the alcohol takes over," (Mazzone, 59). The second recent solution uses "a hydrogen and carbon monoxide gas mixture produced by decomposing liquid methanol using a submerged electric arc," (Sethuraman, 157). "The device proposed has the ability to produce up to 0.01 m3/Min. (10 l /Min.) of gas with a thermal efficiency of 18% relative to the theoretical energy requirements for cracking methanol to carbon monoxide and hydrogen," (Sethuraman, 157).Corrosiveness has been a severe drawback to methanol use, but this too has a solution. In 1981, Volkswagen began coating the fuel tank, pump, and carburetor with a bronze, copper, or cadmium coating. Other engine parts were chromed or aluminized, (Mazzone, 59). In 1993, a parylene coating of seals and gaskets with elastomer-containing components has proven to help prevent their deterioration when exposed to alcohols in the engine, (Pyle, 78). Parylene coatings were tested with a range of aggressive alternative fuels by soaking samples in the fuels for 168 hours at 158F, (Pyle, 78). Modifications to methanol vehicles or fuel-flexable vehicles include the following, "instead of a carburetor, new engines use vaporizers which inject atomized alcohol fuel into a chamber [modern fuel injectors] mixing its water content in the alcohol [more uniformly]," (Mazzone, 59). Vehicles running on 100% alcohol and no gasoline can have water included in the alcohol. Fuel-flexible vehicles running on a alcohol and gasoline blend use use anhydrous alcohol, (Grammer, 10). GM has adopted the following modifications to all alcohol burning vehicles. A stainless steel fuel tank, flame arrestors to prevent ignition of methanol vapors in fuel tanks of their new VFV, (variable fuel vehicle). This vehicle can operate on 100% alcohol, 100% gasoline, or any combination in between. Stainless steel multipoint fuel injectors for greater flow of methanol, an oxide coated, anodized fuel injector rail conveying fuel from hose to i...
