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The wider flammable limits of methanol compared to unleaded gasoline impose additional safety concerns when storing nearly neat methanol fuels. The upper flammable limit temperatures (UFLT) of various methano1/gasoline fuels were determined. An excellent correlation between the UFLT of methanol/gasoline mixtures and their dry Reid vapor pressures (RVP) was obtained. It is now possible to predict the upper temperature limit of the flammability range of methano1/unleaded gasoline fuels from a knowledge of their dry RVPs. The lower flammable limit temperatures were also determined. A good correlation was obtained between the lower flammable limit temperature and the dry RVP.

A Minimum Cooled Engine (MCE) has been successfully run for 250 hours at rated condition of 298 kW and 1900 rpm. This engine was all metallic without any coolant in the block and lower part of the heads. Ring/liner/lubricant system and thermal loading on the liner at top ring reversal (TRR) as well as on the piston are presented and discussed. Ring/liner wear is given as well as oil consumption and blow-by data during the endurance run. Another engine build with a different top ring coating and several lubricants suggested that a 1500 hours endurance run of MCE is achievable. Rig test data for screening ring materials and synthetic lubricants necessary for a successful operation of a so-called Adiabatic Engine with the ring/ceramic liner (SiN) interface temperature up to 650°C are presented and discussed.