’s using a high percentage of alcohol, most of that being methanol, without having the fueling demands that methanol has when used all by itself.

In a turbocharged application like mine, this was the way forward. There’s a bit more science here, including things like BTU and latent heat of vaporization that I want to mention. Sure, you can drop in GEM as an E85 replacement and run it just like that, but because you have this additional methanol, you can also tweak your tune a bit once running GEM in order to make more power.

Everything I’m referencing here is in regards to the GEM fuel blend I run, GEM45, which contains 45% methanol. This blend, when targeting a slightly richer AFR, has an approximate 7% increase in BTU over E85, and a 14% increase in latent heat of vaporization (this is the cooling effect that a fuel has.) So instead of running around,76-.78 lambda on E85, if you target somewhere in the,70-.72 range, you’re actually benefitting from the BTU increase and latent heat of vaporization values that the methanol is able to provide there.

Even with the additional gasoline in the mix. I’ve been running this fuel exclusively in the RWD Talon since the 2015 race season, higher than 50psi of boost pressure. My tune still isn’t 100% dialed in, but the fuel doesn’t care, it’s very forgiving. The more I play with it and the harder I push it, the more power it makes.

Running it lean makes less power, but I haven’t hurt any parts. Running it rich? Like others on the 4G63 platform using methanol, I’ve found that I can make power as rich as I can get it to fire cleanly. In my case,,58 lambda is about the rich limit. Even there, I’m not seeing speckling on my spark plugs, and I’m still able to make very good power.

What is 99 alcohol used for?

99% isopropyl alcohol is used: To clean surfaces, both alone and as a component of a general-purpose cleaner, or as a solvent.

Can vodka be used as fuel?

Vodka like all other alcoholic drinks is hydroscopic so if you put some in your (gas) petrol tank then it will get into the fuel system and make the engine misfire or stop running altogether. don’t do it.

Can a car run on methanol?

Vehicle Fuel & Thermal Applications Methanol is an affordable substitute for gasoline and diesel in countries that are looking to transition away from fuels that result in high levels of air pollution. Methanol’s efficient combustion, safety, ease of distribution and wide availability around the world make it an attractive alternative fuel for transportation.

Methanol can be used as a transportation fuel in three ways: Additives or fuel blends – Methanol is used to manufacture methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE), a gasoline additive that reduces tailpipe air emissions, and to produce fuels like biodiesel which is a diesel alternative. By 2025, the average output of biodiesel and similar fuels is anticipated to increase by 30 per cent from 2019 levels.

Methanol is also used in gasoline blends around the world at high volume percentages (50-100 per cent), mid (15-30 per cent) and low blends (3-5 per cent). An early adopter, China has been using methanol and methanol blends since the 1980s. Both India and Denmark launched methanol-blend fuel stations in 2022, and other countries—including Israel, Germany, India, New Zealand, the U.K., and Italy—are at the assessment or near-commercial stage for low-level methanol fuel blending.

Fuel for passenger vehicles – In China, increasingly stringent air quality standards are supporting the adoption of methanol as a cleaner-burning vehicle fuel. By the end of 2022, approximately 110 M100 (100 per cent methanol fuel) filling stations were operating in China’s Shaanxi, Shanxi, Gansu and Guizhou provinces to service approximately 27,000 M100 taxis (running on 100 per cent methanol).

There were also 1,000 methanol hybrid passenger cars built by the Geely Group operating in China. Collectively, this demand represents approximately 520,000 tonnes of methanol per year. Fuel for heavy-duty vehicles – Methanol is a diesel substitute for heavy-duty vehicles. Commercial trucks are another emerging opportunity in China, with Geely developing the world’s first pure methanol combustion heavy-duty truck. As of 2022 there were 3,000 methanol heavy-duty trucks in operation in China.

Does alcohol increase octane?

Alcohols like methyl alcohol (methanol) and ethyl alcohol (ethanol) are often used in race fuels. Sometimes they are a small part of the fuel and sometimes they are a primary component of the fuel. Methanol is commonly used “straight” – that’s why it’s called racing alcohol by many.

