Posted by Gypsy Jim (24.4.252.68) on May 09, 2001 at 19:40:44:
In Reply to: Ethonol posted by RudyD on May 08, 2001 at 03:42:05:
Ethanol is a very clean burning fuel. It atomizes better than gasoline, burns smoother and has a much high octane rating. As such, you can easily run 16:1 compression. It burns slower so you need to advance the timing on your car. So why aren't we using it? It corrodes aluminum (so no more aluminum fuel lines or heads), it condenses water much more easily (more winter time fuel line freeze ups), and when it burns, you can't see the flames.
Propane and natural gas have similar features to achohol, but it atomizes even better. By far, natural gas is the most effectient fuel for vehicles. With all the on-board computer advances, you'll most likely own a dual fuel car in the future.
I make my students convert a Briggs and Straton engine over to various fuels as an acivity in my Energy, Power, and Transportation Systems class. I made a dynamometer for small engines and they see the effect that these fuels have on torque and horsepower.