Post Title:
Posted by: OrangeDoor at 12:29 PM 5-18-2003
as I was debating how to flush my rusty fuel cell, a "hot rod " chevy mechanic ( who works on airplanes) suggested that I try it.
quote" just add another fuel filter to catch the rust, than put the white alcohol in the tank."
Post Title:
Posted by: OrangeDoor at 12:29 PM 5-18-2003
You may want to use 100% alcohol though right? That stuff there would leave a ton of fluid in the engine, I don't think it would all combust
I think you're nuts for considering it... good luck.
Post Title: Re: (OrangeDoor)
Posted by: the12for12 at 12:47 PM 5-18-2003
YYYYAAAAHHHHHOoooooooooooooooo 
LOL
who would have thought a CBR could become so quick 
!
Post Title: Re: who has tried rubbing alcohol as a octane booster! (the12for12)
Posted by: Racer_X at 12:53 PM 5-18-2003
The other issue is that alcohols generally eat hoses, seals and gaskets. Ethanol is the least damaging and can be used at up to 10% or so in your fuel. However, many gasoline blends already containe up to 10% Ethanol when you get it from the pump, so adding any more is generally a bad idea. Methanol is even harder on hoses, seals and gaskets, but has a slightly higher octane rating than ethanol. Isopropanol (isopropyl alcohol) has a lower octane rating than ethanol, and is also very hard on seals, hoses and gaskets.
If you want a solvent/octane boost, toluene and ortho-xylene are both a much better idea than any kind of alcohol. Both of these are availble in high purity from paint stores. They are used as solvents and/or paint removers. You can add up to 20% or so (two gallons in a 10 gallon tank) of either of these chemicals. Be aware that toluene is also a precursor chemical to methamphetamine. If you start buying large quantities of this at your local paint shops, the authorities might drop by for a surprise inspection your "meth lab."
Post Title: Re: who has tried rubbing alcohol as a octane booster! (Racer_X)
Posted by: the12for12 at 1:05 PM 5-18-2003
thx RacerX. Simon Cowel couldn't have said it better 
icandigit,
thomas
Post Title: Re: who has tried rubbing alcohol as a octane booster! (Racer_X)
Posted by: Nashty Rabbit at 7:08 PM 5-18-2003
| Quote, originally posted by Racer_X » |
| Most rubbing alcohol isn't really pure enough to use as a motor fuel. Some rubbing alcohols are 70% pure. Others are 90-95% pure. That means they are up to 30% unburnable trash as far as your engine is concerned. The other issue is that alcohols generally eat hoses, seals and gaskets. Ethanol is the least damaging and can be used at up to 10% or so in your fuel. However, many gasoline blends already containe up to 10% Ethanol when you get it from the pump, ....................... Be aware that toluene is also a precursor chemical to methamphetamine. If you start buying large quantities of this at your local paint shops, the authorities might drop by for a surprise inspection your "meth lab." |
racer x,
after reading your complete explanation, you've got me wondering what the "x" in your user name stands for 
you also brought back those nautious feelings i use to get before an organic chem exam 
take care,
nash
Post Title: Re: who has tried rubbing alcohol as a octane booster! (the12for12)
Posted by: roccostud at 9:41 PM 5-18-2003
Edit: did u know the forum word filter, filters out dork?
Modified by German_Muscle at 12:46 AM 5-19-2003
Post Title: Re: who has tried rubbing alcohol as a octane booster! (roccostud)
Posted by: the12for12 at 8:26 AM 5-19-2003
| Quote, originally posted by roccostud » |
| if im correct rubbin alcohol dosn't boost the octain, it removes any water in the gas, my dad dose it all the time in his vw bus. only if its bad gas |
the octane boost issue was for "urban myth" clarification. The water removal idea is my guestion exactly.
So.... does the adding alcohol to the fuel in a rusty tank help to prevent further rust, and how well does it work?
Post Title: Re: who has tried rubbing alcohol as a octane booster! (the12for12)
Posted by: Racer_X at 3:06 PM 5-19-2003
| Quote, originally posted by the12for12 » |
the octane boost issue was for "urban myth" clarification. |
However, the alcohol in the fuel will lead to other more serious issues.
| Quote, originally posted by the12for12 » |
| The water removal idea is my guestion exactly. So.... does the adding alcohol to the fuel in a rusty tank help to prevent further rust, and how well does it work? |
However, if you are going to use an alcohol based fuel treatement to remove moisture from your fuel tank and fuel system, (or an octane boost that contains alcohol) you are much better off using a commercially available fuel treatment product than using rubbing alcohol.
I outlined one of the problems above. Alcohols don't get along well with most fuel lines, seals and gaskets. There are other potential issues, too.
Alcohol doesn't have the same lubricity as the other hydrocarbons in your gasoline. Your electric fuel pump is lubricated (and cooled) by the fuel flowing through it. Changing the lubricating properties of the fuel is going to have a negative effect on fuel pump life expectancy.
