I am in Denmark this winter, with my car. Now they have those bottles with carburator alcohol they sell at the tankstations. It says it prevents the moist in the gasoline from freezing. You have to use 1 liter on every 30 liters of gas.
Well, do I have to use this? Of course it freezes in the Netherlands too, but I have never seen this stuff there, never used anything like it. So, would it be a good idea to use it? Do you just throw it in the tank? And do I have to do this all winter long, on every full tank? Or only when it's really freezing hard? Is there any risk in using it? Is it bad for the motor?
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
I have used it. I don't believe it's harmful. You could take a wait and see approach: if you ever can't start your car one cold morning due to gas line condensation, then (after it melts) start using it. If it never proves necessary, then great.
Posted by ginette (Member # 852) on :
Ok, thanks Icarus. I'll do that.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
I prefer my Carboretor Alcohol on the rocks with a twist.
Posted by Swampjedi (Member # 7374) on :
Sounds like a Robot Chicken episode name.
Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :
Keep your gas tank full throughout winter and you won't have to deal with frozen fuel lines.
Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
PLEASE, Dan_raven, don't suggest drinking "carburetor alcohol" / water remover even in jest. The stuff is POISON. Unfortunately, many people overly-desperate for a high do die* from purposefully or accidentally** ingesting the substance.
* Or at least end up in a hospital, with only permanent organ damage if lucky.
** From moonshine, ie illegally manufactured "drinking" alcohol to which the unscrupulous add cheap industial ethanol (which is deliberately contaminated with noxious substances to prevent use as drinking alcohol) and/or methanol, propanol, etc for a "stronger kick". All of which are poisonous.
[ November 15, 2006, 08:27 PM: Message edited by: aspectre ]
Posted by solo (Member # 3148) on :
I think that this is what is known around here as gas line antifreeze. Several gas companies in Canada have it in the gas at the pump (in winter). I'll echo Primal's comment about keeping your tank full as you really don't need to worry about it in that case.
Posted by BlueWizard (Member # 9389) on :
Ginette,
I can only assume that you are originally from a sunny southern climate to have not heard of HEET or ISO-HEET (carberator alcohol).
HEET originally was a methanol+chemical type of alcohol that will not only prevent your gas line from freezing, but also, will actually thaw it out once it is frozen.
Though you only need to add A PINT to a tank of gas, and then you can usually top your tank off two or three times before you need to add more.
Also, if the temperature is above Zero Degrees Fahrenheit (-17 Centigrade), you don't really have to use it if you keep you tank close to full (half a tank or more at all times).
That happens is water condenses in your gas tank, and the more air (ie: less gas) is in the tank, the more room for condensation. Once you have water in your gas, it settles in the low spots in your gas line and freezes. Once frozen, it expands and prevents gas from getting past that spot.
While gas and water don't mix, Alcohol will go into solution with BOTH gas and water. With the water uniformly dispersed through out the gas, it doesn't collect and settle in low spots and therefore doesn't clog the gas line. It still there, but it is in a common solution with the gas and alcohol.
Original HEET was methanol based which is generally corrosive, but the amount is small and diluted, so it generally doesn't cause any real harm.
IS0-HEET is based on isopropyl alcohol, and is made for UNLEADED engines that have catlytic converters. You DO NOT want to use HEET/methanol in an UNLEADED ONLY engine.
So, -
- a PINT to a tank of gas when ever the temperature is below 0 Degrees F.
- As long as it stays below Zero, you should add more roughly every couple of fill-ups. It also doesn't hurt to carry a pint in the trunk of your car in case of emergencies. If you are stranded on the road side by gas line freeze, a can of ISO-HEET will thaw the line in about 20 or 30 minutes.
- If the temperature is above Zero for several days or weeks, you don't need to add any until the temperature drops again.
- In Minnesota, where it gets frequently -10F and sometimes -40F, we generally end up adding ISO-HEET three or four times a year.
Remember too that most modern gas is formulated with some ethanol alcohol, typically 10%. That will take you through most normal weather conditions. Though if it drops to well below Zero (F), you might want to add a pint of ISO-HEET.
Hope that helps.
