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| "Once again, the Snow Performance methanol-injection kit has delivered the goods with big horsepower and torque increases with only a modest cash outlay." - 5.0 Mustangs & Super Fords, September 2005 |
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What kind of frequently asked questions would you like to view?
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1. What are the benefits of Water/Methanol injection?
Boost Cooler Benefits (Gasoline):
1. Low cost - where else can you get up to 60HP for as low as $304?
2. More Power - We don't create an intake restriction like an intercooler, and unlike race gas, we reduce intake air temps and improve charge air density too!
3. Efficiency - leaner air fuel ratio can be utilized for normal operation.
4. Easy Installation - Snow Performance systems can be installed in a matter of hours without having to remove bumpers or do custom intake piping.
5. Engine Health - Snow Performance systems effectively steam clean the valves, valve seats, and even the piston tops and intake when they inject. This reduces carbon build up.
2. Can the Boost Cooler be applied to naturally aspirated and nitrous engines?
• Naturally aspirated/high compression engines:
Water/Methanol injection allows the use of pump fuel in all but the most extreme situations which effects tremendous cost savings as well as horsepower increases due to air density increase and higher timing advance potential.
• Engines using nitrous:
With nitrous, water/methanol injection allows the use of more timing advance even with large (250HP+) quantities. The cooling effect of the water/methanol inside the combustion chamber also makes for reduced peak combustion temperatures.
• Naturally aspirated/stock compression:
With naturally aspirated engines using less than 10:1 compression, water/methanol is used often in warm climates to get the intake temps lower. Benefits include: 10-15 HP increases from air density increases and full timing as well as more effective air/fuel ratios, increased gas mileage, and carbon free combustion chambers.
While power gains are typically less in stock compression naturally aspirated vehicles compared to high compression or forced induction engines, benefits can still be realized due to more timing advance, leaner air/fuel ratios, cleaner engine components, lower temperatures, and the use of the methanol in the injection fluid as a secondary fuel source.
3. Does the Snow Performance system work a carbureted application?
Yes.
• We have systems for carbureted vehicles without superchargers or turbochargers. They inject according to vacuum and deliver 20-25 point octane gains over regular pump gas when using a 50/50 mix of water/methanol.
• Any Snow Performance system can be used with or feature the special 4150 or 4500 style carb plates as well. MC and RT series systems include the carb plates.
• Many muscle cars that previously required expensive high octane fuel now use regular pump gas with our system while getting better performance. These cars can use our MC (naturally aspirated) and RT (supercharged or turbocharged) series systems for a clean installation and great results.
4. What power gains can I expect?
Boost Coolers® allow for more power in two ways on a gasoline application.
• Extra octane. This allows for much more aggressive tuning safely to make more power. Timing can often be advanced 10 or more degrees in the power band. Boost can often be increased 5 or more PSI. Air/fuel ratios of around 12.5:1 can be utilized even in high boost applications.
• Better cooling of the intake air charge. We often cool intake air temperatures 50-150 degrees. This means denser air charge for more efficient power.
If these methods are used, a 20% increase in HP is possible. In naturally aspirated applications, gains of 5-10% are possible.
5. Can the Snow Performance system improve my fuel economy?
Yes. The MPG-MAX™ systems are designed to do just that. Both the diesel and gasoline MPG-MAX™ systems are specifically designed to inject a very small and precise amount of water/methanol under normal driving conditions such as accelerating away from a stop light or driving up a slight grade.
• The extra 20-25 points of octane provided allows for more spark timing advance and a leaner air/fuel ratio with the use of a programmer. Both of these factors not only improve power, their efficiency gains improve mileage as well. Additionally, many modern cars will detect the combustion of the methanol and reduce the injection of gasoline accordingly through the adjustment of long-term fuel trim values in the vehicles computer. This can directly and positively impact gasoline fuel economy. Gains of 5-15% are possible depending on how the vehicle is tuned and driven.
