With the heat of the summer . I am thinking of doing this. Has any one tried this and how does the injector know how much Meth/water to flow ? Can it be set up to only come on at WOT ?

 

In the Z32 world this was tried and proved to be very effective in reducing combustion temps and detonation. If you go to www.twinturbo.net and search, you will probably find a ton of info on this.

I'm not planning on installing a TT until some time next year, but this is definatly something I want to look into. With our high compression motors, anything that reduces detonation is a good thing.

 

I am using a kit made by SMC Enterprises that has an in-cabin boost-based controller that allows you to control when/how much methanol is injected. I'm using a 50/50 mix right now and the spray is injected just prior to the throttle body.

I'm in the experimental stage right now--mostly hoping to cool the intake charge and have the same affect as increasing octane. I'll do more tinkering once the TT kit is installed.

Here's a photo I took with a flash so you can see into the bumper to where the 1/2 gallon bottle is kept (right next to the Infiniti emblem in the photo). The lid is right next to the hood release, so it's easy to refill.



--Steve

 

Hey Zimbo..Im looking at this kit to cool the intake as you stated .I can really tell from the heat of the afternoon and the cooler morning , in the performance of the car . I was hoping this kit can cool enough to make it run like its 70 degree's when it's 90. Will this do that , or am I just wishing ? thx.....Bill

 

Bill, you're just wishing

--Steve

 

Welll.... what kind of cooling effect can one expect for this ? 5, 10 degree's ? I know Im dumb to this stuff....and most stuff when it comes to modding this car...lol

 

I've used it on SC'd V8s and it has the effect of adding about 2-4 octane points. Result vary depending on head desiogn and flow.
Some engines respond better. So it is a closer analogy to raising effective octane than to intercooling. It is just as effective with or witout an intercooler already present. It has a more profound effect than an intercooler water sprayer which only help the heat soak issue. The technique was used in WWII war planes since adequate octane was not available. Kinda sound like the Ca. 91 octane issue

 

Does methanol have any negative effects on engine parts? Will it eat away at rubber seals or anything?

 

The only thing iread on it...it said they it helps keep the motor clean...keeps carbon from building up

 

Methanol attacks certain types of rubber seals, and it can be corrosive to aluminum if there is prolonged contact. That's why Nissan says in the owner's manual to avoid using gasohol in the Z. However, spraying a water/alcohol mix into the intake tract should not cause problems. It won't come into contact with fuel system seals that way, and since spraying vaporizes it, it won't be standing on any aluminum surfaces either.

Oldsmobile was the first to use a water/alcohol mix to reduce the possibility of detonation in a relatively high compression aluminum turbocharged engine back in 1965. This was in the Jetfire. It worked very well as long as the owner remembered to keep the tank filled. If the owner allowed it to run dry, the engine could suffer severe detonation. Olds abandoned this approach after only one model year mainly because customers wouldn't pay attention to the "turbo fluid" tank level.

As enthusiasts, we're more likely to pay attention to such things. Plus, the knock detector in our engines will have the ECU retard spark if we don't. Olds didn't have that technology back in 65. The use of water injection can allow us to increase boost or increase spark timing in our cars. That means more power can be made safely. For best gains, an ECU reflash would probably be required.

 

In a "boosted" VQ , the OEM ECU could not pull enough timing (via knock sensor input) to protect the engine from detonation if the water tank ran dry.

A solution like J&S safeguard with low water level signal driving the "switched" 4-degree retard input would be a good option. Personally having run WI on 2 boosted car/trucks , I "always" have used a knock guage to monitor the WI effectiveness. I've used MSD knock alert before and am considering J&S in the future.