1. Ethanol can also be used straight, and some racers do, but it’s more common to hear about E85, a blend of about 85% ethanol.
2. Much has been said about the octane rating of alcohols.
3. However, technically speaking, the octane ratings of alcohols can not be measured.
4. All octane test engines, as defined in the octane rating procedures set forth by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), are carbureted.

Air/fuel ratio adjustments on octane engine carburetors are limited and can not accommodate the extremely different air/fuel ratio requirements of pure alcohols. Blends of alcohols can be tested to determine what is called a “Blending Octane Value” or BOV.

• Basically, the octane rating of an alcohol/gasoline blend is compared to the octane rating of the gasoline without alcohol and some math is done to calculate what the effect of the alcohol was on the octane of the gasoline.
• Thus, a BOV is determined.
• However, a BOV is not the same thing as a normal octane rating.

Octane numbers at the pump are determined by taking the average of two ASTM-specified octane tests – the Research Octane Number test (RON, or simply “R”) and the Motor Octane Number test (MON, or simply “M”). The average is expressed as (R+M)/2 and is sometimes referred to as the Antiknock Index or AKI.

• In the United States, pump gas is sold based on AKI and it is this value that we typically use to represent a fuel’s octane rating.
• The square yellow octane stickers you see on gasoline dispensers indicate the (R+M)/2 octane rating.
• BOVs for methanol and ethanol typically overstate octane.
• This is because the law of diminishing returns applies.

While a little alcohol can bump octane by a few numbers, twice as much alcohol does not result in twice as much octane increase. So while it may look like an alcohol has a high octane number when a small amount is used (as in determining a BOV), its real octane value is not as high.

1. Problem is, the real number can’t be determined so we’re left to guessing.
2. Ethanol is a good example.
3. Its BOV is generally stated as 112 octane or so.
4. Again, this implies that if you mix a little ethanol into gasoline, some math tells us the octane will increase as if the ethanol were 112 octane.
5. In fact it’s not it just seems that way when a small amount is added.

Best estimates of the actual octane rating of pure ethanol place it at about 100 octane. This is probably a conservative value but it is one we are comfortable with. If you see octane claims for ethanol in the 112 range, be suspicious that the octane number might be incorrectly based on BOV.

Is alcohol more explosive than gasoline?

Ethanol: It’s Not What You Think it is, or is it? – Part 2 Before discussing E85 firefighting tactics, a quick review of some terms concerning the property of chemicals is in order. It is the properties of ethanol compared to gasoline that drives the difference in our response and tactics.

When dealing with volatile liquids it is important to understand how each behaves. In our case as firefighters we are concerned with its volatility under “normal fire conditions” and as it is being extinguished (in most cases with water). Properties of E85 and Gasoline Although there are many properties of E85 and gasoline, boiling point, flash point, upper explosive limit and solubility are the ones that best illustrate the difference between the two fuels: Boiling Point: Defined as the temperature at which it can change its state from a liquid to a gas throughout the bulk of the liquid at a given pressure.

Remember “at a given pressure.” The lower the boiling point, the more volatile the substance. Flash Point: Is the lowest temperature at which a liquid or solid gives off enough vapor to form a flammable air-vapor mixture near its surface. The lower the flash point, the greater the fire hazard; in other words, the temperature needs for ignition decrease with the flash point.

• Upper Explosive Limit: Is the highest concentration of a chemicals vapor in air which will burn or explode upon contact with a source of ignition.
• Lower Explosive Limit: Is the lowest concentration of a chemicals vapor in air which will burn or explode upon contact with a source of ignition.
• Solubility : Is the measure of how much of a given substance will dissolve in a liquid in this case water.

E85 Versus Gasoline Properties, Ethyl Alcohol, Gasoline Boiling Point,173° F.102° F Solubility,Miscible.Insoluble Flash Point,55° F.-45° F Upper Explosive Limit,19%.7.60% Lower Explosive Limit,3.30%.1.40% Visible Flame,Yes.Yes The above chart, using the properties discussed earlier, will help identify the volatility (its willingness to evaporate into a gas) of each liquid.