Steve/bboyminn
Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
I'll agree with the combination of Icarus and Primal Curve advice. Except in preparing your car for winter driving; or if you intend to make a drive on "lonely country roads" out of easy walking distance (in freezing cold) to help; or if you make long drives (sure to empty a large volume of your fuel tank) between freezing cold and comparatively warm places. eg In California, it is quite easy to drive from t-shirt&shorts weather up to alpine/nordic skiing areas.
After the first freeze, it is often prudent to add "carburetor alcohol" / fuel line&tank water remover just to get rid of the possibility that water is in your fuel system from water vapor in the air condensing in your fuel tank during the past warmer weather. Besides, many of the water removers will also clean out the gunk that has accumulated your fuel lines and injectors; which is a big plus even if you don't need to clear water out of the system.
You do have to remember though that keeping your tank full does increase the weight that your automobile is hauling, which increases the amount of fuel that your car will use. It may be less expensive (and more ecologically friendly) just to add the water remover after every few fill-ups to keep water from accumulating. But even there, using the stuff isn't necessary to do all of the time. When the weather stays freezing at night and freezing or nearly freezing during the day, the air is too dry to cause condensation in your tank. So you only have to use it when there are great swings in temperature and humidity; eg at the beginning and at the end of the normal snow season.
[ November 15, 2006, 07:49 PM: Message edited by: aspectre ]
Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
And I also agree with BlueWizard. sigh... ...don'tcha hate it when ya type something up and by the time ya post, someone else has posted it first and better.
Posted by ginette (Member # 852) on :
Well, I put the bottle high up in a safe cupboard.
Thanks Blue Wizard, I like to know what I am using, how it works and what it does, so I really appreciate your explanation. And no, I am not from a sunny climate, it can get very cold in the Netherlands too, though that's rare. In fact, it did happen once with my previous car that I couldn't start due to frozen gas lines. The road service came and brought my car in a farmers stable, where it unfroze by the aid of a very old oil heater the farmer put up for me. The cows quite liked it . But even then nobody, not the road service guy, not the farmer, mentioned stuff like this to use to prevent it from happening.
quote: IS0-HEET is based on isopropyl alcohol, and is made for UNLEADED engines that have catlytic converters. You DO NOT want to use HEET/methanol in an UNLEADED ONLY engine.
Ooops... my bottle doesn't say anything of which kind it is. I do have an unleaded engine (quite common here) so now what? The bottle only says '99,7% mix of alcohol' but not what mix. What will happen if I throw the wrong stuff in?
Posted by ginette (Member # 852) on :
Oh... you too thanks aspectre Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
Did you mean to use "UNLEADED" and "UNLEADED ONLY" in the way that they were posted, BlueWizard? It seems that they are contradictory. Perhaps "UNLEADED" and "LEADED ONLY"?
Posted by SoaPiNuReYe (Member # 9144) on :
quote:Originally posted by Swampjedi: Sounds like a Robot Chicken episode name.
Robot Chicken.... Good times, good times.
Posted by BlueWizard (Member # 9389) on :
From Popular Mechancins website -
Q: Now that we have switched from MTBE to 10% ethanol in our gasoline here in Massachusetts, do I still need to use "drygas" additive to remove water condensate in the winter? Ethanol is hydrophyllic, but will it eliminate the water in the gas tank and lines? PETER POLLACK, Ashland, MA
A: No, you do not need to use drygass additive. The ethanol will eliminate the water in the gas tank and lines.
Not sure what the distinction you are raising is; ie: Unlead vs Unleaded only. Most modern cars have catalytic converters, that means they CAN'T use Leaded gasoline, making them Unleaded Only vehicles.
To Ginette;
Regarding the kind of Alcohol you are using, given that most of Europe uses Unlead fuel (or so I assume) and that you car is less that 10 years old (rough guess) then it is probably OK.
I would look for some note on the bottle that implies that it is safe for catalytic converters, or cars that use Unlead fuel, or some secondary note that would imply that everything is OK.
If the store you bought it at was not selling several different types, then it is probably the most common type for the most common type of cars.
At worst, though I'm not positive about this, it will shorten the life of you catalytic converter. Whether it will shorten it BY days or TO days, I can't say for sure.
Steve/BlueWizard
Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
Sorry, I misread through the distinction between "isopropyl" and "methanol".
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
. But even then nobody, not the road service guy, not the farmer, mentioned stuff like this to use to prevent it from happening.