Questions w/ running Alcohol?

63corvette · 04-03-2008, 11:22 AM

Some years back (1994-95) I ran a SC dragster with a 460 BBC and a dual Rons toilet. It was a good combination at the time.
You can figure the alcohol consumption to be double what gas consumption will be.
I would drive the car back to the pits and not tow it and usually it was about a 2 gal per pass or a little less including warming up, running and returning to the pits. Some tracks a little less depending on the parking situation. It takes a little longer to warm the motor up but it runs cooler so heating is not a problem even on the hottest days with a decent cooling system.
You need to watch closely the leaning of the motor when throttle stopping an alcohol motor. It can cause engine damage very quickly and be very costly. A friend just tried the E-85 and broke the top land compression ring to the top of the piston off from detonation on one piston. Others showed cracks. He had only run the engine about a dozen passes on the E-85. It took a complete set of new pistons for the repair. That is the reason I say be very carefull as it can get expensive no matter which alcohol you choose.
Good Luck With The Combination

04-03-2008, 11:22 AM	#12
63corvette Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canyon, Tx Posts: 553 Likes: 128 Liked 360 Times in 104 Posts	Re: Questions w/ running Alcohol? Some years back (1994-95) I ran a SC dragster with a 460 BBC and a dual Rons toilet. It was a good combination at the time. You can figure the alcohol consumption to be double what gas consumption will be. I would drive the car back to the pits and not tow it and usually it was about a 2 gal per pass or a little less including warming up, running and returning to the pits. Some tracks a little less depending on the parking situation. It takes a little longer to warm the motor up but it runs cooler so heating is not a problem even on the hottest days with a decent cooling system. You need to watch closely the leaning of the motor when throttle stopping an alcohol motor. It can cause engine damage very quickly and be very costly. A friend just tried the E-85 and broke the top land compression ring to the top of the piston off from detonation on one piston. Others showed cracks. He had only run the engine about a dozen passes on the E-85. It took a complete set of new pistons for the repair. That is the reason I say be very carefull as it can get expensive no matter which alcohol you choose. Good Luck With The Combination