Water Methanol Injection on Subarus. Whats your Views.
Posted: July 3rd, 2008, 8:35 am
So, how does Water injection work for you. I for one have used it for the past year and I can say it does do as the product manufactures suggest.
The coolingmist kit is one of the popular applications. I went with the trunckmount progressive injection with the Super High Speed Valves. Nice simple installation.
The installation itself took about 1 hour and required not much tools. I prefer to crimp the wires for more insulated protection than twisting them and taping. That in itself speeds up the installation process.
Tuning.
The whole idea behind WMI kits is to do two things.
1. Cool the intake temps
2. Raise the fuel octane.
Some say with a 50/50 mix its like rasing over 100octane from pump. Some say a 30/70 (W/M) would yeild about 120octane from pump gas.
This is done in two stages, as you go into boost the kit activates and mists the mixture from the tank into the boost path. This enters the intake and then the chamber. The water in the mixture takes heat with it down through the exhaust lowering the exhaust temps. This reduces knock.
The Methanol in the mixture raises the octane in the fuel (remember this is an alcohol based liquid).
Both action inadvertently raises the octane level, and allows you to run, more boost, more ignition and leaner mixtures. All these deliver power.
The downside.
If the pump fails or any other item in the WMI kit fails you leave your engine prone to damage. Its advisable to install a failsafe to the system
Secondly you must monitor you tank to ensure it doesnt run dry.
Thirdly, tuning is necessary. If you add WMI to the stock system the mixture being injected displaces the air that should be there. You would run rich and lose some power. Its advisable to lean mixtures slightly to compensate. Of course monitor knock and AFRs when you do this.
The coolingmist kit is one of the popular applications. I went with the trunckmount progressive injection with the Super High Speed Valves. Nice simple installation.
The installation itself took about 1 hour and required not much tools. I prefer to crimp the wires for more insulated protection than twisting them and taping. That in itself speeds up the installation process.
Tuning.
The whole idea behind WMI kits is to do two things.
1. Cool the intake temps
2. Raise the fuel octane.
Some say with a 50/50 mix its like rasing over 100octane from pump. Some say a 30/70 (W/M) would yeild about 120octane from pump gas.
This is done in two stages, as you go into boost the kit activates and mists the mixture from the tank into the boost path. This enters the intake and then the chamber. The water in the mixture takes heat with it down through the exhaust lowering the exhaust temps. This reduces knock.
The Methanol in the mixture raises the octane in the fuel (remember this is an alcohol based liquid).
Both action inadvertently raises the octane level, and allows you to run, more boost, more ignition and leaner mixtures. All these deliver power.
The downside.
If the pump fails or any other item in the WMI kit fails you leave your engine prone to damage. Its advisable to install a failsafe to the system
Secondly you must monitor you tank to ensure it doesnt run dry.
Thirdly, tuning is necessary. If you add WMI to the stock system the mixture being injected displaces the air that should be there. You would run rich and lose some power. Its advisable to lean mixtures slightly to compensate. Of course monitor knock and AFRs when you do this.
