T
tom r
Guest
and how hard would it be to convert a motorcycle engine to run on alcohol?
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S
Steve B
Guest
Ive often thoguht of this on small engines in particular,
Mainly gasoline is mixed with oils detergents chemicals. All gasoline is given a Raw octane number RON the bare minumum for basic cars local like fords and gms will run on low octane fuels, however more complicated higher tuned engines such as motorcycles and european and asian cars require much higher Ron rated fuels to stop pre detonation or Pinging. Basically you would need a really high proof alcohol with just about no water and no chemical dies like mentholated spirits and a upper cylinder lubrication system that could mix with your alcohol fuel to provide lubrication or what the alcohol lacks vs Fuel.
Its not too hard but i found that alcohol still isnt worth wasting money on. Ive also made high proof ethanol fuels and the effort it takes just to make a 5 liters or a gallon just isn't worth it.
If gas was say $5 a gallon it would be worth it more.
hope this helps
ps if youd like more info email me and i can send you what ive got
Cheers
I forgot to mention as well that small (carbureted) engine they have Really fine set tolerances, and if you are not a mechanic its not worth moving the mixture/flow screws as most likely you will ruin the ratio set up for the carby.
When i worked with small engines 9 out of 10 times repairs would come in because cocky idiots muck around with the screws instead of jsut doing general maintenece.
Mainly gasoline is mixed with oils detergents chemicals. All gasoline is given a Raw octane number RON the bare minumum for basic cars local like fords and gms will run on low octane fuels, however more complicated higher tuned engines such as motorcycles and european and asian cars require much higher Ron rated fuels to stop pre detonation or Pinging. Basically you would need a really high proof alcohol with just about no water and no chemical dies like mentholated spirits and a upper cylinder lubrication system that could mix with your alcohol fuel to provide lubrication or what the alcohol lacks vs Fuel.
Its not too hard but i found that alcohol still isnt worth wasting money on. Ive also made high proof ethanol fuels and the effort it takes just to make a 5 liters or a gallon just isn't worth it.
If gas was say $5 a gallon it would be worth it more.
hope this helps
ps if youd like more info email me and i can send you what ive got
Cheers
I forgot to mention as well that small (carbureted) engine they have Really fine set tolerances, and if you are not a mechanic its not worth moving the mixture/flow screws as most likely you will ruin the ratio set up for the carby.
When i worked with small engines 9 out of 10 times repairs would come in because cocky idiots muck around with the screws instead of jsut doing general maintenece.
E
Edg1
Guest
Straight alcohol uses to much biomass to produce for all vehicles to convert.Gasoline is a real powerhouse and does not interrupt the food supply and drive up those costs.Liquid Hydrogen as fuel would be a better choice if a little more dangerous.As I recall alcohol burns at a lower temp too.Some drag bikes run on nitromethane and methanol.
T
Texas
Guest
For a "low tech" engine like a motorcycle it probably isn't really challenging, but here is the quick rundown...
Alcohol requires a different air/fuel mixture ratio. A gas engine mixes 14.7 parts air with 1 part fuel, but for Ethyl alcohol (corn mash white lightin) you need more like 9 to 1 ratio. If you have mixture adjustment screws you may be able to adjust it richer, or else you may have to take apart the carburetor and rebuild it with "richer jets". There are probably some other important reasons you need to rebuild the carb... because if you plan to run on 100% alcohol, this will quickly destroy any RUBBER components in your fuel system. If you have a rubber fuel line it needs to be replaced with braided steel line. Any rubber bits in the carburetor need to be replaced with "suitable material" compatible with alcohol.
On the other hand, Gasoline/Alcohol mixtures with around 10% alcohol work pretty much OK in unmodified engines, and if you look at the gas pump some stations in some areas mix in a bit of alcohol and they print "may contain up to 10% ethyl alcohol" on the pump. And fact is you will get lower MPG with this fuel, but it is slightly better for emissions for some months of the year, I think mainly the WINTER months.
And the reason why it is a bad idea to run Gasohol in the SUMMER is that alcohol has a lower vapor point... which means that your fuel evaporates in ambient heat more easily, so then your vehicle gets really horrible mileage.
This link has some info on how alcohol burns different from gas and how this affects conversions...
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/Pubs/farmmgt/05010.html
Alcohol requires a different air/fuel mixture ratio. A gas engine mixes 14.7 parts air with 1 part fuel, but for Ethyl alcohol (corn mash white lightin) you need more like 9 to 1 ratio. If you have mixture adjustment screws you may be able to adjust it richer, or else you may have to take apart the carburetor and rebuild it with "richer jets". There are probably some other important reasons you need to rebuild the carb... because if you plan to run on 100% alcohol, this will quickly destroy any RUBBER components in your fuel system. If you have a rubber fuel line it needs to be replaced with braided steel line. Any rubber bits in the carburetor need to be replaced with "suitable material" compatible with alcohol.
On the other hand, Gasoline/Alcohol mixtures with around 10% alcohol work pretty much OK in unmodified engines, and if you look at the gas pump some stations in some areas mix in a bit of alcohol and they print "may contain up to 10% ethyl alcohol" on the pump. And fact is you will get lower MPG with this fuel, but it is slightly better for emissions for some months of the year, I think mainly the WINTER months.
And the reason why it is a bad idea to run Gasohol in the SUMMER is that alcohol has a lower vapor point... which means that your fuel evaporates in ambient heat more easily, so then your vehicle gets really horrible mileage.
This link has some info on how alcohol burns different from gas and how this affects conversions...
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/Pubs/farmmgt/05010.html
P
pie
Guest
Because it is more expensive in a form that would work. Same reason we don't run cars on milk - gas seems cheap in comparison by the gallon.