I doubt it. CART/Champ cars have used methanol as their fuel for as long as I can remember (at least 20 years). You can look it up if you get bored.

The factory warning against using methanol has to do with the fuel system; i.e. putting methanol in your fuel tank and running it through the stock fuel lines, etc. In that situation, the methanol will completely fill the lines and soak whatever aluminum fuel system components it comes in contact with.

However, with a meth injection kit, the methanol is in a completely separate system, hopefully constructed of components compatible with methanol. Furthermore, any methanol injected into the intake stream is going to vaporize very quickly.

In short, you'd have to take a chunk of aluminum and soak it in a bucket of methanol for days before you'd see anything happen. A little tiny bit of vapor that comes into contact with aluminum for a split second won't do anything, in my opinion.

 

Great points. CART uses it in the motor's for one race, that doesn't compare to real world conditions. I don't like the fact that more motors fail while using meth, then don't use it. Is it the meth? the tune? the catastrophic failure of a system which cause this? I am not sure, nor can I say. I CAN say, if you take the meth out of the equation, less chance of that component failing, and making the motor go KABOOM. Just my 2c. It has NOTHING to do with corrosion of aluminum for me. just my 2c. Good points though.

 

cart also revs to a gazillion rpm and has no budget

 

So, what s general consensus using meth? will this shortened engine lifespan?

 

When done right, essentially no noticible corrosion

 

is it true that eventually head gaskit will worn out prematurely due to effect of alcohol.

 

no, that's not true.

But meth does allow for higher boost, and therefore higher hp, which will wear out parts quicker no doubt, but it isn't directly related to meth, just related to making more power. The headgasket is just one part that could wear quicker (actually, it wouldn't be the head gasket but the extra strain on the head bolts).

Just like any modification, it needs to be done right. You want a good meth system that doesn't "dribble" after a spray event. You want a system that develops a nice fine atomized spray pattern, that shuts off immediately once the spray event is over, or siphons the meth tank empty into your intercooler piping when sitting overnight. You don't want meth to pool in your intake, especially in the idle air control valve. It'll eat up the plastic quick and ruin the valve. But a good system won't allow for pooling.

As far as cylinder wash.... gasoline is just as good at cutting the oil layer between the cylinder and piston ring as meth is. Run too rich with gas or meth, you get wash. If you have a terrible spray pattern from an injector gas or a nozzle spraying meth and you'll get wash. The key is good atomization.

All this is in my opinion of course, and it's a hotly debated topic. But meth done right is not damaging at all. When doing meth right, the aquamist system comes to mind....

 

Does SMC kit fit in your list as a good kit?

 

I've never used the SMC kit personally, so I can't offer an opinion on that. I do use the Aquamist kit, and know it's a very, very good kit.

 

fair enough

 

I'm with dubbleugly on this one. I think the heat generated from meth is worse than the static meth itself. True the majority of alcohols will form aldehydes given time and conditions, and I think that's the true corrosive concern. Yeah you don't want that stuff baking to your internals, but if I were concerned about anything it would be the meth's continual exposure to rubber parts, such as most of the pieces of your cooling system. Oh yeah, methanol was at one time a common additive to antifreezes. Someone convince me that they don't still use it cause it worked so darn good.

 

"heat generated from meth"

splain that one to me.

 

not sure where that came from, but since my name was mentioned, the only time I've said meth generates heat is when you mix it with water.

 

and when its burnt

 

Either way I don't see that being bad for anything.