well i did some research and sit here flabbergasted,no pun intended, at what i found out. the burn rates for nitromethane is something like 4 gallons per second, thats right 4 gallons per second, you don't need to wipe your eyes.
now that figure is for a race engine that is typically 8.9 liters and produces 6000hp. i know you are a ford fan and if you follow drag racing you know or have heard of john force. so if i figure correctly he uses approximately 16 gallons of nitro per quarter mile run.
i also found out nitro cost $27.39 per gallon. that was a good ewag on my part when i said $25-$30 dollars a gallon. whenever i want to figure out what something cost in the old days i simply multiply times five. works just about everytime.
also applicable is that both nitro and methanol are highly toxic and poisonous to the human body when not properly utilized. they also burn drier and require different oils for proper engine lubrication. it is my understanding that this is the reason synthetic oils became the hauteur for almost all of racing. methanol can be produced for about 40 cents a gallon but has less energy content than gasoline so therefore it takes more of it. one draw back of methanol is it is a byproduct of natural gas. well, now we know where this is going to go don't we? as soon as we start using alot the price will immediately jump and triple or quadruple as soon as there is demand. gee my profit margin isn't high enough, so sayeth the producer.
i can't even start to reproduce all i read about these fuels so i trust you can google them up.
as far as you and i utilizing methanol or nitro it could be a diminishing return. as far as nitro i think it would be a bust,too much enginge tuning.
for methanol the future is much better. there are already vehicles that use a 85 0/0 methanol 15 0/0 gasoline mixture.
the bad features of methanol are it is corrosive in fuel systems and there are starting problems in cold weather. that would be a treat up here when the temp hits -40 degrees. that is one good thing about ethanol gas we get here. it breaks down water content in the gas if there is any. but we north dakotans know how to take care of that problem should it arise.
also there are vehicles that can burn a 50-50 mixture of methanol gasoline. but they are highly modified from the factories.
well bud my good hand is killing me, so i got to get off this keyboard before i start cramping up.
have a good one.
__________________
HAPPY TRAILS
BILL
NRA LIFE MEMBER 1965
DAV
IHMSA
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"THE" THREAD KILLER
IT' OK.....I'VE STARTED UP MY MEDS AGAIN. THEY SHOULD TAKE EFFECT IN ABOUT A WEEK. (STACI-2006)
HANDLOADS ARE LIKE UNDERWEAR...BE CAREFUL WHO YOU SWAP WITH.
Last edited by BILLY D.; 09-07-2005 at 01:00 AM.
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