6. What fluid can I use in my system?
• Boost Juice®: This is the best fluid to use and is Snow Performance’s 49% methanol, 51% water mixture that can be shipped to your door or picked up at a local dealer. (If you are using your washer reservoir as the injection tank, Boost Juice® is a great washer fluid – works as a de-icer!)
• Windshield Washer fluid: Only if it is blue in color and rated for -20 deg F. It should have no special additives. This means it is safe to use and made of about 30% methanol, 70% water. If it is another color or another temperature rating, do not use it.
• You can “spike” your Blue -20 Washer fluid to a 50% mixture by adding 3 12OZ yellow bottles of Heet® gas-line-antifreeze to every gallon of washer fluid.
• Mix your own: You just need to make sure the methanol is “neat” and contains no lubricants or other additives. We recommend a 50% mixture.
• Ethanol: It is not as good as methanol, but it can be used as a 2nd best option if you can’t find methanol. It can also be mixed with water up to 50%.
• Do NOT use E85 or any other fluid with gasoline mixed in. It will destroy the fluid delivery part of your Boost Cooler® and instantly void the warranty.
• Isopropyl/Denatured Alcohols: These can be used, but are not as good as methanol. They have a lower BTU, or energy content, and a lower latent heat of vaporization (fancy way of saying how much heat they absorb) as well as a lower octane rating compared to methanol.
7. Why Methanol?
Methanol is a very high octane fuel that is extremely resistant to detonation with an excellent cost/benefit ratio. Its high latent heat of vaporization also makes it an excellent air charge cooler which means a denser mixture and more horsepower. Because of these characteristics, it suppresses detonation more effectively than ethanol or iso-propanol although they will work in a pinch. It is toxic and should be handled with rubber gloves in well ventilated areas only. Care should be taken to avoid skin contact.
8. Where can I purchase Methanol?
• Snow Performance sells 51/49 water/methanol mix as Boost Juice™ (see products). If this is used exclusively, Snow Performance can lifetime warranty a system so long as the free registration card is sent in soon after purchase.
• Methanol can generally be purchased where racing fuels are sold. Also, most gas line dryers like "Heet" are simply methanol. Suppliers of industrial chemicals can also supply methanol for a very reasonable price. Ensure that the methanol is "neat" and therefore has no additives or lubricants added by the supplier.
• -20 degree F rated, blue windshield washer fluid is acceptable for use as well, and is available at most service stations. Although some fluids rated to under -20 degrees F contain glycol and other copolymers, most windshield washer fluids are up to 40% methanol. Try to find one that displays "contains methanol" on the label and is good to -20 degrees F, with no additives or special ingredients and is blue in color.
• Methanol can be purchased on the web at www.worldwideracingfuels.com and www.hiperfuels.com.
• Additionally, many sprint car drivers and circle track and drag racers use methanol as a primary fuel. They often have methanol on hand and will even sell methanol that has been un-sealed for a long time at a very low price. Just be sure that the methanol has NO additives or lubricants (such as top lube), as they are not needed and can damage the pump.
9. What ratio of water/methanol is recommended?
• A 50/50 ratio is recommended. This has been demonstrated to be the best for charge/air cooling, excellent detonation control, and safety.
• Ratios of anywhere from 30% to 50% methanol work well and deliver excellent octane gains and cooling.
10. Can I use pure methanol?
While all components of Snow Performance systems are designed to be able to handle pure methanol, it is not recommended for a number of reasons.
• Safety: Pure methanol is easy to ignite and burns with an almost invisible flame.
• Performance: Water absorbs twice as much heat as methanol in the intake and inside the combustion chamber. Water cannot be flash-ignited, so has what is almost an infinite octane number. In the government studies for WWII piston-powered aircraft, 50/50 water-methanol was found to be the best fluid to use for auxiliary fluid injection.
• Tuning and Engine reliability: Injecting 50/50 water-methanol will prevent over-injection. If too much is injected, it will quench the flame front and the engine will bog and lose power. If too much straight methanol is injected, this will not happen, as methanol is very forgiving of rich mixtures. This could instead lead to explosive backfires, cylinder wash, etc. which will not happen when 50% or more water is in the mixture.