• This is important since all combustion requires the burning material pyrolize (simply put, turn to gas) before it burns.
• Ethyl Alcohol’s boiling point is over 70 degrees higher than gasoline.
• Meaning that as the temperature increases, gasoline will convert to vapor more rapidly.
• Vapor is more flammable than a liquid.

In this category, gasoline is the more volatile or flammable substance. Perhaps the most important property of these two liquids is flash point. Recall that Flash Point is the lowest temperature at which a liquid or solid gives off enough vapor to form a flammable air-vapor mixture near its surface.

1. Low flash point is an excellent indicator of volatility.
2. In the case of E85 versus gasoline, gasoline produce enough vapor for flammability a full 100 degrees cooler than E85.
3. Again, gasoline is the more volatile substance.
4. Although it is clear that gasoline is more volatile than Ethyl Alcohol, the biggest difference between the two properties is that one is soluble in water and the other is not.

Why should a fire officer or firefighter care if ethyl alcohol is soluble or not? Solubility in this case being how much E85 or gasoline will dissolve in water. It is of major concern since water, foam or a combination of the two, are the only methods we have of fighting fire.

In other words, in water gasoline will not completely dissolve allowing a film to form. The ethanol component of E85 (and a small amount of gasoline) will dissolve in water which affects the film formation. Based on the differences, fires that involve gasoline will require foam since gas floats on water.

Water will dilute the E85 and foam will smother the fire just as it does with gasoline fires. However, given the fact that ethanol is water soluble, foam will deteriorate more rapidly in E85 than with gasoline. There are alcohol resistant foams (AR-AFFF) on the market.

The International Association of Fire Fighters newsletter Across the IAFF says “Alcohol resistant foam must be used during any emergency involving gasoline that is blended with ethanol. The ethanol content prevents the formation of the film between the foam and the gasoline mixture and will break down the applied foam, rendering any non-alcohol resistant foam virtually useless”.

If AR-AFFF is not available, use more conventional foam to compensate for the breakdown. In the words of one of the automotive engineers at GM we spoke to; “Firefighters should prepare for the worst.” The more dangerous component of E85 (or any other ethanol blend) is the gasoline.

Don’t make it any more difficult than need be, it’s a gasoline fire.” Even the DOT Emergency Response Guide (ERG) for both liquids is essentially the same with the exception of the previously mentioned AR-AFFF. During our research we found a number of sources that had incorrectly reported E85 has more volatile properties than gasoline at 32 degrees.

This is not correct. The Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratories (NREL) 2006 Handbook for Handling, Storing and Dispensing E85 is in error (the source for the DOT Safety Alert published April 26, 2006and many other bulletins and SOP’s).

According to the NREL “.The resolution to your concern about E85 percent flammability is that the statement-“at low temperature (32 degrees Fahrenheit), E85 vapor is more flammable than gasoline vapor”, in Table 1 of the 2006 Handbook for Handling, Storing and Dispensing E85 is in error”. “The flammability properties of E85 are dominated by the gasoline blended into it, regardless of temperature.

In other words, the flammability hazards and properties for E85 are exactly the same as for gasoline”.

1. “The E85 Handbook is presently under review and the erroneous statement will be eliminated in the next version”.
2. A simple solution to fighting fires that involve ethanol (or any other blend) is to use AR-AFFF; it will work on all gasoline fires regardless of the blend.
3. Related Articles

JONATHAN RIFFE is a firefighter for the District of Columbia Fire and EMS Department and the Chief of the Huntingtown Volunteer Fire Department. He holds an AAS degree in Fire Science from the College of Southern Maryland and a BS degree in Fire Science from the University Of Maryland University College.

• He currently teaches Firefighter training through the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute.
• LARRY PATIN is a planner with the United States Capitol Police Hazardous Materials Response Team.
• He is currently the fire captain of the Huntingtown Volunteer Fire Department where he also served nine years as chief.

