Methanol as Automotive Fuel Part 1 - Straight Methanol

A study of methanol as an automotive fuel was conducted using a single-cylinder research engine, a 4-cylinder 122-CID (2,000 cc) engine, and an 8-cylinder 350-CID engine. Results showed that when using methanol as fuel, the single-cylinder engine could operate leaner than the multicylinder engines. This difference is attributable to air-fuel mixture maldistribution associated with the multicylinder engines.

Steady-state fuel economy and emissions data are presented and discussed. Results indicate that fuel economy (on an energy input basis) using methanol fuel is about 5% improved as compared to gasoline fuel economy and with substantially lower nitrogen oxides emissions for methanol.