11. Do I need an intercooler with Water/Methanol Injection?
Up to approximately 30 psig of boost, water/methanol injection (using 50% methanol) will provide all the density increase/detonation control needed in most applications. Of course, intercooling and water/methanol injection would provide even greater benefits, especially beyond 30 psig of boost. Most air-to-air intercoolers are only 50-65% efficient. For example, with 11 psi of boost and the resulting 120°f air charge temperature increase, an intercooler reduces the air charge temperature only 60 degrees. Also, an intercooler will reduce boost 2 - 4 psig. on average.
12. Why not use a windshield washer pump?
• Water/Methanol must be injected at above 50psig to properly atomize. Lower than 50psig causes greatly reduced air charge cooling as the result of larger droplets and their reduced total surface area. Also with inadequate atomization, there is a greater propensity to quench combustion resulting in a loss of power.
• Snow Performance systems also regularly inject into charge air passages at 40 psig or higher boost pressure, and a simple washer pump will not handle that kind of stress. The pumps in Snow Performance kits are specifically built for water/methanol injection in any environment that might arise.
13. How much range will a tank of Water/Methanol provide?
This depends on a number of variables. HP, injection system, settings, driving style, etc.
• For most engines in the 200-500hp range, the standard 3qt tank will last around a tank of gasoline.
• For higher HP levels with the MPG system, it will be more like 1 gallon per tank full of gasoline. The #40016 2.5 Gallon reservoir could last two or even three tanks of gasoline.
14. I dont have any room in the engine bay for a reservoir, what are my options?
• Use the factory washer-fluid tank. A bulkhead fitting (PN# 40080) allows the use of the factory washer fluid tank as a reservoir. 50/50 water/methanol makes an excellent washer fluid. Kits for the 1.8T, 2.0T, WRX/STI, and others utilize this strategy.
• Trunk mounted reservoir. The reservoir and pump can be mounted in the trunk. 2.5 gallon reservoir upgrades (PN# 40014) feature extra tubing and mounting brackets for trunk mounting. We always recommend a #40060 solenoid for trunk mounting.
15. Where can I mount my reservoir and pump?
The pump needs to be within about 24” (hose length) of the reservoir, and as low or lower than the base of the reservoir. It is a “pusher” pump, not a “puller” pump.
• Engine bay: In the engine bay, the reservoir and pump can be placed almost anywhere, as long as they are not very close to exhaust heat, or in the path of debris from the road. Be sure that the pump is mounted at the same level or below the reservoir and that the reservoir is not located higher than the nozzle. If the reservoir must be located higher than the nozzle, a solenoid upgrade (part number 40060) is required to prevent gravity feed.
• Trunk mounting: This is fine, but again, the pump needs to be close to the reservoir and gravity fed. Lengths of 20-25 ft of tubing to the nozzle are fine. We always recommend a #40060 solenoid for rear-reservoir mounting, including use of the 2.5 gallon reservoir (part number 40014).
16. Where can I mount the nozzle?
Pre- or Post- throttle body/carburetor?
• Performance: It makes almost no difference. Before or after the throttle plate(s) won’t change the effectiveness of the fluid. A given amount of fluid will absorb a given amount of heat, whether it is done more before or after the throttle plate really doesn’t matter.
• Installation: It is usually easier to inject pre-throttle body in the intake tube. Easy access, no solenoid required (unless rear-mounting a reservoir). On a carburetor, it can actually be easier to use the #40050 carb spacer plate and a #40060 solenoid for a bolt-in installation. These components are included in our RT and MC series systems.
• In a blow-through carburetor setup with an air-box enclosure around the entire carburetor, injecting after the carburetor is preferable.
Pre- or Post- Supercharger/Turbocharger?