He holds a BS in Emergency Health Services Management and has been a Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute instructor for the past 18 years. To read Jonathan and Larry’s complete biographies and view their archived articles, click, : Ethanol: It’s Not What You Think it is, or is it? – Part 2

Can alcohol clean fuel injectors?

Tech Tip – Why Use Denatured Alcohol to Clean Injectors? At Delta Kits, we have a team of highly trained professional technicians who possess decades of experience in the windshield repair and headlight restoration industry. The Delta Kits standard procedure for necessitates that the equipment be thoroughly cleaned and maintained to ensure optimal repair quality.

One question that pops up when we talk to customers is “What kind of alcohol do I use to clean the injector and injector cylinder?” There are three main reasons why Delta Kits recommends the use of denatured alcohol for cleaning windshield repair injectors: It has a higher flashpoint (faster dry time), it won’t cause the injector end seal to warp or swell, and it thoroughly removes uncured from the injector plunger and cylinder.

Having a higher flashpoint means that denatured alcohol evaporates very quickly when brought into contact with oxygen. Denatured alcohol has very little water content, which contributes to two things: fast dry time and diminutive risk of rust forming on the injector or injector cylinder.

1. Denatured alcohol efficiently removes uncured resin, and dries quickly, allowing technicians to properly store injector plungers and cylinders.
2. In addition to its high flashpoint, denatured alcohol will not cause the end seal (used in the injector cylinder) to swell.
3. The end seals are what ensure proper and effective resin injection into a glass break; a swollen, shrunken, hardened or warped end seal could result in improper resin injection and cause leaks.

The composition of the Delta Kits’ end seal is extremely resilient to denatured alcohol and common acids found in, (Note: Denatured alcohol may shrink or harden competitor end seals.) Another popular chemical used for cleaning injectors is Acetone. Simply put, we believe denatured alcohol is safer to use than Acetone because it is less toxic.

1. It is recommended to use protective respiratory masks when using Acetone.
2. It is stated on the label of Acetone that it can cause cancer and birth defects (studies based in California), it cannot be made non-poisonous, and prolonged exposure can lead to neurological and psychological damage, among other side effects.

Denatured alcohol is less toxic and easier on the skin. The most important aspect of properly maintaining an optimally-functioning injector is to keep it free of resin when it is not being used for a repair. Once resin cures the tool, it becomes unusable and the injectors will no longer be able to switch from pressure to vacuum cycles.

• To keep this from happening, Delta Kits recommends that denatured alcohol be used to properly remove remaining resin from injectors and injector cylinders prior to storage.
• A technician should add 2-3 ounces of denatured alcohol to a small plastic container (like Delta Kits’ 6oz.
• Plastic cleaning jar with lid ) and place the recently-used injector plunger and cylinder inside the container.

Next, replace the lid and shake the container for at least 15 seconds (it should be noted that the spring injector should be switched from its “pressure cycle” to its “vacuum cycle” positioning at least once during this cleaning procedure). This ensures that the denatured alcohol is reaching all parts of the injector and injector end seals, removing any remaining resin.

It’s important to also note that injector plungers should not be turned upside down and should always be stored vertically in the relaxed (pressure) position when not in use. Delta Kits’ recommended use of denatured alcohol is not the “only way” to clean your injectors. However, through the company’s decades of experience it has proven it dries very quickly, does not harm the end seals, and thoroughly removes remaining resin from injectors and injector cylinders.

Most importantly it is safer than other popular products used for this purpose. For more information regarding Delta Kits products discussed in this article, visit www.deltakits.com, call us toll free at (800) 548-8332. To see the proper method of cleaning an injector and injector cylinder with denatured alcohol, check out the corresponding video,

Why is E85 so expensive?

