Gas line anti-freeze

RichZ · Nov 3, 2003

Is there any difference in different gas line anti-freeze? I notice the ones with methyl alcohol are cheaper than isopropyl alcohol. Is there any difference? Is there anything besides the alcohol in them? Could you just buy bottles of isopropyl rubbing alcohol and use that, since it's cheaper? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

grainger12002 · Nov 3, 2003

Napa makes a product called Thermo-aid, we have used it with great results,think its about .90 a bottle. Buy it by the case, you will like it. Just dont forget gasoline engines only- /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

fgross335_2210 · Nov 3, 2003

I have learned that methyl alcohol-based dry gas is not recommended for two-strokes, but that isopropyl alcohol-based dry gas is OK. Methyl must affect the lubrication qualities of the oil burned in a two-stroke, my snowmobile owner's manuals all warn against this.

Regarding using rubbing alcohol, I'm guessing it could be a substitute for dry gas but would require higher quantities and/or be more costly. Typically anything fit for human consumption is refined to a higher level and/or less potent than the non-human equivalent. It would be interesting to compare the active ingredients of the two my bet is dry gas is a lot more potent than rubbing alcohol.

JeffRey30747 · Nov 3, 2003

Also, typical "rubbing" alcohol is a solution of isopropyl alcohol and water. Putting that in your fuel tank might be counter-productive. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

BIGUN · Nov 3, 2003

The rubbing alcohol I have seen is either 70% or 95% isopropyl alcohol with the balance being water. Either way the water absorbing properties of the alcohol has been reduced. I know pure 100% isopropyl is available in five gallon cans which we use as a cleaning fluid, but not sure where we get it.

RichZ · Nov 4, 2003

Yikes!!! I didn't know that rubbing alcohol had water in it!!! Forget that idea!!!

But I still wonder if there's a differnece between isopropyl or methyl alcohol for water absorbtion.

Adirondaks · Nov 4, 2003

http://www.goldeagle.com/heet/faqs.htm

Explains the difference between the two.

RichZ · Nov 4, 2003

Thanks, Lou!!!!

NOW I know the difference!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Soundguy · Nov 4, 2003

The whole idea behind alcohol as a de-waterer, is that water is a polar material, and alcohol is a polar solvent..( gas and water don't mix..yada.yada..alchohol and gas does.. and alcohol and water does... ) once the water is solvated.. it isn't sitting in a glob at the bottom of the tank, or in a line, etc.. but is free to pass into the combustion chamber... etc.

For a neat trick, get a small glass of gasoline.. add a small amount of water... it puddles to the bottom. Add some alcohol... let sit, or agitate.. observe...

As other pointed out.. on the shelf alcohol is already some percentage an aqueous soloution...

Soundguy

Junkman · Nov 4, 2003

Better experiment........ put the container contents of the dry gas into a 4 cup measuring cup and note the amount. Fill the dry gas container to the same level as the dry gas was with water and pour that into the measuring cup and see how much of the total amounts of liquid now measure...... Hope that these instructions are clear to you......... 8 oz of dry gas + 8 oz of water = ___ oz ?? post your answer and then do the experiment......