Is it possible to use a 10 to 15% mix of methanol in 1997 Volvos without any problems?

Australia is moving towards the use of up to 10% _Ethanol_, *not* _Methanol_.

Completely different stuff. Ethanol is the alcohol in drinks - it's not as poisonous or carcinogenic as methanol, or as corrosive. :-)

Reply to
athol
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E75

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Regards,

Boris Mohar

Got Knock? - see: Viatrack Printed Circuit Designs (among other things)

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void _-void-_ in the obvious place

Reply to
Boris Mohar

My understanding is that Brazil also leads the world in the sale of flex-fuel vehicles, as a percentage of total vehicle sales.

AC

Reply to
Aawara Chowdhury

And while I also would trust something I read on the internet, especially from someone who has a history of knowing what they're talking about, over some dealer service advisor whose function is to sell, sell, sell, a source better than either is the owners manual. The one for my '98 V70 (which is almost identical to the OP's '97 850 from a fuel system standpoint) states:

"Do not use gasolines containing methanol (methyl alcohol, wood alcohol). The practice can result in vehicle performance deterioration and can damage critical parts in the fuel system. Such damage may not be covered under the New Vehicle Limited Warranty."

That seems pretty conclusive.

Reply to
Mike F

In general, Mike F, I agree with you. However, the owner's manual (esp. well-pass warranty) may not be the best source of information either. For example, I use regular (87 octane) in my Volvo 850 - which is normally aspirated.

Neither the manual, nor the dealer recommend using 87 octane fuel. However, others on this group - such as Dr. Stephen Henning have used it with no ill effects on several Volvos including one similar to that which I drive.

So, I guess, whatever the source of information, one has to be able to whet it.

AC

Reply to
Aawara Chowdhury

I generally agree with you. However, you have to understand that the car company also has a vested interest in saying what they do--it's a form of CYA. Tell the owner that they can't do anything but a very narrowly defined set of "correct use", and you've got a basis to void the warranty if something goes wrong with the car. I'm not saying that's true in this case, just pointing out that the owner's manual is not exactly an objective source of information. For example, I frequent the Miata newsgroup, and that owner's manual says to never, ever, ever, ever tow anything with the Miata. There are a several people on that newsgroup that have thousands of miles of towing trailers, without a mishap or damage to their car, and nobody there is saying "hey, guys, I have had problems towing a trailer with the Miata." Seems pretty clear that that part of the owner's manual is nothing but CYA.

Conclusive specifically about methanol. Methanol and ethanol are very different--methanol is much more hydroscopic and corrosive, and much more polar (i.e., likely to extract rubber additives), and thus much more likely to cause damage to an engine. Since they specifically mentioned methanol, I would read that to mean ethanol-containing fuels are fine.

Eric Lucas

Reply to
<lucasea

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Reply to
Andrew McKenna

Well what you are saying is true to an extent - and I know lots of people who tow with cars where the owners manual warns against it. But owners manuals are written also with a worst case scenario too, like if you're towing a trailer with your Miata up a mountain road at high speed on the hottest day of the year in the deserts of Arizona with the A/C on full blast while tailgating another car so closely that airflow to the rad is blocked. Or perhaps it's brake related, same scenario, this time going down the mountain, automatic transmission in Drive, riding the brakes all the way.

However in cases like using fuel, there's really only one scenario - using it is using it. And in this particular owners manual, I didn't post everything written about the fuel requirements, that was more than a whole page. It did allow a composition of up to 10% ethanol, as well as allowing other additives.

Reply to
Mike F

That is one thing that always comes to the top...that the cost of energy is increasing. Petroleum has been the king for a long time. There is no obvious and immediate successor to the throne.

However, in electric plants where coal is burned, the same heavy metals are left behind in the ash. The sulfur is still freed by the process.

Maybe your gas process is expensive, and the waste is nasty, but it is unlikely to be any worse than the waste generated by burning the coal.

There just is no free lunch, is there?

Reply to
<HLS

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