MatraSport Forum

Has anyone tried Water / Methanol Injection on a carburetor car?
This will reportedly have several positive effects: increased octane gasoline mixture, increased output and lower combustion temperature.

I haven't actively added a water injection system to my car. But my father pointed out once, how our old Opel had more power in foggy weather. Taking in the water mist through the air filter added power to the engine.
My suggestion would be to take the ultra-sound transducer from a humidifier and a modify it to create a mist that can be taken in through the air filter. I would not mount it after the air filter for the risk of tasking water directly into the carburettor.
Of course, if the rpm's are high enough you can pour a mineral water slowly, directly through the carburettor in order to blow off slag from the cylinder head.  ;D

Thought I'd try this stage 1 kit on my Murena
Does anyone see any risks in using this?

http://www.hydro-hp.com/NonTurboSystems.html

During WW2 the Airforce used water injection and after a company patented the idea for use in cars. In Popular Mechanics from April 1982 there is this article:
https://books.google.dk/books?id=0dQDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA153&lpg=PA153&dq=water+expands+3000+times+what+about+methanol&source=bl&ots=bXCRaATXDA&sig=jVpYQWjIGgc-HpcPWRgQnWjsLKg&hl=da&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj-ipv__pzLAhVEUBQKHVwiA3IQ6AEIODAD#v=onepage&q=water%20expands%203000%20times%20what%20about%20methanol&f=false (https://books.google.dk/books?id=0dQDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA153&lpg=PA153&dq=water+expands+3000+times+what+about+methanol&source=bl&ots=bXCRaATXDA&sig=jVpYQWjIGgc-HpcPWRgQnWjsLKg&hl=da&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj-ipv__pzLAhVEUBQKHVwiA3IQ6AEIODAD#v=onepage&q=water%20expands%203000%20times%20what%20about%20methanol&f=false)

I think that the benefit of adding Methanol to the water tank is only to prevent freezing during winter months. Methanol has a lower burn value than Gasoline, as far as I know. So I don't think that in itself will increase power over pure water. Now, if you added Nitro Methane... ;D

Hi
You have some American comments / theories of the water-methanol injection here
http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/engine/1402-how-to-boost-engine-power-with-water-methanol-injection/

and a German supplier “Turbo Zentrum in Berlin they have several kits
http://www.turbozentrum.de/en/intercoolersystems/waterinjection/boostcooler-stage-2-variable-einspritzung/a-2169/

As I can see that you are running a SAAB 2.3T I guess that you are familiar with SAAB using water injection as standard on the Saab 99 & C900 Turbo
http://saabworld.net/showthread.php?t=1341

Keep us updated on your progress please, as I find this topic very interesting.
Regards Hans

The kit is received and it looks great! I will assemble the kit when it gets a little warmer weather :)
Will keep you apprised guys!

Hans: Yes, I am aware that this was being used by Saab, Chrysler, BMW and Alfa Romeo to name a few automobile Manufacturers.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_injection_(engine)

Hi,

What is your current engine set up, carbs, cam, exhaust etc... and what does your engine actually produce power and torque wise at the moment before modifications?

I am also very interested in this subject and am very keen to see the results of this project.

Keep us posted.

Graham

I have had experience of the aqua mist set up on a Saab 900 16VT. On turbo motors they are easy to setup , control  and I understand how they work.

How much benefit is there on an NA set up?

By the way all of the parts can be bought individually a bit cheaper but I would be interested in your current and proposed set up.

I sold my aqua mist set up a long time ago as even when in perfect shape I didn't notice that much of a difference.

Like Graham, I will also be interested in your project.  However, you need to check the current power accurately first because the original advertised power outputs are incorrect - they used the wrong conversion factor from KW to horse power which gave misleadingly high figures.  Original power and torque were measured in metric so another way is to make sure any new measurements are also in metric.

Water injection is usually done to cool the chamber temperatures and stop any pre-ignition or detonation and is usually used in conjunction with super- or turbo-charging where the incoming charge has been heated during compression.  I'm not aware of any great gains when used with a naturally aspirated engine.  Those manufacturers you mention like SAAB and BMW were using turbo charging on those engines.

Roy