Posts
36534
Joined
11/25/2008
Location
Thru-out, CA
US
Edited Date/Time
1/27/2012 3:36pm
This "issue" has been around about as long as 4-strokes and Fuel Rules have; Yet, oddly enough, it's STILL affecting the outcome, results and championship(s).
Now, Dungey's been negatively affected by this; and, as I understand, even Metty was havin' issues.
This is a tough issue for the Fuel folks: The ultimate chemistry for makin' power doesn't always do well in Hi-Temp and demanding environments. In all fairness, some of the "thermal issues" could be model-specific/bike prep oriented.
Lesson #1: You need to insulate your tank from all that engine heat. I'd just sent Austin Howell a CV4 "Fuel Kool"; because, we all know that Freestone get's DAMN HOT and is hard on the Bikes & Riders. Testing has proven that Fuel Kool liners work...even better than the "stick-on" stuff.
Lesson #2: TEST your bikes and all the "Ingredients" in the Heat, Sand and ALL the most EVIL conditions you can muster. Get it HOT and see how the Fuel does. Ever check your gas tank's "temp" after a long moto? (Especially the Aluminum tanks!)
Lesson #3: Don't go blaming the Fuel guys if all the other teams runnin' the same fuel DIDN'T have the Same problem(s).
Lesson #4: Endurance Test and be sure you're actually carrying enough fuel to finish a National Moto. I'm pretty damn sure that we haven't seen the last-time someone runs "outta gas" towards the end of a moto.
Bruce Hendel at VP tells everyone to run a full tank, even at local races, because more fuel means better heat dissipation thru-out the fuel & fuel tank.
As for pluggin' products?
I -BOUGHT- that "Fuel Kool".
CV4...excellent stuff.
Now, Dungey's been negatively affected by this; and, as I understand, even Metty was havin' issues.
This is a tough issue for the Fuel folks: The ultimate chemistry for makin' power doesn't always do well in Hi-Temp and demanding environments. In all fairness, some of the "thermal issues" could be model-specific/bike prep oriented.
Lesson #1: You need to insulate your tank from all that engine heat. I'd just sent Austin Howell a CV4 "Fuel Kool"; because, we all know that Freestone get's DAMN HOT and is hard on the Bikes & Riders. Testing has proven that Fuel Kool liners work...even better than the "stick-on" stuff.
Lesson #2: TEST your bikes and all the "Ingredients" in the Heat, Sand and ALL the most EVIL conditions you can muster. Get it HOT and see how the Fuel does. Ever check your gas tank's "temp" after a long moto? (Especially the Aluminum tanks!)
Lesson #3: Don't go blaming the Fuel guys if all the other teams runnin' the same fuel DIDN'T have the Same problem(s).
Lesson #4: Endurance Test and be sure you're actually carrying enough fuel to finish a National Moto. I'm pretty damn sure that we haven't seen the last-time someone runs "outta gas" towards the end of a moto.
Bruce Hendel at VP tells everyone to run a full tank, even at local races, because more fuel means better heat dissipation thru-out the fuel & fuel tank.
As for pluggin' products?
I -BOUGHT- that "Fuel Kool".
CV4...excellent stuff.
The Shop
Free shipping: VITALMX
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
Just sayin'
First thing first, they need to make sure the tank is big enough to finish the damn race under a top rider. Second, if heat really is the culprit, design the tank so it can be properly insulated. Then add big enough radiators, oil coolers and cooling fans if necessary.
https://youtu.be/tRrNc2v_cj4
Couple of things really puzzle me about RD running out of gas and "boiling fuel":
1) I've had the understanding that many of the teams are already using larger fuel tanks (stock is about 1.6 gal). How big are their tanks? The old 500cc 2 strokes had what, 2.3 gal tanks? 250cc had 2.0 gals. One would think that a four stroke with fuel injection ought to be significantly more fuel efficient with less unburned hydrocarbon in their exhaust than a two stroke, but if their burning comparable fuel amounts running the 10 min. shorter motos these days they must be putting out just as dirty (or worse) exhaust than a two stroke motor.
2) IF the fuel is actually boiling this seems to present quite a safety concern being around the motorcycle with the fuel in that state (let alone setting on top of it). Maybe their using the aluminum tanks for safety reasons to help insure it contains such a volatile mix inside in the event of a wreck? Do the mechanics wash the tank down immediately at the end of the race to cool it down before they open the tank?
Tortelli's gas tank needed to hold another thimble full of fuel. RD's Suzuki apparently needs a tank with liquid nitrogen cooling.
For the test, we used 2 identical titanium heat shields that were made to shield our oil tank from radiated heat from the inconel exhaust headers. We applied both the gold stuff and the silver stuff to each of the ti heat shields, put 2 heat guns set on the highest setting about a foot away from the test piece, and measured the temp on the back side of the heat shield after 15 minutes using an iinfrared tester.
I don't remember the numbers, but I do remember that the silver stuff (USA) from Coast rejected 60% more heat than the gold stuff.
The downside is that it is very thin and wrinkles easily. To do a complex shape you may have to cut it into sections rather than try to use 1 large piece.
Anyway, that's my 2 cents worth.
http://www.coastfab.com/images/pdf/HEAT_TAPE_WEB.pdf
Mike Webb -
"We went back and checked it and sure enough the fuel had vaporized, boiled, and that's what caused the bike to stop. Actually, Metty's bike ran out of gas from the podium to the truck after the second moto."
So there was still gas in RD's tank? I must have missed that part.
Just sayin...
Pit Row
Wth?
He just ran out of gas.......
RD; you mean it vaporized?
Goose; Yeah we'll go with that.
Kraig
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