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Methanol car over the winter (cold winter) #1099290 10/22/11 06:26 PM 10/22/11 06:26 PM
Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 6,780 Alabama Mopar-Al OP master
Mopar-Al OP master Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 6,780 Alabama	Was wondering if I should run an oil pan heater or block heater over the winter. I started to buy an oil pan heater , 200 or 300 watt magnetic type, but thought maybe I need a water block heater instead. I will be starting my race car up once in a while over the winter. I run methanol with a carb.

Re: Methanol car over the winter (cold winter) [Re: Mopar-Al] #1099291 10/22/11 06:41 PM 10/22/11 06:41 PM
Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 52,972 Romeo MI MR_P_BODY Master
MR_P_BODY Master Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 52,972 Romeo MI	Quote: Was wondering if I should run an oil pan heater or block heater over the winter. I started to buy an oil pan heater , 200 or 300 watt magnetic type, but thought maybe I need a water block heater instead. I will be starting my race car up once in a while over the winter. I run methanol with a carb. Just put antifreeze in it and run some gas through it ... if you want crank, it over once in a while... I would use fogger on it also...I wouldnt waste my time or money with a heater

Re: Methanol car over the winter (cold winter) [Re: MR_P_BODY] #1099292 10/22/11 07:10 PM 10/22/11 07:10 PM
Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 6,780 Alabama Mopar-Al OP master
Mopar-Al OP master Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 6,780 Alabama	I do have anti freeze in it I also run top end lube in the fuel. I run 50 wt oil in the engine tho. It is started every 4 weeks, so I wasn't considering fog and gas method. We really don't get snow around here. Methanol is a real pita to start up on cold days and cold engine.

Re: Methanol car over the winter (cold winter) [Re: Mopar-Al] #1099293 10/22/11 07:16 PM 10/22/11 07:16 PM
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio Challenger 1 Too Many Posts
Challenger 1 Too Many Posts Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio	I would not store the car with methanol in it. It would be way better to remove the methanol and either, like Mr P said, run gas through it or I would blow out the whole fuel system and blow WD 40 or other simlar lub through the whole deal. Take the carb off and store it inside with lub in it. Fog the motor and don't start it this winter. My

Re: Methanol car over the winter (cold winter) [Re: Mopar-Al] #1099294 10/22/11 07:23 PM 10/22/11 07:23 PM
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 307 OH T TheBlackCar enthusiast
TheBlackCar enthusiast T Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 307 OH	NAPA sells a heater you can put in the lower rad hose, just cut the hose in half and clamp it in place. They have different sizes and cost about $35. Good Luck

Re: Methanol car over the winter (cold winter) [Re: TheBlackCar] #1099295 10/22/11 07:26 PM 10/22/11 07:26 PM
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 307 OH T TheBlackCar enthusiast
TheBlackCar enthusiast T Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 307 OH	I also agree with purging it and not starting it over the winter.

Re: Methanol car over the winter (cold winter) [Re: Challenger 1] #1099296 10/22/11 07:26 PM 10/22/11 07:26 PM
Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 6,780 Alabama Mopar-Al OP master
Mopar-Al OP master Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 6,780 Alabama	All year long I work out of town 4 weeks at a time. I usually just leave the fuel in the car. Is winter different than summer? The car stays in my shop. I was worried once about the carb. I tore it down and had no issues. I do WD the carb down and put a hat on it. I had been wondering about my magnafuel pump, but it has been running good. I was thinking the upper fuel lube was helping. But if I need to , I can drain the fuel. Just sometimes I enjoy driving the back country road for test and tune. Thanks

Re: Methanol car over the winter (cold winter) [Re: Mopar-Al] #1099297 10/22/11 08:13 PM 10/22/11 08:13 PM
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio Challenger 1 Too Many Posts
Challenger 1 Too Many Posts Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio	Winter is different than summer because there are more temp swings which causes condensation and with trash your fuel and fuel system. Because methanol absorbs water and then corodes stuff. Even with top lube(which is good), it will happen eventually when you store with methanol. Even 4 weeks is too long for me.

Re: Methanol car over the winter (cold winter) [Re: Mopar-Al] #1099298 10/22/11 08:16 PM 10/22/11 08:16 PM
Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 52,972 Romeo MI MR_P_BODY Master
MR_P_BODY Master Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 52,972 Romeo MI	Any alky type fuel will absorb moisture so I would drain the tank and run gas through it, stall it with fogger and say good night till spring(might pull the pressure off the valve springs

Re: Methanol car over the winter (cold winter) [Re: MR_P_BODY] #1099299 10/22/11 10:23 PM 10/22/11 10:23 PM
Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,632 Lubbock,TX D DavidDean top fuel
DavidDean top fuel D Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,632 Lubbock,TX	I drain the methanol and install a gas carb. I add stabil for e-85to pump gas preium. Then I start the engine and get it hot 190-200.I then use fogging oil in all cylinders and spray it down the carb.I use RV anti freeze in the cooling system w/ anti rust.I spin the motor over about every week or so till it builds oil pressure.When I'm ready to start it I drain the gas & wipe out the fuel cell & service the fuel filters.Usually I just start it & warm it up good & change the oil.