• Centrifugal/Turbo: (Procharger, Vortech, Paxton, Powerdyne, Rotrex, etc.) Never mount an injector nozzle before a centrifugal supercharger or turbocharger compressor. Sending fluid through the compressor wheel that spins anywhere from 50,000rpm to 250,000rpm can erode the leading edges of the fine aluminum, as well as serve to reduce the atomization. Instead of a fine mist, the compressor housing will create a river of fluid along the outside wall that means we get less benefit and use more fluid.
• Positive Displacement Supercharger: Roots style (B&M, Eaton, Magnuson, etc.) or twin screw (Lysholm, Kenne Bell, Whipple, etc.) Mounting the nozzle before this style of blower is perfectly safe and actually provides some additional benefits. The small amount of water-methanol fluid isn’t harmful to any rotor seals or surfaces or coatings, and it helps to seal the clearances and condense the air some more, resulting in a more efficient output. Additionally, it keeps the rotors and housing MUCH cooler, which reduces heat transfer to the rest of the intake and air charge.
17. What is the product warranty?
Warranty
Snow Performance's commitment to providing the best water/methanol systems is reflected in the components and construction of all Snow Performance Boost Cooler® kits.
A lifetime warranty for injection systems is available with exclusive use of Boost Juice™ injection fluid. The standard warranty is 2-years from purchase and covers all Snow Performance products and accessories purchased on or after June 1,2009 manufactured by Snow Performance, Inc. (Snow). This warranty terminates when the original retail purchaser sells or otherwise transfers the product to any other person.
Warranty Policy
Snow Performance, Inc. warrants that the Product shall conform to and perform in accordance with published technical specifications and shall be free of defects in materials and workmanship providing:
1. You are the original purchaser and provide proof of purchase.
2. For lifetime warranty, the Warranty Card that came with system (not applicable to separate parts purchases) is returned to Snow within 90-days of purchase. If valid warranty card not on file with Snow, the standard 2-year warranty applies from date of purchase.
3. An RMA # has been attained and is displayed on package containing returned part.
Subject to Snow’s inspection of the product, Snow will remedy defects in materials and/or workmanship by repairing or replacing, at Snow’s option, the defective product without charge for parts or labor, subject to the limitations and exclusions described in this warranty.
This warranty does not cover problems caused by normal wear and tear including aesthetic oxidation of surfaces, accidents, unlawful vehicle operation, or modifications or repairs to product not performed or authorized by Snow. This includes any product that is disassembled or taken apart for any reason.
In addition, this warranty does not cover problems resulting from conditions beyond Snow’s control including, but not limited to, theft, misuse, overloading, or failure to assemble, mount or use the product in accordance with Snow’s written instructions or guidelines included with the product or made available to the original retail purchaser.
In the event of failure, Snow will repair or replace the part at Snow's sole discretion. Failures resulting from misapplication or misuse of the Product, failure to adhere to any specifications or instructions, or failure resulting from neglect, abuse, accidents, or act of nature are not covered under this warranty.
Warranty service may be obtained by calling 866-365-2762, getting an RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization), delivering the part to Snow along with proof of purchase. Customer agrees to insure the Product or assume the risk of loss or damage in transit, to prepay shipping charges to Snow, and to use the original shipping container or equivalent. Shipping for Warranty replacement parts shipped outside the continental US will be charged to customer.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT IS THE ORIGINAL RETAIL PURCHASER’S EXCLUSIVE REMEDY UNDER THIS WARRANTY.
DAMAGE OR INJURY TO THE ORIGINAL RETAIL PURCHASER, TO HIS OR HER VEHICLE, CARGO, OR PROPERTY, AND/OR TO ANY OTHER PERSON OR PROPERTY IS NOT COVERED BY THIS WARRANTY.