Alcohols are oxygenates and have a different stoichiometric ratio than pure hydrocarbons (gasoline). You have to have more fuel in the fuel/air mixture, or you will run lean. Pure alcohols have stoichiometric ratios between 8:1 and 12:1. Running more than 10% ethanol (less for methanol, and I don't remember exactly for isopropanol) will usually throw the fuel mixture so "lean" that most electronic injection systems will have trouble compensating for the excess oxygen (lean condition). If you are using alcohol as an octane boost because you have forced induction, the lean condition is a big negative that you will have to deal with.
Finally, alcohols tend to be a bit more reactive (not sure if that's the right word or not) than the hydrocarbons in gasoline. In the heat of the intake port near the intake valve, they can start to react with other trace impurities in the fuel, and possibly other additives in the fuel. These reactions can form solids that build up on the intake valves. Intake valve deposits are bad for your engine and they can be made much worse by alcohol in the fuel.
Commercial fuel treatments and "octane boost" which containe alcohols will also contain other additives to maintain lubricity for the fuel pump, and to minimize intake valve deposits. Rubbing alcohol will probably contain other additives to make it smell better and minimize skin irritation. It's doubtful that those additives will do anything good when they get in your engine.
Post Title: Re: who has tried rubbing alcohol as a octane booster! (Racer_X)
Posted by: Dan-'83 Rabbit GTI at 2:28 AM 5-20-2003
| Quote, originally posted by Dan-'83 Rabbit GTI » |
| Wow! I feel smarter! |
me to 
Post Title: Re: who has tried rubbing alcohol as a octane booster! (roccostud)
Posted by: secretsquirrel at 4:45 AM 5-20-2003
Why waste time adding octane booster when you can have the real thing.
Post Title: Re: who has tried rubbing alcohol as a octane booster! (secretsquirrel)
Posted by: DieselDemon at 5:15 AM 5-20-2003
| Quote, originally posted by secretsquirrel » |
| Sunoco Why waste time adding octane booster when you can have the real thing. |
icandigit... but the closet Sunoco in Atl is at Road Atlanta 
Back home in B-more, it was on every corner just about. Man, I miss that high octane of the north
Post Title: Re: who has tried rubbing alcohol as a octane booster! (the12for12)
Posted by: the12for12 at 8:05 AM 5-20-2003
RacerX you make all Atl Dubs proud ...righton chief!!| Quote, originally posted by Racer_X » |
| . Be aware that toluene is also a precursor chemical to methamphetamine. If you start buying large quantities of this at your local paint shops, the authorities might drop by for a surprise inspection your "meth lab." |
haha that's great. Good information I def. feel smarter
Post Title: Re: who has tried rubbing alcohol as a octane booster! (stock60)
Posted by: Hawaiian Wabbit at 3:39 PM 10-1-2003
Got to do this..
Only thing is there are soo many drugies around here there gonna question me
Post Title: Re: who has tried rubbing alcohol as a octane booster! (Hawaiian Wabbit)
Posted by: fast84gti at 6:50 PM 10-1-2003
Alcohol is an oxident. You can actually be PROMOTING more rust if you use alcohol to clean it. Alcohol will be good at removing the water, but you will need to further treat your tank
Post Title: Re: (PDX Cabby)
Posted by: YetiMan at 7:50 PM 10-1-2003
Try some toluene if you want octane.
On another note, " did u know the forum word filter, filters out dork?"
Post Title: Re: (YetiMan)
Posted by: Hawaiian Wabbit at 8:13 PM 10-1-2003
The "commercial" fuel additives that you buy from an auto parts store are, guess what? 70% Isopropyl Alcohol. The rest is distilled water. Common Rubbing alcohol that you buy from the drug store is... 70% isopropyl alcohol, the rest is distilled water. There is a reason those commercial additives are only $0.89.
Alcohol is a very weak solvent. It probably wont do crap to remove any rust or build up in your tank.
The reason why they use it for water removal is that alcohol is one of very few hydrocarbons that will dissolve with/in water. This has to do with the polarity of the bonding between molecules... It will form a solution with the water in your fuel system and then travel through the system and the alcohol will burn off and the water will leave through the exhaust.
Adding almost anything to water will lower it's melting point (freezing point), which is why it also works as a gas line antifreeze.
Post Title: Re: who has tried rubbing alcohol as a octane booster! (Racer_X)
Posted by: NJRrado at 10:05 AM 10-2-2003
Sherman Williams sells 5 gallon containers IIRC. I've heard alot of SW's wont sell it to individuals, but I was a repeat customer buying paint and what not. I even told them what I was doing with it... their response - "cool".
Post Title: Re: who has tried rubbing alcohol as a octane booster! (KrautFed)
Posted by: Hawaiian Wabbit at 3:06 PM 10-2-2003
Do you think Home Depot has it?
what exactly should I ask for?
Post Title: Re: who has tried rubbing alcohol as a octane booster! (Hawaiian Wabbit)
Posted by: BUNNYLOVE at 3:11 PM 10-2-2003
| Quote, originally posted by roccostud » |
me to |
oh the irony!
Post Title: Re: who has tried rubbing alcohol as a octane booster! (stock60)
Posted by: Deutschbag at 8:10 PM 10-2-2003
| Quote, originally posted by stock60 » |
oh the irony! |
LMAO I saw it too
Post Title: Re: who has tried rubbing alcohol as a octane booster! (the12for12)
Posted by: AAVwannaB at 1:58 PM 10-3-2003
|