Newspaper details how ethanol has become a victim of its own success, with that victimization now passed on to motorists in the form of higher prices. January 04, 2011 CHICAGO – A feature in last week’s Chicago Tribune highlighted how ethanol has become a victim of its own success €” “Or rather, motorists who buy ethanol may be the victims.” For the first time since America’s latest ethanol push kicked into high gear a half decade ago, ethanol costs more than gasoline, with E85 selling for more than regular gasoline at some Chicago-area gas stations.

The disparity is not expected to last, as the newspaper writes that “E85 is a bad deal for motorists when it costs as much as gasoline €¦ A gallon of ethanol normally will propel a vehicle fewer miles than a gallon of gasoline.” Indeed, road tests verify that E-85 yields lower fuel mileage than regular gasoline.

A 2006 Consumer Reports article found mileage for E85 to be up to 29 percent lower in various types of driving, while Car and Driver found the difference reached as high as 32 percent. AAA also acknowledges the disparity by posting the price of both E85 ($2.63 per gallon yesterday) and E85 adjusted for lower MPG ($3.46 per gallon).

The reason for E85’s price increase is attributed to corn prices, which have risen more than 50 percent in the past few months. And with roughly a bushel of corn required to produce 2.8 gallons of ethanol, the price of fuel keeps climbing. But rising prices don’t necessarily translate to decreased demand.

Ethanol production is encouraged by tax credits €” 45 cents per gallon at the federal level €” and protected by tariffs on foreign ethanol, which carries a 54-cents-per-gallon charge. Additionally, the federal government mandates a minimum ethanol production of 12.5 billion gallons of ethanol for this year, increasing to 15 billion gallons by 2015.

Is 10% ethanol gas good?

Older cars and newer ethanol gas. Is that a devilish mixture or a match made in heaven? As our automobiles have evolved, so have the fuels we use to power them. More specifically, fuels today have ethanol in them; the typical one is E10 which is 10% ethanol.

But there’s also E85 which is 85% ethanol. The basic rule is E10 is ok for everything, but E85 can only be used safely in cars that are FlexFuel compatible. So unless you have a FlexFuel vehicle, don’t use E85. Now, along with the changes in fuels, the myths abound; the internet is full of these dire warnings about what’s going to happen to our older, collectible and classic automobiles if we put E10 in them.

Well, they talk about engine failures and all sorts of things like that. Isn’t going to happen folks; yes, there may be some minor problems but they’re easily corrected. The first thing that you might encounter is at the first use of a fuel containing ethanol because ethanol is a strong cleaner, it can clean away years of dirt, which can plug the fuel filter and can give you some performance problems. Change the filter, problem gone.

Also, inside a lot of carburetors, there’s going to be leather parts, there may be some metal or plastic parts that are not compatible with the 10% ethanol. But in those cases, it’s probably going to be a long term degradation of performance and it’s going to be easy to correct; you just replace the part with a modern part that is ethanol compatible – things like fuel hoses and so on.

Sooner or later, all of these parts either have to be updated, rebuilt or replaced. When you do that, simply make sure that what you use is ethanol compatible and you’ll never have a problem again. But one place where you can have a problem that a lot of the miracle products out there that claim to do away with ethanol or to repair ethanol-related problems and so on.

Is E85 worth it?

How much does E85 cost? – As of June 10, the national average for E85 fuel was $4.316 per gallon. That is 67 cents less or 22% lower than the average national price for regular gasoline, which was a record high of $4.986 per gallon, according to AAA. This price difference offers a more-affordable fuel option for flex fuel vehicle owners.

However, like gasoline prices, alternative fuel prices can vary based on location, time of year, geopolitical events, and fluctuations of the energy markets. While E85 is typically cheaper per gallon than gasoline it might be more expensive per mile. Since ethanol contains less energy per volume than gasoline, FFVs will generally get 15%-27% fewer miles per gallon when fueled with E85, depending on the car and the driver’s driving habits.

Consumers can use the DOE’s vehicle cost calculator to determine how much a flex-fuel vehicle can save on fuel costs and greenhouse gas emissions. For more information on FFVs and E85 check out Energy Saver’s Consumer Guide to Ethanol and Flexible Fuel Vehicles.

