Water injection was evaluated scientifically in the 1930.s by H.
Ricardo who demonstrated that one can basically double the power output of an
engine using water/methanol. The first widespread use was during WWII on
supercharged and turbocharged aircraft. In 1942, the German Luftwaffe increased
the horsepower of the Focke-Wulf 190D-9 fighter aircraft from 1776HP to 2240HP
using 50/50% water/methanol injection. The allies soon followed by fitting the
P51 Mustang and other high performance aircraft with water/methanol injection.
Following the war, the turboprop aircraft industry used water/methanol injection
and called it the "automatic power reserve system (APR)" for use in hot or high
altitude take off. It surfaced again in the 60's when GM used a system on the
OEM turbo Corvair. It was used effectively in Formula 1 before being banned for
adding too much power. The latest competitive use is in World Rally Racing (WRC)
where virtually all teams use it in some form and in diesel truck/tractor
pulling competition. It is important to note that in the fall of 2004, the long
standing world record in the quarter mile for diesels was broken twice (now 7.98
sec) by two different vehicles; both using the Boost Cooler
water/methanol injection system by Snow Performance.
The
Boost Cooleris Snow Performance's latest generation
water/methanol injection system. The primary function of water/methanol
injection is to provide "chemical intercooling".
In gasoline engines, as with
any intercooler, this suppresses detonation so more power producing boost and
timing can be utilized. Water, with its high latent heat of vaporization cools
the intake charge and combustion. Methanol cools the charge and combustion but
also acts like an extremely high octane fuel (some researchers claim as high as
120 octane) as well as adding more oxygen to combustion. Shipping charges are
not included in the prices below.
Frequently asked questions at the bottom of this page!
Boost Cooler Kits
Part #
Description
Price
Qty
Purchase
SNO-20001
Stage 1 Boost Cooler Kit Boost
Referenced The gasoline Stage 1 Boost Cooler kit is
available for forced induction applications that are either fuel
injected or carbureted. Operation is very simple: the system starts
injecting when the boost switch reaches the user-adjustable point and it
injects a fixed amount of fluid through the nozzle until the switch
opens again. This makes it a good choice for low to medium boost setups
looking for an octane enhancement and cooler intake charge. Activation
can also be set up through any other user-chosen switch, such as a full
throttle switch, etc. Now with Lifetime Warranty from Snow Performance.
Kit includes: 150+ PSI High Volume Pump, 2 Quart Reservoir, 2 Nozzles To
Cover a Wide Range of Horsepower, Required Hardware Needed For
Installation, Comprehensive Instructions
$304.00/kit
SNO-20002
Stage 1 Boost Cooler Kit Naturally
Aspirated The gasoline Stage 1 Boost Cooler N/A kit
is available for naturally aspirated applications that don't utilize a
MAF sensor. Operation is very simple, the system starts injecting when
the vacuum switch reaches the user-adjustable point and it injects a
fixed amount of fluid through the nozzle until the switch opens again.
This makes it a good choice for naturally aspirated cars looking for an
octane enhancement and cooler intake charge. Activation can also be set
up through any other user-chosen switch, such as a full throttle switch,
etc. Now with Lifetime Warranty from Snow Performance
$304.00/kit
SNO-20010
Stage 2 Boost Cooler Kit Boost
Referenced This kit uses manifold boost pressure to
determine when and how much fluid to inject. Proportionally injecting
according to boost pressure gives the most accurate delivery of
water-methanol and allows the most cooling and performance improvement
over the widest range. More power and driveability is the result. It can
be used on any forced induction engine: carbureted, fuel injected,
turbocharged, positive displacement or centrifugal blowers. The most
suitable are the centrifugal supercharged and turbocharged engines, as
they build boost is a more progressive manner concerning water-methanol
injection. The positive displacement blower engines will work, but it
might take more work to dial in the delivery. For higher boost
applications (over 25psi), the controller can be upgraded to our VC100
unit. Now with Lifetime Warranty from Snow Performance.
$429.00/kit
SNO-20011
Stage 2 Boost Cooler Kit MAF
Referenced SC or N/A This kit uses the 0 to 5 Volt output
signal from the Mass Air Flow sensor on many fuel injected vehicles.
This means that any vehicle with a MAF (with a 0-5V output signal) can
use this kit, whether they are naturally aspirated or forced induction.
