In our November issue, in the AEM Performance Electronics Water Methanol Injection install article, there are a few points that need further clarification or correction. Diesel Tech apologizes for any confusion.
The 50-State Legal Water Injection kit is approved for the use of water only. For now, the use of a methanol mixture is not approved for street use. AEM maintains all of its robust components in this kit for reliability, but for it to be legal it needs to run water, which several SAE tests in addition to its own have shown to reduce EGTs under heavy load conditions.
On the installation of the injector, AEM is concerned that given the bung incorporated into the pipe and the extra space from the adapter, it could affect the spray pattern and ultimately the atomization of the spray. Diesel Tech checked with the AEM engineers following the install and they agreed that (albeit without seeing it), there is a concern because for optimum atomization the nozzle should protrude into the inlet pipe.
At best, the spray pattern could be affected. At worst, it could cause puddling, which could run its way back down the inlet, and also starve the engine of water/methanol. This could be bad for the engine if it’s tuned for the injection and if it isn't seeing the water/methanol mixture it will increase knocks and EGTs.
For those following the installation, Diesel Tech suggests the vehicle is checked to make sure there is no evidence of puddling or water/methanol collecting and streaming back down the intake. To fix the situation, a hole needs to be drilled in the aluminum pipe just upstream of the cast pipe and the injector can be inserted there. (www.aemelectronics.com)