Light-duty M100 neat methanol-fueled engines are difficult to start and run in cold weather because of the single boiling point characteristic of the fuel. Gasoline-fueled engines start with less difficulty under the same conditions partly because of the easily ignitable light ends of the fuel such as butanes, which may be vaporized before the cylinder at relatively low temperatures. Some state-of-the-art methanol engines require the addition of gasoline to the fuel to improve their startability. Other methanol engines utilize separate cold start assist. Some researchers have suggested that a combination of mechanical approaches may produce reliable cold starts of a neat methanol-fueled engine at relatively low ambient conditions. The project evaluates a methanol dissociator supplied by Coloroll, plc, for use as a cold start assist to a methanol engine. The dissociator operation, supporting equipment, program design, test results and conclusions are discussed.

Technical report. "December 1987." Cover title. "EPA/AA/CTAB-87-08." Includes bibliographical references (page 10).