Fuel Temps in relation to Power (Cool-Cans - Fuel Coolers)

[90mustangGT]

Talking to some older hot-rodders and they talk of cool-cans where they run fuel line in a coil through a can where they can put in some ice for a cooler fuel charge. They say cooler fuel is denser fuel and it burns better. I was wondering if anyone is running a fuel cooler and how does it effect perfromance.

 

[FastDriver]

I have no experience with this at all, so don't take my word for it.

That said, from a physics stand point, it really doesn't make sense. Cooler fuel is not denser. Liquids don't significantly expand and contract with temperature like gases do.

I suppose that in carbed cars, the fuel temp might have had a significant effect on the intake air temp, but I very much doubt that this would be the case with a fuel injected car that injects the fuel right at the valve.

Just my 2 cents.

Chris

 

[Michael Yount]

You'd get more bang for the buck by being sure your intake air is as cool as it can be.

 

[Scorcher2005]

i have heard of this too. My dad told me that back in the day they would take folgers cofee cans and wrap some gas line around it. In the can would be dry ice. Not too sure on preformance gains, but a lot of people used to do it

 

[393Bird]

It dramaticly reduces the chance of vapor lock that can happen in the staging lanes. The temp of the gas in the fuel bowls can get very high, and anything you can do to reduce it, and the intake temp is benifical. The newer EFI cars use a return fuel system to help with keeping the fuel in the engine compartment cooler in stop/go traffic by returning the excess to ther tank, instead of it sitting deadheaded under the hood gathering heat.

 

[90mustangGT]

It dramaticly reduces the chance of vapor lock that can happen in the staging lanes. The temp of the gas in the fuel bowls can get very high, and anything you can do to reduce it, and the intake temp is benifical. The newer EFI cars use a return fuel system to help with keeping the fuel in the engine compartment cooler in stop/go traffic by returning the excess to ther tank, instead of it sitting deadheaded under the hood gathering heat.

That makes a lot of sence. So I guess it woulnd't be bennificial in a EFI car. I was thinking if it even adds 1 horse, those things add up.