Converting

[Fla._Deadheader]

While I am lounging in the US of A, There should be a mechanic converting our old Land Cruiser from gasoline engine to a Diesel engine. I am planning to experiment making Palm Oil compatible to run the engine. I talked to a couple guys doing it while I am in Florida, with used cooking oil. I know what steps to take to refine the oil.

  I also am thinking about running the Honda air-cooled engine on the sawmill, on Alcohol. I am very familiar with the babble about swelled o-rings and such from alcohol.

  Is there anyone here that KNOWS what I may need to change in the carb, OR NOT, to run on alcohol ??

  Gasoline is over $4.00 a Gallon and Diesel fuel is around that price, also.

  We are looking for a small Diesel to run the new Bandmill I am building. Got a bunch of parts to get back into CR with, and get the mill running, VERY SOON.

  I believe the price of crude will rise after the elections, and want to be independent from the price gouging.

[VA-Sawyer]

FDH,
Gasoline engines do not start real well on alcohol. It works best if you have a small tank of gas and a selector valve so you can switch over to alcohol once it is running. Switch back to gas for a minute before shutdown.
Alcohol does not flow through an orfice as well as gasoline does, so you will have to enlarge the main jet. The fuel flow rate also needs to be higher on alcohol because it has less energy per gallon. To keep the same HP, you will need to increase the flow AREA of the jet by 30 to 50% as I recall. I'm pulling this from 20+ year old memories so it could have been we had to increase the DIAMETER of the jet by 30 to 50%. Is is much easier to drill them larger than to silver solder them closed and redrill, so start with the smaller size.
Alcohol needs less oxygen to burn so you won't have near as much problem with rich fuel/air mixtures. It is also much less prone to detonation, so you can run a higher compression ratio and get more ponys if you want.
Make sure the float is made of metal, or at least a plastic that won't be affected by the strong solvent effect of the alcohol. Same is true for all parts of the entire fuel system up to and including the intake manifold. Nitrile o-rings will hold up to the alcohol very well and are fairly easy to get. Silicone will also work from a chemical point, but it won't hold up to the physical abuse that nitrile will. Stay away from Viton as it won't hold up to the alcohol very well at all.
VA-Sawyer

[Dan_Shade]

per "old school" hotrodding....

you typically need to modify a carburetor to work with alcohol, because the air/fuel ratio is different.  you need to be able to dump more fuel with the alcohol.  typically, after a carburetor has been reworked for alcohol, it won't work for gasoline anymore.

I know guys that run alcohol in race cars always shut the engine off with a run of gas through the carb, to flush out the alcohol.

also, keep an eye on the oil as it tends to be more diluted with alcohol.  watch for fuel line/tank corrosion too.

there may be some newer technology out there that's made things a little different now.

might want to make sure you mix some gas in there anyways so you can see the flames if you have a fire....

[VA-Sawyer]

FDH,
Dan may have a point about 'seeing flames if you have a fire'. If you went with something like an 80% alcohol mix, it might allow you start and run off one fuel tank as well. I'm not sure where the cutoff percentage is for being able to get the engine started. Some of the newer autos can run anything from straight gasoline to 85% alcohol. Of course they are Fuel-injected and computer controlled, which might be needed to make the multi-fuel thing possible.
I think I would buy a spare stock carb or two, just to have on-hand when needed.
VA-Sawyer

[JimBuis]

If you don't already have them, you ought to get a set of the small drill bits, the #60 to #1.  Drilling jets, soldering them shut, and redrilling them is a whole lot easier when you have good bits to do it with.

Jim

[Fla._Deadheader]

  Got the drill set, Jim. 8)

[Brad_S.]

Can't add to the conversation, just glad to see this is a mechanical question and not a religious declaration. smiley_heh_heh  :

[sprucebunny]

I had exactly the same thought, Brad  :D

[VA-Sawyer]

I happen to think that changing from the OPEC gods to Alcoholism is a religious thing !

[CHARLIE]

I've heard that snowmobilers had problems with burning holes in their aluminum pistons when some water got into the gasoline with 10% ethanol they were using. Something about the water in alcohol made it burn hotter.  Just something to think about.

[OneWithWood]

Just out of curiosity, what alcohol are you contemplaitng burning?

Ethanol?

Methanol?

Isopropyl?

[Fla._Deadheader]

Ethanol.

[Modat22]

Make the sawmill a multi task machine.  Corn mash container on top, still mid way and sawmill at the bottom  ;D

[VA-Sawyer]

Charlie,
I think the burned pistons was happening because the alcohol/water mix doesn't flow as well through the jets and results in a lean mixture. Most engines running at the high end of their power depend on extra fuel for some of the cooling. They don't need it in as much the mid-power range, so most carbs ( and fuel injection systems ) are set up to richen the mixture as they approach the full open position. Snowmobile engines tend to push the power vs. displacement limits anyways, so there is less safety margin on the mixture before detonation sets in.
VA-Sawyer