If the application is forced induction, it can be used with very
fast-spooling turbos, or positive displacement blowers. It is easier to
set up with the positive displacement blowers with a MAF signal because
it is more progressive in nature vs. the boost pressure signal on those
applications. This allows for the most accurate injection possible over
the widest range. The result is the most power and driveability
possible. Now with Lifetime Warranty from Snow performance
$489.00/kit
SNO-20020
Stage 2 Boost Cooler Kit Naturally
Aspirated This kit uses a progressive controller
that proportionally injects more or less according to manifold vacuum.
Start and full points are adjustable for engagement and delivery curve,
to match what the engine requires. High compression modified engines can
gain performance through cooler intake charges and the large increase in
octane and detonation suppression. It can also be geared towards fuel
economy and using lower grades of gasoline. Kit includes: 150+ PSI High
Volume Pump, 2 Quart Reservoir, Digital Variable Controller, 2
Nozzles To Cover a Wide Range of Horsepower, All Required Hardware
Needed For Installation, Comprehensive Instructions
$479.00/kit
Boost Cooler Accessories & Upgrades
Part #
Description
Price
Qty
Purchase
SNO-40008
Boost Juice, Case of 4gal
Boost Juice is Snow Performance’s proprietary mix
of 49% methanol and 51% water. It is made in a controlled environment
with special care to make sure the ratios are accurate to result in a
high performance water-methanol fluid formulated for use in the Boost
Cooler™ injection system. If Boost Juice is used exclusively in the
Boost Cooler kit, Snow Performance offers a free lifetime warranty.
*NOTE* Boost Juice CAN NOT be shipped outside of the United States.
$29.95/cs
SNO-40007
Nitro Booster, 8oz
Nitro Booster is a great power adder designed for
use with gasoline engines using Boost Cooler water-methanol injection
kits. A proprietary blend of nitro methane and a specially developed
emulsifier that keeps Nitro Booster™ equally distributed in the
water-methanol mixture. This allows for a small percentage of nitro
methane to be injected into the engine in the correct proportion with
air and fuel to produce impressive increases in power. Usually, around
30 to 50hp increase can be measured. Nitro methane has fewer BTUs than
gasoline, but contains oxygen and acts like a chemical supercharger and
an octane enhancer to safely increase power.
$34.95/ea
SNO-40014
2.5gal Reservoir
***NOW AVAILABLE*** The new 2.5 Gallon Reservoir gives much more range
than the included 3 qt tanks, and is fairly small in size – 13”l x 9.5”h
x 7.5”w (similar to a very small car battery) and includes mounting
straps and an additional 10 feet of tubing.
$59.95/ea
SNO-40035
Low Level Indicator Switch Upgrade (unmounted) This is a float switch and indicator light
that lets you know when your reservoir is running low on fluid. Simple
to install and wire in any reservoir
$39.95/ea
SNO-40030
Low Level Indicator Switch Upgrade (pre-mounted on reservoir) This is a float
switch and indicator light that lets you know when your reservoir is
running low on fluid. Simple to install and wire in any reservoir
$49.95/ea
SNO-40040
Dual Nozzle Upgrade This allows an additional nozzle to be mounted
in any of the Boost Cooler kits. It includes a Tee, or splitter,
junction piece with our quick-connect fittings, a nozzle holder and a
section of hose. Note – injector nozzle is not included. Mounting
additional nozzles are required when you need a quantity greater than
one nozzle can provide, or if you have a dual plenum/throttle
body/carburetor setup to get even distribution.
$34.95/ea
SNO-40050
Carb Plate 1" thick adapter plate allows a very clean and
easy installation of our injector nozzles on carbureted applications
using square-bore Holley, Edelbrock, or Carter 4 barrel carburetors.
$54.95/ea
SNO-40060
Solenoid Upgrade (Fluid Flow) Shut off solenoid is used when mounting the
injection nozzle lower than the reservoir or the reservoir is
rear-mounted to prevent gravity flowing. It is also used to prevent
siphoning when the injection nozzle is mounted after the throttle body
or carburetor and is exposed to vacuum.
$49.95/ea
SNO-40110
Nozzle Adaptor for Hose Need a way to mount your injector nozzle into
your silicone or rubber intake tube? Snow Performance now offers a
Nozzle Mounting Adapter for those without metal intake tubes.
$19.95/ea
SNO-40120
Nozzle Bung - Aluminum Weldable threaded bungs make installing your
injector nozzle easier when using thin-walled intake tubing.
$19.95/ea
SNO-40130
Nozzle Bung - Steel Weldable threaded bungs make installing your
injector nozzle easier when using thin-walled intake tubing.
