Re: [MBZ] OT Ethanol Vs. Methanol
All flex-fuel vehicles are designed to run any alcohol blend, including ethanol or methanol or butanol at high percentages. The fuel system is made with alcohol compatible materials and many systems include oxygenation sensors to better meter the fuel by its oxygen content to set injectors and timing properly. Todd Smith -Original Message- From: mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com] On Behalf Of Rick Knoble Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2012 13:24 To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: [MBZ] OT Ethanol Vs. Methanol Could a flex fuel vehicle use an 85% methanol blend as well as the currently available 85% ethanol blend? M85 vs E85? It seems a no brainer, given all the natural gas the US has, since methanol is mainly produced from that. Mercedes content; the C Class has been available as a flex fuel vehicle for almost a decade. Rick Sent from my iPhone. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com Confidentiality Note: The information contained in this message may be privileged and confidential. If this e-mail contains protected health information, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited,except as permitted by law. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately by replying to this message and deleting it from your computer. Thank you. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT Ethanol Vs. Methanol
> Rich Thomas wrote: > methanol is very poisonous, which I suppose gasoline is too, > but I think it has other issues (burns clear, can't see the > flame). Might be more of a solvent than ethanol too, and hold > water? Methanol is a good fuel. I suspect - but don't _know_ - it would be fine in a Flex-Fuel car. The flame is not invisible. It is blue, not yellow, and is less visible than a gasoline fire, especially in full sunlight. However, methanol is more difficult to ignite, it releases less heat when it burns (easier to approach the fire), and the fire can be extinguished with water. Some other points. Methanol is corrosive to lead, magnesium, and aluminum. When burned, it has a tendency to form aldehydes - specifically, formaldehyde is formed, which is toxic and possibly carcinogenic in nature. It can be removed with a catalytic conversion process, but not the same one currently used in gasoline cars. Methanol has a energy density about 1/2 that of gasoline. Methanol is water soluable. Methanol is readily biodegradable in both aerobic and anaerobic environments. http://www.fuelcellmarkets.com/content/images/articles/meth_vs_gas.pdf http://chemelab.ucsd.edu/methanol01/Feasibility.htm https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Methanol_economy -- Philip, who prefers diesel as a fuel ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT Ethanol Vs. Methanol
No, unless the fuel system was designed for methanol (e.g. a race car) the methanol can be damaging to metal and rubber components. Methanol is also quite poisonous and especially dangerous as it can be absorbed through the skin. It has lower energy than ethanol, so economy per gallon is lower. You also lose about another 30% in the energy it takes to convert natural gas to Methanol. Allan On Thu, Mar 22, 2012, at 12:23 PM, Rick Knoble wrote: > Could a flex fuel vehicle use an 85% methanol blend as well as the currently > available 85% ethanol blend? M85 vs E85? It seems a no brainer, given all > the natural gas the US has, since methanol is mainly produced from that. > Mercedes content; the C Class has been available as a flex fuel vehicle for > almost a decade. > > Rick > Sent from my iPhone. > ___ > http://www.okiebenz.com > For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT Ethanol Vs. Methanol
Thanks for the info, I was not sure. I guess that is why it doesn't work too well in moonshine -- does not go well with mixers. --R On 3/22/12 1:41 PM, Rick Knoble wrote: I know from my study of biodiesel that Ethanol is hygroscopic (attracting moisture) and Methanol is not. Rick Sent from my iPhone. On Mar 22, 2012, at 12:36 PM, "Rich Thomas" wrote: Might be more of a solvent than ethanol too, and hold water? ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT Ethanol Vs. Methanol
I know from my study of biodiesel that Ethanol is hygroscopic (attracting moisture) and Methanol is not. Rick Sent from my iPhone. On Mar 22, 2012, at 12:36 PM, "Rich Thomas" wrote: > Might be more of a solvent than ethanol too, and hold water? ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT Ethanol Vs. Methanol
methanol is very poisonous, which I suppose gasoline is too, but I think it has other issues (burns clear, can't see the flame). Might be more of a solvent than ethanol too, and hold water? --R On 3/22/12 1:23 PM, Rick Knoble wrote: Could a flex fuel vehicle use an 85% methanol blend as well as the currently available 85% ethanol blend? M85 vs E85? It seems a no brainer, given all the natural gas the US has, since methanol is mainly produced from that. Mercedes content; the C Class has been available as a flex fuel vehicle for almost a decade. Rick Sent from my iPhone. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
[MBZ] OT Ethanol Vs. Methanol
Could a flex fuel vehicle use an 85% methanol blend as well as the currently available 85% ethanol blend? M85 vs E85? It seems a no brainer, given all the natural gas the US has, since methanol is mainly produced from that. Mercedes content; the C Class has been available as a flex fuel vehicle for almost a decade. Rick Sent from my iPhone. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
