Is VP Racing M1 Methanol good?  About the only source I've seen in the DMV area.

     It's as good as it gets. Stick with M1; M3 and M5 have power adders in them that you don't want/need for our use. 
     If you have a speed shop in your area that carries it in bulk to serve the racing community, you can save some money by bringing your own container so you're not paying for a new 5 gallon can with every purchase.

VP Racing M1 Methanol is the only thing I use in airplanes and the Kart. The Best!

I drive over to Deleware and pick up a 5 gal can. They also sell 1/2 & 1/2 Methanol Nitro if you can't find 100% nitro. You have to calculate on how to mix it though.


MM

How about Sunoco Methanol?

   If the local racing crowd shops there, it should be OK. SUNOCO has been supplying racing products for many years.  I was going to ask if there were any local dirt tracks that had regular sprint car, midgets, or any other class of cars that allowed methanol for fuel. That is usually a good grade and often much cheaper. I found a local farm and home oil supply place that sells VP products and also methanol and that's where I got my stuff. See if there is something similar in your area. Even if you have to drive a ways to pick it up, it's still worth it because you only need to do that a few times a year. I still had some SIG 10% nitro, 20% oil Champion fuel left, so I mixed up some new fuel using the new ingredients to that mixture. next trip to the flying field, I put up a couple flights getting tach readings and lap times. Then I just switched fuel and did not have to touch the needle. VP sells several different blends 0fr methanol, and from what I have seen and read, the M1 is just s straight methanol with no additives. Any aircraft or racing grade of methanol should be just as good. Try a gallon on it and test it out. We don't have many SUNOCO stations in these parts any more. Their old SUNOCO 260 premium gasoline was pretty popular with the hotrod crowd.
   Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

   

I've mentioned this before.   Methanol is used pretty widely as a cleaning solvent by window washers and others.  Today I am going to pick up a supply from a small local repackaging company that buys larger drums then puts it into smaller containers per order and resells other business.  They obviously handle a wide variety of products the same way.  I've been using it from them three years now and it has always been great.  I buy 15 or twenty gallons at a time in five gallon pails.  I then break it down into gallons as needed.   I would agree most of it comes from a very few suppliers regardless of what name is on it and to my thought is all of good quality as long as it has not gained moisture.  I'd bet you could find local suppliers all around if you thought in terms of it's other uses and not just racing fuels- probably cheaper too.  I've not seen the bill yet but I think I pay around 9-10 buck a gallon from them.   I'm not complaining about that.  It's still the cheapest ingredient in the fuel.  I am mixing fuel for around $20 a gallon.   I can live with that,  and I can mix any formula I wish in any quantity.

Dave

I was just checking;   Methanol is used in waste water treatment plants,   making pharmaceuticals,   making inks, paints and dyes as well as cleaning.

I picked up my load and (not really complaining) the cost for 15 gallons figured at $13.46 per gal.  This was a fresh drum just received by them Monday.  Like most everything the cost is higher these days-  likely driven more by shipping costs.  I’m OK with it.  Glad to have a good source 20 minutes away.
I have been getting nitro from Hyperfuels.  They seem to be out.  They also only advertise 5 gallon quantities or drums and not gallons as in the past.  I was able order a gallon direct from Torco.   Cost a plenty but free shipping and my supply was cutting it close for the Nats.  I should have enough stuff for fuel for the rest of the season.  Got a stash of VP for emergencies.

Dave

Thanks for the comments on methanol sources and quality.  The Sunoco methanol worked out just fine.