Long-term methanol vehicle test program. Final subcontract report, 1 November 1992--1 February 1995 Page: 4 of 91
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Long-Term Methanol Vehicle Test Program - Final Report
1. Background and Objective
Methanol, one of the leading alternatives to gasoline as a motor vehicle fuel, has been
highlighted in national competitions such as the Society ofAutomotive Engineers (SAE)
Methanol Marathon in 1989 and the SAE Methanol Challenge in 1990, but little has
been done in the area of long-term testing of methanol as a motor vehicle fuel. To
address this shortcoming, a 1988 Chevrolet Corsica was modified by Texas Tech Uni-
versity to serve as a test bed to determine the long-term effects of methanol on engine
and emission systems performance. The vehicle was previously modified to operate
on M85 for the SAE Methanol Marathon/Challenge competitions; it was further modi-
fied for M100 operation for the long-term test program.
The objective of this project was to determine the effects of methanol fuel on engine
performance and exhaust emissions during long-term use. Engine wear, gasket per-
formance, fuel economy, emissions level, oil consumption, and overall vehicle perfor-
mance were monitored over approximately 22,000 miles of vehicle operation. Vehicle
performance, oil consumption, and emissions baselines were established initially to
be used for comparative purposes during the program. The engine was removed from
the vehicle and disassembled, and all bearing and ring clearances and cam profiles
were measured to determine any preexisting wear. All gaskets, seals, bearings, and
piston rings were replaced. The cylinder bore was honed, valve and valve seats were
lapped, and the crankshaft journals were polished. Higher flow rate fuel injectors
supplied by AC Rochester were installed and the computer system was calibrated for
M100 fuel.
At the completion of the program, after the mileage accumulation phase, the vehicle
emissions level, oil consumption, and engine performance were again determined.
The engine was removed from the vehicle, disassembled, and engine component wear
was determined and compared with the initial condition.
2. Vehicle Modifications
The Corsica was initially modified to operate on M85 for the SAE Methanol Mara-
thon/Challenge competitions [1 and 2]. The vehicle won 2nd place overall in the 1990
Methanol Challenge, placing 1St in endurance fuel economy, 2nd in acceleration, and
demonstrating excellent emissions and maneuverability. Table 1 summarizes the major
event rankings for the Texas Tech Corsica.1
Mechanical Engineering Department
Texas Tech University
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Jones, J. C. & Maxwell, T. T. Long-term methanol vehicle test program. Final subcontract report, 1 November 1992--1 February 1995, report, September 1, 1995; Golden, Colorado. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc621423/m1/4/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.