EPA tests: converted 1.9L TDI w/ Methanol

[ptownTSI]

This is pretty cool, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has done quite a bit of testing with a converter VW 1.9L TDI 19.5:1 compression engine + a turbo using various blended alcohol fuels such as methanol including M100 and M85. along with ethanol testing as well.

In short, they have found they can get much higher engine efficiency with alcohol blended gas even at levels of only M30 or E30. it was funny seeing E30 written so much, (Ethanol 30%, Gas 70%).

here are a couple article links. good reads, especially if you are interested in thermodynamics and engineering.

http://www.methanol.org/pdf/2002-01-2743.pdf

http://www.methanol.org/pdf/ISAF-XV-EPA.pdf

[E30SPDFRK]

Cool articles. I would much rather have a diesel than hybrid.

[Jon325i]

Interesting reading - some of the tricks being tested with modern diesels are yielding some impressive results. Even with those ideas aside, I'm really digging the VW TDIs. Would love to have one for a daily driver

Jon

[ptownTSI]

did you guys notice that its a diesel engine, converted to spark ignition, and running on different blends of methanol though :)