Most race car drivers prefer fuel that is methanol- or ethanol-based, and the reason is simple, really. Overall, alcohol-based fuel has a high octane rating which increases fuel efficiency. Methanol burns cleaner and cooler, is less flammable, and less expensive than gasoline. … They adjust their air to fuel ratio.
What alcohol is used in drag racing?
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.
Do race cars use alcohol for fuel?
Formula 1 racing still uses gasoline, but NASCAR and Indycar use a mixture of ethanol and gasoline. The fuel used in NASCAR vehicles is mostly gasoline with a small amount of ethanol (E15), and the fuel used in Indycar racing is mostly ethanol with a small amount of gasoline (E85).
Why do sprint cars use methanol?
Methanol has less energy content than regular gasoline, so vehicles get about half the mpg out of the fuel. But it has a higher octane. As the smart people at Hot Rod magazine explain, race-car engines are built to squeeze more power out of that less-energy-dense methanol, by adjusting the air-to-fuel ratio.
What race cars burn alcohol?
NASCAR engines burn 110-octane leaded gasoline. Indy cars burn pure methanol (a.k.a. wood alcohol, CH3OH).
What is the fastest quarter-mile time ever?
If you are unfamiliar with his name, he is still the man who holds the record for the fastest quarter-mile run in history with 3.58 seconds, registered in 1984 at the Santa Pod Raceway.
What is the fastest drag car in the world?
In 2016, the FireForce 3 Jet Car became the fastest drag racing vehicle in the world. It could reach 1/4 mile in 5.79 seconds at 336 mph.
Which alcohol is best for race cars?
Most race car drivers prefer fuel that is methanol- or ethanol-based, and the reason is simple, really. Overall, alcohol-based fuel has a high octane rating which increases fuel efficiency. Methanol burns cleaner and cooler, is less flammable, and less expensive than gasoline.
Which burns hotter alcohol or gasoline?
Some people have reported engines overheating when ethanol blends are used, suggesting that ethanol burns “hotter.” This is a bit mysterious since ethanol contains less energy per unit volume than gasoline, and the flame temperature of ethanol is more than 40°C cooler than gasoline.
Can you run a engine on alcohol?
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.
Do sprint cars use methanol?
Methanol, also know as alcohol, is the fuel of choice in sprint car racing. Methanol is used in sprint cars for a number of reasons, one being safety. Methanol is less volatile than gasoline, greatly reducing the risk of explosion or flash fire.
Is methanol bad for your car?
But methanol is even more so. Both are safe to use in small amounts, but uncontrolled and unregulated mixing can result in concentrations high enough to cause additional wear and damage over time to sensitive gaskets and hoses in the fuel system. … So no, methanol by itself is not a problem.
What cars can run on methanol?
Methanol can be blended with gasoline in low-quantities and used in existing road vehicles, or it can be used in high-proportion blends such as M85 in flex-fuel vehicles or M100 in dedicated methanol-fueled vehicles. Technology is also being commercialized to use methanol as a diesel substitute.
What octane fuel is used in Nascar?
The specialized NASCAR fuel is Sunoco Green E15, a 98 octane, unleaded fuel blend specifically engineered for high-performance engines and race cars. It’s called Green E15 because the racing fuel is actually green in color.
What octane is jet fuel?
Modern aviation unleaded fuels are currently being developed, such as 82UL in the United States. This is an 82 Octane Lean Mixture rating fuel and is approved for use in modern non turbo Avco Lycomings engines amongst others.
What kind of fuel do F1 cars use?
The fuel used in F1 cars is fairly similar to ordinary (premium) petrol, albeit with a far more tightly controlled mix. Formula One fuel would fall under high octane premium road fuel with octane thresholds of 95 to 102. F1 Blends are tuned for maximum performance in given weather conditions or different circuits.