Not trying to beat a dead horse here,but? Been running alcohol for a long time and in mutiple cars and it never seemed like an issue. Got my new car done about a month ago and filled the tank up and fired the motor. All is good. Its been real hot and I decided to stay clear of the race track. Now the toped off fuel tank has been sitting for a month but here is the question,its vented so potentially air and hunidity is getting in. Has anyone ever thought about putting a shut off on the vent so when sitting the system is closed off fron air and humidity? Might not be relevant but thought I would throw it out there for feedback.

I keep my jugs closed up but do not do anything special in the tank. After last run I warm up motor real good to evaporate most of moisture out of oil. That also burns most of alcohol in tank.
Then at next race I will warm it up good with what is in the tank. Will top it off before I make first pass.

I guarantee you if you put a valve on top of vent sooner or later you will forget and it will not run good at all.

With alcohol you do not have to do much special, run top lube and warm it up good before you put it away.

Should be fine, Ive always left fuel in the race car over the winter.just warm up before putting fuel in to get old fuel out.

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Has anyone ever thought about putting a shut off on the vent so when sitting the system is closed off fron air and humidity

I ran gasoline so a shut off seemed relevant to me. I ran a clear vinyl hose from the tank to the rear fascia and put a wooden dowel pin in it w/a ball chain loop. When I hooked up my wheelie bars I would remove the dowel and store in on the push pin for the rear wing. Worked for me.

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Originally posted by Canted Valve:

quote:

Has anyone ever thought about putting a shut off on the vent so when sitting the system is closed off fron air and humidity

I ran gasoline so a shut off seemed relevant to me. I ran a clear vinyl hose from the tank to the rear fascia and put a wooden dowel pin in it w/a ball chain loop. When I hooked up my wheelie bars I would remove the dowel and store in on the push pin for the rear wing. Worked for me.

Did you ever run Methanol?

Been running methanol since the 90's. I keep the fuel cell topped off and never worry moisture, even if it sits for weeks between races. It is hot and humid here in MD in the summer and my garage sweats like crazy. I had to add a fan and leave it running to keep the air circulating when closed up.

When you get a chance pour 1 cup of alcohol in a clear container. Get 1 cup of water and start adding it until the alcohol level starts to rise. You'll be amazed at how much water it can absorb before the level rises.

The only time I ever had a problem was when it rained, really hard. Evidently, one cap wasn't sealed on a drum we keep outside and it got a ton of water in the fuel. The car would idle but would not go down the track. We changed the fuel pump and went thru the carb. Then, when all else failed we borrowed fuel and it cleaned it right up. Dumped 30 gallons of fuel/water on the asphault before we left the track, 5 gallons at a time. The **** evaporated before I could get the next jug out of the trailer.

My fuel guy (Alan Glatt) mentioned something about sealing the vents (fuel cell and carb) when sitting but I'm not doing it. No need in my eyes. I never need to pass a fuel check and never had a problem in the past, so why bother.

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Originally posted by SLICKSTER:
Not trying to beat a dead horse here,but? Been running alcohol for a long time and in mutiple cars and it never seemed like an issue. Got my new car done about a month ago and filled the tank up and fired the motor. All is good. Its been real hot and I decided to stay clear of the race track. Now the toped off fuel tank has been sitting for a month but here is the question,its vented so potentially air and hunidity is getting in. Has anyone ever thought about putting a shut off on the vent so when sitting the system is closed off fron air and humidity? Might not be relevant but thought I would throw it out there for feedback.

Turn the lights out and shine a flashlight into a full fuel cell, if it's crystal clear, the fuel isn't water contaminated.

If it's cloudy, the fuel is water contaminated.

Hi test, hi grade methanol is crystal clear. Low test, low grade methanol is filled with fibers, cloudy or both for a flashlight test.

If you run hi test, high grade methanol , no need for a filter.

I'd look at the fuel every new drum.

Would or could moisture find its way through the loop of the vent ?? Good science experiment

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Did you ever run Methanol?

No sir.

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Originally posted by HS professor:
Would or could moisture find its way through the loop of the vent ?? Good science experiment

yes. alcohol can suck moisture. Lost a qualifying run at Atlanta one year because of it.

I do run fresh high grade alcohol and ALWAYS run fuel filters. I have two large ones on the inlet and a smaller filter right in front of barrel valve on fuel injection.

^^^^^ Smart man!

Thanks for the replys. As I said been running alky since 1992 and never gave it much thought about when the car sits for a while and the fuel cell is vented. Always have double checked the 55 gal barrel making sure it sealed tight. But as someone said earlier we get to the track,warm up car and then refuel so really nothing to get to concerned over.

My trunk-mounted cell has a typical vent line with loop, exiting under the rear of the car. I did have a cap that slid over the end of the vent hose nice and snug. Capped it for one winter, but first race next season I pulled it off and left it off. Was worried I would forget to remove it some race day and mess myself up.
I left the car in the trailer, with the cell 2/3 full of methanol over last off-season, (4.5 months), with no vent cap, and the fuel in the cell was fine this spring. No visual evidence of water, ran just fine burning it off to warm the engine.

Dang thought this was a drinking thread and being its Friday. Bourbon and branch ok. Methanol and water bad. LOL