Dry Ice in your fuel cell?

B Parker · 01-02-2014, 02:38 PM

Rich I would image there would be a big temp difference between cooling the fuel at your pits and putting dry ice into the tank. I haven't raced much in the last several years but a 2 years ago I was at Indy and the stocker parked next to me was playing with dry ice. I had to laugh because it was at least 100 out and they had gloves on. They were new to the stocker game and had a newer car. They must have thought I had no clue as to what they were doing. I walked over into their pit area and they reached into their cooler as to pull out a cold beer out. I forgot what I said exactly but it was something like dry ice will keep your beer real cold. LOL Although I have heard of a few West Coast teams playing with it at Indy these guys were from my Div. Division 1.

HandOverFist · 01-02-2014, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B Parker

Rich I would image there would be a big temp difference between cooling the fuel at your pits and putting dry ice into the tank. I haven't raced much in the last several years but a 2 years ago I was at Indy and the stocker parked next to me was playing with dry ice. I had to laugh because it was at least 100 out and they had gloves on. They were new to the stocker game and had a newer car. They must have thought I had no clue as to what they were doing. I walked over into their pit area and they reached into their cooler as to pull out a cold beer out. I forgot what I said exactly but it was something like dry ice will keep your beer real cold. LOL Although I have heard of a few West Coast teams playing with it at Indy these guys were from my Div. Division 1.

Oh, I know there would be a difference...was just saying there would likely be a difference between un-cooled fuel vs fuel that had been cooled then introduced in the pits before a run. I used to be one of those geeksters that dabbled in computer overclocking...dry ice does well, but I prefer my LN2.

Painter · 01-02-2014, 02:51 PM

Somebody told me, that somebody else told him......you get the idea, that you must remove the foam. And an old fashioned cool can will lower the fuel temp about 15 degrees at fuel check.

nolongerracing · 01-02-2014, 03:00 PM

Done this many times...even tested on the dyno....carb does not like it when it gets below 50 degrees....hotter it is outside the more it is worth...do not put the fuel cell lid back on too soon....

HandOverFist · 01-02-2014, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nolongerracing

Done this many times...even tested on the dyno....carb does not like it when it gets below 50 degrees....hotter it is outside the more it is worth...do not put the fuel cell lid back on too soon....

Any measurable difference shown on the dyno?

nolongerracing · 01-02-2014, 04:36 PM

As much as 15hp with the right fuel....not all fuels act the same...

HandOverFist · 01-02-2014, 04:39 PM

Worth the effort in a heads-up...I would'nt want to deal with it otherwise.

art leong · 01-02-2014, 08:00 PM

I did this at Atlanta one year. It was 92 degrees out and my fuel checked at 45 degrees. Got some weird looks, but explained what I did and it checked fine.
I chopped the dry ice up and put directly into the fuel jugs (half full). I laughed at all the looks I got LOL.
It really didn't seem to make a difference. But at the time I was running quite a bit rich.
I think it would have been worth something if I could retune for the cold fuel (at the time I didn't have the knowlege to retune the ecu).
I think I picked up some (.50) mph. In my case the fuel would probably have cooled the intake air (EFI)
Don't have the time or wallet to test things properly. I tried C25 and picked up between .6 and 1.2 mph. But lost 2 tenths in the short time .050 total. So some tuning would probably have been a net gain. This was tested with 3 runs on C12, then 3 runs on C25, then 2 runs on C12. With no tuning changes and not much DA change.
Some day I'll get around to actually making some tuning changes. With cold fuel or C25 (I was told it needs more timing) Don't really need it right now. Can get into instant trouble in good air.

HandOverFist · 01-02-2014, 03:04 PM

With enough coils in a can and using LN2 there might be a significant difference...would make an interesting project hehe.

01-02-2014, 02:38 PM	#1
B Parker Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 849 Likes: 980 Liked 2,336 Times in 464 Posts	Re: Dry Ice in your fuel cell? Rich I would image there would be a big temp difference between cooling the fuel at your pits and putting dry ice into the tank. I haven't raced much in the last several years but a 2 years ago I was at Indy and the stocker parked next to me was playing with dry ice. I had to laugh because it was at least 100 out and they had gloves on. They were new to the stocker game and had a newer car. They must have thought I had no clue as to what they were doing. I walked over into their pit area and they reached into their cooler as to pull out a cold beer out. I forgot what I said exactly but it was something like dry ice will keep your beer real cold. LOL Although I have heard of a few West Coast teams playing with it at Indy these guys were from my Div. Division 1.

01-02-2014, 02:51 PM	#3
Painter Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 227 Likes: 4 Liked 162 Times in 45 Posts	Re: Dry Ice in your fuel cell? Somebody told me, that somebody else told him......you get the idea, that you must remove the foam. And an old fashioned cool can will lower the fuel temp about 15 degrees at fuel check.

01-02-2014, 03:00 PM	#4
nolongerracing Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 173 Likes: 2 Liked 72 Times in 27 Posts	Re: Dry Ice in your fuel cell? Done this many times...even tested on the dyno....carb does not like it when it gets below 50 degrees....hotter it is outside the more it is worth...do not put the fuel cell lid back on too soon....

01-02-2014, 04:36 PM	#6
nolongerracing Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 173 Likes: 2 Liked 72 Times in 27 Posts	Re: Dry Ice in your fuel cell? As much as 15hp with the right fuel....not all fuels act the same...

01-02-2014, 04:39 PM	#7
HandOverFist VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Gulf Breeze, FL Posts: 1,651 Likes: 8 Liked 33 Times in 16 Posts	Re: Dry Ice in your fuel cell? Worth the effort in a heads-up...I would'nt want to deal with it otherwise. __________________ Rich Taylor I/SA - 321

01-02-2014, 08:00 PM	#8
art leong VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Richmond Hill, Georgia Posts: 2,003 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Dry Ice in your fuel cell? I did this at Atlanta one year. It was 92 degrees out and my fuel checked at 45 degrees. Got some weird looks, but explained what I did and it checked fine. I chopped the dry ice up and put directly into the fuel jugs (half full). I laughed at all the looks I got LOL. It really didn't seem to make a difference. But at the time I was running quite a bit rich. I think it would have been worth something if I could retune for the cold fuel (at the time I didn't have the knowlege to retune the ecu). I think I picked up some (.50) mph. In my case the fuel would probably have cooled the intake air (EFI) Don't have the time or wallet to test things properly. I tried C25 and picked up between .6 and 1.2 mph. But lost 2 tenths in the short time .050 total. So some tuning would probably have been a net gain. This was tested with 3 runs on C12, then 3 runs on C25, then 2 runs on C12. With no tuning changes and not much DA change. Some day I'll get around to actually making some tuning changes. With cold fuel or C25 (I was told it needs more timing) Don't really need it right now. Can get into instant trouble in good air. __________________ Art Leong 2095 SS Last edited by art leong; 01-02-2014 at 08:05 PM.

01-02-2014, 03:04 PM	#9
HandOverFist VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Gulf Breeze, FL Posts: 1,651 Likes: 8 Liked 33 Times in 16 Posts	Re: Dry Ice in your fuel cell? With enough coils in a can and using LN2 there might be a significant difference...would make an interesting project hehe. __________________ Rich Taylor I/SA - 321