Cooling your fuel ????

Discussion in 'PSI Superchargers Tech Questions' started by SMOKIN JOE, Aug 18, 2013.

  1. SMOKIN JOE

    SMOKIN JOE Member

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    What effect if any does cooling your alcohol do to your performance and or your tune up ? Example: 90* temp outside, fuel in your jugs are in the shade, Versus chilled fuel @ 40* in your fuel cell. Any Thoughts or experience ??
     
    #1
    SMOKIN JOE, Aug 18, 2013
  2. Mike Canter

    Mike Canter Top Dragster
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    Cooling the fuel gives you some extra power. Not sure exactly how much power. Cooling it increases the density of the fuel and also helps cool the incoming air charge. So in simple terms I can understand it lowers the DA the motor sees internally. NHRA puts a low temperature limit on fuel at 48*. Never seen them come around and check. The big thing is to keep the sun off your fuel tank when in the pits and I keep the fuel containers inside the air conditioned spaces and fuel at the last minute before going up. I dOnt go out of my way to cool the fuel down to 40-48* but I understand that some do.
     
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    Mike Canter, Aug 18, 2013
  3. underby6

    underby6 Active Member

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    In "good" air I don't see much benefit, but when it's 3500-4500+ and hot/humid the cooling is beneficial. For us NHRA mandates 50 degrees and they check every tank at every event - I believe Cordova D5 Regional was the only place they weren't checking...until I mentioned it to them. I don't run the car any different as far as fuel system, the motor just seems happier.

    Brandon Booher
    NHRA TAD #323
    Torque MGMT. - Owner
     
    #3
    underby6, Aug 18, 2013
  4. Will Hanna

    Will Hanna We put the 'inside' in Top Alcohol
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    Chill

    It's a bit more work and a pain in the ass sometimes but we really don't see much gain in it.....:cool:
     
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    Will Hanna, Aug 18, 2013
  5. aj481x

    aj481x Member

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    Interesting that NHRA also prohibits heating the fuel.
     
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    aj481x, Aug 19, 2013
  6. Mike Canter

    Mike Canter Top Dragster
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    My understanding is that nitro works better when hot.
     
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    Mike Canter, Aug 19, 2013
  7. underby6

    underby6 Active Member

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    I'm not sure about in Top Fuel applications but in A-Fuel the cars were chilling to negative temps; basically putting slush in the tank.

    Brandon Booher
    NHRA TAD #323
    Torque MGMT. - Owner
     
    #7
    underby6, Aug 19, 2013
  8. jody stroud

    jody stroud ZOMBIE Top Dragster

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    In the fall of 2010 at an ihra race at mir I watched mike manners cool his fuel and put it in the tank so cold it was basically a nitro slush. As Brandon said before.
     
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    jody stroud, Aug 19, 2013
  9. G. Anderson

    G. Anderson Member

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    We did use a medical freezer and some 5.5 gallon aluminum tanks that we could put two at a time in to lower the temp.
    IHRA ProFuel 2010
    We were putting nitro into the fuel tank in the car just before going to the line.
    The temperature was -10 to -20 below 0 F.
    The fuel was about 30 to 40+ degrees F when we got back and drained the tank.
    For us it made no difference, other than freezing the fuel shutoff the first time.
    The nitro was not slush, but you could NOT handle the 5.5 cans without gloves...
    The ONLY benefit, it made a really nice place to put those looong kool aid freezy things in the freezer.
    "Nitro Pops".
    Everybody liked those!!!

    Don't bother....

    Your Pal, Gary
     
    #9
    G. Anderson, Aug 22, 2013
  10. TAFC 5 81

    TAFC 5 81 Member

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    At Indy 1980 I watched a BBFC owner put Freon(?) or something pressurized in the tank (in the staging lanes in front of everyone). He claimed it was to cool the fuel.
     
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    Last edited: Aug 24, 2013
    TAFC 5 81, Aug 24, 2013

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