What does alcohol do to your engine?

For many homeowners, purchasing fuel for your small engine and outdoor power equipment simply means going to the nearest gas station and filling up with the lowest cost fuel option. Not much thought is given to the ethanol content of the fuel. For longtime boaters and marina managers, however, the dangers of high ethanol content gas are well known, particularly in applications that will be sitting in high heat or humidity for long periods of time.

1. A Mistake That Can Be Costly, In Multiple Ways When fuel contains a high amount of ethanol, the gasoline will begin to decay because of the oxygen in the blend.
2. Since the ethanol is hygroscopic, it absorbs water from the air, causing the fuel blend to separate.
3. Ethanol can be extremely damaging to small engines and high-powered sports equipment, leading to corrosion of the engine and fuel system.

Simply put, what seems like a relatively innocuous purchase of an ethanol containing fuel can ruin your engine. Making matters worse, using a high-ethanol fuel may violate a boat or power equipment owner’s warranty. New Rules Require Increased Awareness at the Pump From ever-changing government mandates to improper labeling at gas stations, consumers must remain alert when purchasing fuel, particularly boaters.

Recently, the federal government moved to allow sales of E15 gasoline (containing 15% ethanol) year-round. Burning significantly hotter than other fuel options, E15 can result in an engine overheating. Experts unanimously warn boaters about the possibility of confusion and the risk of accidentally filling their boat’s gas tank with improper fuel.

According to Mercury Marine : “Fuel containing higher proportions of ethanol is not compatible with many fuel system and engine components and, if mistakenly used, will cause irreversible damage to these components that will lead to engine failure and potential safety risks.” With 142 million boaters fueling up their vessels, the introduction of E15 fuel at the pump could be devastating.

• To raise awareness, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) recently created a website called Protecting Boaters at the Gas Pump.
• They post pictures of the various ways E15 gas is poorly labeled and remind boaters of the dangers associated with filling anything other than late-model automobiles with E15 fuel.

With 63% of boaters assuming any fuel at the pump is safe to use, it’s more important than ever to make people aware of the danger high-ethanol fuel poses. Treating Your Fuel Even if you don’t use E15 fuel in your boat, proper fuel treatment is still vital.

1. As such, beginning in February 2019, Walbro is launching a 12oz.
2. Evergreen-scented fuel treatment.
3. Not only does this innovative treatment clean and stabilize the fuel you use for your outdoor equipment, but the evergreen scent lets users know it’s working.
4. The additive not only fights against the phase separation and corrosion that comes from ethanol-based fuel blends, but it also clears carbon deposits from the combustion chamber to keep your engine running as efficiently as possible.

To learn more about how Walbro can help protect your boat’s engine, or to see their Complete Fuel System Kit, visit https://shop.walbro.com/collections/products/products/power-equipment-complete-fuel-system-kit today! https://spark.adobe.com/page/dYPx7SjouAr2k/ https://spark.adobe.com/page/dYPx7SjouAr2k/

Can a turbine engine run on alcohol?

Yes, jet/turbine engines can run on ethanol but ethanol has only 60% of the energy content per mass unit of Jet-A fuel which means you have to use 67% more of it by mass to get the same energy output.

Can moonshine turn into methanol?

Methanol – A Deadly Byproduct – The fermentation process used to make moonshine produces alcohol in two forms: methanol and ethanol. Ethanol is the drinkable version. Methanol, known as wood alcohol, is a byproduct that’s toxic when large amounts end up in the finished product,

The distillation process that follows produces concentrated ethanol by boiling the fermented product. The problem moonshiners run into is ethanol has a boiling point of 173.1 degrees Fahrenheit while methanol’s boiling point is 148.5 degrees Fahrenheit. This means methanol evaporates at a faster rate than ethanol and can become concentrated.

When done correctly, it only forms in small amounts and is easily separated out and discarded. Without the right equipment, high concentrations of methanol can end up in the drink. What makes methanol so dangerous is the human body converts it to formaldehyde, an ingredient used to make embalming fluid.