$19.95/ea
SNO-150
150psi Pump
$119.95/ea
SNO-220
220psi Pump
$149.95/ea
SNO-220ug
220psi Pump Upgrade (only if
purchasing kit at the same time)
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 $299?
2. More power than other means of detonation control.
3. Efficiency - leaner air fuel ratio can be utilized for normal
operation.
4. Greatly increases air charge densities for huge horsepower increases.
2. Can the Boost Cooler be applied to naturally aspirated and nitrous
engines?
1.Naturally
aspirated/high compression engines:
In this application, 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 realized timing potential. The system is activated by a boost
referenced switch so that injection takes place only during high engine
loads when needed.
2. Engines using nitrous: With nitrous, water/methanol injection allows
the use of full timing even with large (250HP+) quantities. Injection is
controlled by the same means that controls nitrous injection.
3. Naturally aspirated/stock compression: With naturally aspirated
engines with less than 10:1 compression, water/methanol is used
typically in warm climates to get the intake temps back to 60f. Benefits
include: 10-15 HP increases from air density increases and full timing,
Increased gas mileage, and carbon free combustion chambers. Activation
is by a throttle switch adjusted for onset engine load. With this
application, the nozzle is sized so that no more than 10% of total fuel
consumption at peak flywheel HP is injected.
3. Do I need an intercooler with Water/Methanol Injection?
Up to approximately 30 psi boost,
water/methanol injection (using at least 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 psi boost. Most air-to-air
intercoolers are only 50-65% efficient. That means for example, that
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 psi. on average.
4. Why not use a windshield washer pump?
Water/Methanol must be injected at above
50psi to properly atomize. Lower than 50psi 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.
5. Why Methanol?
Methanol is a high octane fuel that is extremely resistant to detonation
with an excellent cost/benefit ratio. ($1.50 - $2.00 per gallon.) 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 facts, it is a better anti-detonant than ethanol or iso-propanol
although they will work in a pinch. It has however only about 60% of the
energy content of gasoline by volume so about twice as much is used to
make similar power if used as a straight fuel. It is extremely toxic and
should be handled with rubber gloves in well ventilated areas only. Care
should be taken to avoid skin contact.
6. Where can I purchase Methanol?
SP sells 50/50% methanol/waterMethanol as Boost Juice™ (see products).
Methanol can generally be purchased where racing fuels are sold. Also,
most gas line dryers like "Heat" are simply Methanol. Suppliers of
industrial chemicals can also supply Methanol usually at a higher price
than fuel suppliers.
If all else fails, most windshield washer fluids are up to 40% Methanol
and 58% water. Although most contain some glycol and detergent(less than
1%), most windshield washer fluids are up to 40% methanol. Try to find
one that indicates "contains methanol" and is rated to -20ºf.
Methanol can be purchased on the web at www.worldwideracingfuels.com and
hiperfuels.com.
7. 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.
8. How long
does the fluid last?
The range you'll get out of our system
depends on a couple of variables:
- How much power you're making
- The settings of your system
- How aggressively you drive
In most instances our standard 2 quart reservoir works well to provide
the required amount of fluid. We have seen that a 2 quart reservoir
provides enough fluid for a 400-500 hp car to make 12-15 full throttle
quarter mile passes.
For those looking to get more range out of their system, they can tap
into their factory windshield washer reservoir and use it to hold
water/methanol. This is a good option because most washer reservoirs
have a large capacity (normally at least a gallon) plus they're already
methanol resistant (washer fluid has methanol in it). Also, the washer
reservoir is already under the hood so it doesn't require having to add
another bulky item into the engine bay.
The fitting needed to tap into your washer reservoir is available for
$9.95 above. The standard 2 quart reservoir can be swapped out for a
blukhead fitting at no cost.
9. Can this
damage my engine?
Increasing the power output of any engine
does put more stress on the engine internals. For older engines, there
should be some consideration that engine life could be shortened.
However, the use of this product reduces the pressure on the cylinders,
increases efficiency and raises oxygen levels to produce more power.
When used on high output engines or engines with increased stress due to
superchargers and turbos, the use of this product can actually increase
the life of the engine. It's not a fail safe by any means and one should
not rely on the physic/chemical advantages this product provides.
Pushing an engine beyond it's potential will shorten the life. However
an informed mechanic can take the necessary steps to limit the potential
of failure. In other words, "do your homework." Professional tuning is
suggested in all cases.