Re: Methanol car over the winter (cold winter) [Re: MR_P_BODY] #1099300 10/23/11 10:35 AM 10/23/11 10:35 AM
Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 767 NW PA V10nacuda super stock
V10nacuda super stock Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 767 NW PA	Quote: stall it with fogger and say good night till spring(might pull the pressure off the valve springs Do you use a special type oil???? Someone mentioned fog each cylinder.....pull the plugs and hose it down???? Thanks V10

Re: Methanol car over the winter (cold winter) [Re: V10nacuda] #1099301 10/23/11 11:26 AM 10/23/11 11:26 AM
Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 52,972 Romeo MI MR_P_BODY Master
MR_P_BODY Master Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 52,972 Romeo MI	Quote: Quote: stall it with fogger and say good night till spring(might pull the pressure off the valve springs Do you use a special type oil???? Someone mentioned fog each cylinder.....pull the plugs and hose it down???? Thanks V10 I just pour it down the carb.... lightly at first, so I see it smoking out the pipes, then pour enough to stall out the engine...its just the Stabil stuff

Re: Methanol car over the winter (cold winter) [Re: MR_P_BODY] #1099302 10/23/11 10:45 PM 10/23/11 10:45 PM
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 215 mo A ALKYW5DART enthusiast
ALKYW5DART enthusiast A Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 215 mo	put in antifreeze then i fog motor till dies take carb off take bowls off hose down with wd40 put back together bolt back on drain fuel(alky) fill tank with gas turn on pump till drains gas tank and line.hook back up carb fuel line then back off rockers then cover car and kiss good bye till spring

Re: Methanol car over the winter (cold winter) [Re: ALKYW5DART] #1099303 10/23/11 11:36 PM 10/23/11 11:36 PM
Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 6,780 Alabama Mopar-Al OP master
Mopar-Al OP master Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 6,780 Alabama	Lots of sound advice here. Thanks. Guess I may not be doing much to it over the winter anyways. What's the name of the fogger stuff? Is it like tranny fluid? I try to keep my shop no colder than 55 in the winter, but me always being out of town, a power shortage could mess me up.

Re: Methanol car over the winter (cold winter) [Re: Mopar-Al] #1099304 10/24/11 09:05 AM 10/24/11 09:05 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 6,314 The Swamp MegaDart master
MegaDart master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 6,314 The Swamp	Here's what I would... fresh oil change remove carb and drain/flush all fuel lines and pumps. Clean all filters. Thoroughly clean and lube carb, put in a bag and store it on a shelf. Fill your pump with atf or marvel and cap it off. Pull the plugs and spray marine fogging oil in each cylinder. Turn motor over and do it again. Air up the tires and put car on jackstands. Remove batteries and/or put on a maintenance charger. Most of this is overkill but we all know the saying "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" FWIW, my alky car sat in my garage all summer, actually 7 months and fired off on first hit...

Re: Methanol car over the winter (cold winter) [Re: MegaDart] #1099305 10/24/11 11:05 AM 10/24/11 11:05 AM
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 10,542 BROOK PARK, OH WILD BILL Senior Member of the Junior Dragster Club
WILD BILL Senior Member of the Junior Dragster Club Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 10,542 BROOK PARK, OH	I just did the same thing I always do to the Jrs. I drained the cell, put some WD 40 in it and ran the motor on that. Takes care of everything all at one time.

Re: Methanol car over the winter (cold winter) [Re: TheBlackCar] #1099306 10/24/11 01:19 PM 10/24/11 01:19 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 16,923 NC 440Jim I Live Here
440Jim I Live Here Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 16,923 NC	Quote: NAPA sells a heater you can put in the lower rad hose, just cut the hose in half and clamp it in place. They have different sizes and cost about $35. Good Luck I searched the NAPA web site and here is an example, 1-3/4" hose, 600 Watt NAPA KAT 14700 link

Re: Methanol car over the winter (cold winter) [Re: WILD BILL] #1099307 10/24/11 01:25 PM 10/24/11 01:25 PM
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 2,008 Sweet Home Alabama M MRMOPAR622 top fuel
MRMOPAR622 top fuel M Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 2,008 Sweet Home Alabama	I drain the fuel lines and fuel cell only....I put antifreeze in and about once a week turn on the electric water pump and spin the engine over a few times...that way there is no need to back off on the valves and not be able to spin the engine over during the 4-6 weeks of winter here in Alabama. This was just my 2nd year to run alcohol but this year after each race I drained my fuel cell & lines. The drops left on the funnel you use to put the alcohol in with would I guess pull moister out of the air. I went from the 99.9% like they sell at the track to VP still would do it. "To Be The Man'You Have Got To Beat The Man" "T/D and Pro-Bracket Racer"

Re: Methanol car over the winter (cold winter) [Re: MRMOPAR622] #1099308 10/24/11 01:34 PM 10/24/11 01:34 PM
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 205 upstate new york 7 71cuda enthusiast
71cuda enthusiast 7 Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 205 upstate new york	winter here in Alabama? you call that winter? come to upstate ny -30 10' snow.starts in nov. ends in april. please don't get mad , i was just busting on you.

Re: Methanol car over the winter (cold winter) [Re: 71cuda] #1099309 10/24/11 02:44 PM 10/24/11 02:44 PM
Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 6,780 Alabama Mopar-Al OP master
Mopar-Al OP master Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 6,780 Alabama	I wont have to do this untill the first of Dec, then it will be for about 12 weeks is all. I know we don't have severe winters here, but sometimes it can get down to the teens for a week or 2. Average is 25-40 degrees and usually no snow.

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