THIS WARRANTY IS EXPRESSLY MADE IN LIEU OF ANY AND ALL OTHER EXPRESS WARRANTIES, WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN. SNOW’S SOLE LIABILITY IS LIMITED TO THE REMEDY SET FORTH ABOVE. IN NO EVENT WILL SNOW BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES OR FOR ANY OTHER DAMAGES OF ANY KIND OR NATURE (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOST PROFITS OR LOST SALES). SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
Non-Warranty Repair/Retest
Products returned due to damage or misuse and Products retested with no problem found are subject to repair/retest charges. Product will be returned to customer at customer’s expense. A credit card number must be provided in order to obtain an RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) number prior to returning Product.
18. Is there a disclaimer?
Disclaimer
Do not use this product until you have carefully read the following agreement. This sets forth the terms and conditions for the use of this product. The installation of this product indicates that the BUYER has read and understands this agreement and accepts it terms and conditions.
Performance products by their nature are designed to increase horsepower and performance not engineered into the original vehicle and the increased stress could result in damage to related systems. This is a high performance product - use at your own risk.
Snow Performance Inc., its agents, employees, or owners shall not be under any liability in contract or otherwise whether or not resulting from our negligence or contents of information supplied for any damage or loss resulting from such information.
The BUYER is responsible to fully understand the capability and limitations of his/her vehicle according to manufacturer specifications and agrees to hold the SELLER harmless from any damage resulting from failure to adhere to such specifications.
The SELLER disclaims any warranty and expressly disclaims any liability for personal injury or damages. The BUYER acknowledges and agrees that the disclaimer of any liability for personal injury is a material term for this agreement and the BUYER agrees to indemnify the SELLER and to hold the SELLER harmless from any claim related to the item of the equipment purchsed. Under no circumstances will the SELLER be liable for any damages or expenses by reason of use or sale of any such equipment.
The BUYER is responsible to obey all applicable federal, state, and local laws, statutes, and ordinances when operating his/her vehicle, and the BUYER agrees to hold the SELLER harmless from any violation thereof.
The SELLER assumes no liability regarding the improper installation or misapplication of its products. It is the installer's responsibility to check for proper installation and if in doubt, contact the manufacturer.
19. What are the Snow Performance company policies?
Prices
All prices are subject to change without prior notice. All parts herein will be invoiced at the current prices in effect at time of ordering.
Sales Tax
All Colorado residents must pay Colorado state sales tax. Retail establishments with a signed Colorado State Resale Card on file with us are exempt.
Shipping and Handling
Purchases totaling $50 and less have a standard flat rate handling charge of $9.95. Purchases totaling $50-200 have a standard flat rate handling charge of $14.95. Purchases totalling over $200 cost $19.95. Shipping on an injection kit costs $24.95 per kit. These rates include free Ground shipping within the continental U.S. Boost Juice shipping is charged per case and costs $19.95 each. International shipping is offered on a quoted basis. Expedited shipping, to include Next Day, 2 Day, and 3 Day delivery, are offered at an additional cost. For orders with more than 2 kits, contact a sales representative for a specific quote.
Shipping Damage
Damage to the product caused by shipping or broken packages must be noted at the time of receipt and reported immediately to the shipper. Assistance will be given where necessary to help in settlement with the carrier.
Claims and Returns
Receiving incorrect or missing components must be reported within 30 days of receipt. Replacement components will be delivered using Ground shipping. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost.
Unauthorized returns of any type will not be accepted. An authorization must be issued before any merchandise is returned. Customer is responsible for shipping costs to return the item. All returned items are subject to a 15% testing and restocking fee. Used items can not be returned. Handling charges and additional expedited shipping charges can not be refunded. Refunds are issued by check unless otherwise approved.
Privacy Policy
"We respect and are committed to protecting your privacy. We may collect personally identifiable information when you visit our site. We also automatically receive and record information on our server logs from your browser including your IP Address, cookie, information and page(s) you visited. We will not sell your personally identifiable information to anyone."
Security Policy
"Your payment and personal information is always safe. Our Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) software is the industry standard and among the best software available today for secure commerce transaction. It encrypts all of your personal information including credit card number, name and address, so that it cannot be read over the internet."
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