Snow Performances MPG Max Kit Installed In A 2006 GMC Duramax - Snow Water Methanol Injection
Injecting water methanol into the intake of a diesel engine is a means to increasing performance, reducing exhaust gas temperature (EGT), and can also increase full economy. Snow Performance has been marketing and furthering water methanol technology over the past few years with kits for gasoline and diesel engines. The theory behind water methanol injection is the water cools the incoming air and the methanol acts as a catalyst to the fuel inside the combustion chamber. Although water methanol is fairly new to the diesel aftermarket (5 to 10 years), after doing some research on the subject, it turns out that the concept was originally developed in the '30s. We also found an interesting wartime report that was conducted by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics during World War II validating the use of water methanol on aircraft. Apparently, a few OEMs such as Chrysler and Saab have also used water methanol on production vehicles.
| The water methanol injectors must be mounted into the aluminum intake manifold that connects among the intercooler, head, and EGT. The intake manifold must be removed from the truck for drilling and tapping.
Snow Performance has taken the basic principle of water methanol injection and developed better systems for controlling it. Snow's latest development is the MPG Max kit that controls injection using a 2-D controller, which measures boost pressure and EGT and determines water methanol injection dependent on both variables. This kit injects a steady spray of water methanol across the whole power curve for better economy. It also controls another nozzle for high-performance use, making the MPG Max kit ideal for daily driving and competition.
Water methanol is similar to propane and nitrous systems in that it provides an immediate boost of power at the push of a button. But whereas nitrous and propane are in gaseous form and they require special filling at select locations, water methanol is in liquid form-so it can simply be poured into the reservoir and is pretty widely available. Snow Performance sells a premixed liquid it calls Boost Juice, but it is essentially the same as winter formula windshield washer fluid that is available at most gas stations, especially in colder areas. It is important to check the ingredients of windshield washer fluid before using it to inject into the engine.
We visited Brent Wilsley and Jeff Campbell at Powerlabs in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to witness the installation of a Snow Performance MPG Max kit on an '06 GMC Duramax. Snow Performance President Matt Snow also came along to answer questions and assist with the install.
