wondering if there are any water/meth users on here to ask a few questions, how long it lasts and whats the power gain. been running nos on a few other vehicles ive owned in the past , it was fun and all but it just runs out to fast to have to refill all the time. how is it with water meth?

 

There are several meth-heads on NAM; have you searched the archives?

The length of usage depends on the jet size and how progressive you're spraying the mixture.
You don't gain power alone with a water / methanol kit, you recoup the power lost due to heat and the laws of thermodynamics.

Water / methanol allows for higher boost levels (assuming still in the turbocharger's efficiency range) and / or a lower required octane rating of fuel as you're lowering the combustion temperature with the evaporation of water.

- Erik

 

I guess I qualify as a metHead. With a one gallon tank, with w/m triggering at 44% IDC (injector duty cycle), with moderate gain, and a spirited driving style, I have to refill the tank about every 3 weeks (equivalent to about 900 miles). edit, this is on a .6mm since I'm not tuned for it now theres not much point it wasting it so quickly

As far as power gain, with no tune you'll see effects of cooling combustion chamber temps and lower air intake temps (under ambient), so it can be debated whether that means power is being "gained" or not. Yes, theres always power lost through heat energy, but with a strong methanol mixture your octane will be over 100 octane, which is technically making more power at that point. The r56 ecu/wideband afr will trim fuel as you dump methanol into the mixture, upping octane level and reducing combustion chamber temps, making more power. Without a tune, its pretty minimal as for peak power, but throughout the powerband a gain is felt and seen. With a tune, relying on fail safes and w/m, you can see an additional 20-30 whp.

As for the additional boost levels, you won't see higher boost with your current tune by adding w/m, but a few psi could be gained when tuned for w/m, but seeing that most tuned r56's are at the 18-20psi range, there is little to no room to improve there, with the stock map sensor limitations and engine internals. But, that 20-30whp can be seen without 20psi, so, there really is no reason to push components that far.

On a side note, those dealing with 22psi boost cuts, I may have a viable solution that I will be able to confirm once it gets warm and boost levels rise again.

 

As a fellow "meth head" i agree with everything Erik stated. I have dyno'd my car with and without the meth turned on and have seen the same numbers. I am also not tuned for the meth yet.
The advantages to meth in my oppinion are:
1. you limit/eliminate the effects of heat soke
2. you now have a fluid going over the valves to reduce carbon buildup
3. increased octane rating
4. reduced EGT's/in cylander temps
5. if tuned, more hp

I have 2-1gal tanks and a 5 gal container has lasted me 7 months. I do have my meth spraying just as I start to make boost.

 

thanks for the info guys , keep it coming if theres more, i would also like to know where did you guys store the tank and pump at? pics would be nice

 

Here you go:

 

Others who have the howerton engineering kit have it on the side of the trunk, where it locks into the U or "C" clips in the trunk, where the nets normally hook up to. Its a very clean system with a metal (aluminum I think) casing, powdercoated in black.

 

Here is a link to the Howerton site that shows pictures of my install as well as R56 and R53. I have a Clubman so my install is a bit different since I don't have the mounting points for the tank like the R56/R53 does.

http://howertonengineering.com/mini/

 

looking clean! thanks

 

meth head checking in....

Spraying a 50/50 mix with a stock tune on a dyno, netted a gain of 5-10 whp depending on the rev-range. This was on my JCW with a CAI and intercooler. A larger delta would have been seen without an intercooler, obviously. Larger delta with the RMW tune loaded as well, I'd imagine.

The R56 offers good trim capabilities, as mentioned, as well as LOVING higher octane. I use 100RON fuel, with a 50/50 (by weight, not volume) water/meth mixture. If your ECU can compensate for the water/meth by increasing timing and leaning out the AFR, then power can be gained, not merely saved.

R53s like it, R56s need it.

 

is the install pretty complicated? im used to nitrous installs, it was easy on rice rockets, but a bit more challenging on bmw's

 

In my search for r53 w/m kits ive come across this site that seems to be fare priced with what comes in the kit.

http://www.coolingmist.com/

 

If you can do a nitrous install this shouldn't be much harder. The wiring is the time consuming part. Otherwise it's just mounting hardware and routing cables. Plus the grommet on the R56 on the firewall makes pass throughs so easy

 

Hardest part is just figuring out how and where you want to route the wires and lines. Taping the ECU is easy....as long as your not colorblind

Other than that its literally plug-n-play

^^well said.

 

I know there is a guy on the forms who has 240 to the wheels running meth

 

I have a meth kit I run about 30/70 water/meth. I had Jan tune it and got about 18 extra hp. I am using a .6 jet, I have the alta kit using my washer bottle as my meth tank I wanted to keep everything in the front, I have a three year old girl so safety was a big concern.

I wash my windows with meth.

 

I am looking at getting the Aquamist HFS-4 but cannot fit the Howerton Engineering tank as I have a false floor in boot covering amps.

Was wondering what options there are for tanks so using the washer filler is of interest. How does it need to be modified and how do you contain/pump washer fluid for windows. Is there another smaller tank you can mount in bonnet area for the washer fluid and would you be able to just use a smaller tank in bonnet area for the meth/water?

I guess the Howerton tank houses pump etc so it is a neat solution but if not using that where would pump be fitted?

Sorry for all the questions as new to this !!!!

 

Just one tank, as I said 'I wash my windows with meth", I usually just use the wipers when it rains and clean the window myself.

You have to drill a hole in the bottom of he washer bottle and add a valve, it was mostly easy.

I will take a picture of my pump location and post it tomorrow.

 

I'm running an AEM kit in my GLH-T... but want something a little cleaner looking for the R56.. That howerton setup looks fantastic! Anyone willing to post up some more pictures??

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...t-hfs-3-a.html

 

Why do you need to tap into the ECU when there are other kits out there that work off of boost pressure like the snowperformance kit?? You get to set where it comes on and you can have it ramp up with boost pressure..... and its a stand alone controller, no splicing into anything.

 

Curious, do you have a boost gauge/ever watched your boost levels?

Our car is electronically boost controlled via voltages that work in sync with the MAF, MAP, and Pressure Converter Valve (like the N75). Each time you step on the throttle, you get a different boost level than you did the time before, sometimes slightly, sometimes a lot different.

Relying on boost pressure would not be consistent, which is why the HFS-3 is sweet, because it is able to read injector duty cycle on a direct injection car.

 

I dont have one on this car yet, I was speaking of experiences with the snow kit on other cars.

Granted boost isnt the same every shift but (for example)if you have the kit come on at 6psi and not go full until 12psi it'll still function the same every time. I find running a progressive set up tends to do a little better than one thats an on/off switch.

 

Not every shift, i'm talking about 4th gear WOT. One time you'll hit 16psi max and taper to 14, sometimes hit 18 and taper to 16 or 22 and drop to 5. Its irratic is all im saying. Same reason we can't run a manual boost controller and hit the same max psi every time.

And the aquamist isn't an on/off switch. You can fully control from 44%-100% IDC, as well as the gain, etc, which allows you to reach maximum flow by redline, or peak and come back down, etc whatever you choose, its completely customizeable.

With boost, if you want it spraying full at 12psi (I assume you're talking about with a stock tune), you won't always see 12 psi, sometimes it will be running the same IDC but with 5 less psi because of temperature conditions, etc.

I mean i'm sure it would work, but, if you're tuned for meth, I wouldn't trust it, as a slight shift in ecu parameters may make the same target power with less boost, and without the methanol its expecting... boom goes the motor.

 

Also if the kit malfunctions it will cut timing and boost to save your motor.