<VV> Isopropyl

[corvair at mts.net]

You can buy 99% isopropyl alcohol at the drugstore, but at least here in Canada it's a behind-the-counter item that you need to ask the pharmacist for.

Les
=====
Message: 11
Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2008 13:37:04 EST
From: FrankCB at aol.com
Subject: <VV> Isopropyl Re: New problem-Rampside will not start after
	sitting overnite
To: shortle556 at earthlink.net, virtualvairs at corvair.org
Message-ID: <d06.2319adec.34afd6d0 at aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

 
Tim,
    No, do NOT use rubbing alcohol because it contains  30% WATER and only 
70% isopropyl alcohol.  Most well equipped (large) auto  parts stores carry some 
sort of "dry gas".  The best ones have isopropyl  alcohol (isopropanol) but 
even the methyl alcohol (methanol) ones are better  than nothing.  These work 
by co-dissolving the water into the alcohol which  in turn dissolves in the 
gasoline so you end up with the water  distributed EVENLY throughout the gasoline 
(called a homogeneous  mixture)and not sitting as separate liquid or ICE 
particles that can clog up  lines and pumps.  Also using these alcohols will 
prevent a layer of water  from sitting at the bottom of the tank UNDER the gasoline 
where the water can  corrode holes in your gas tank.  (I learned this the 
hard way many  years ago.)
    Some will wonder how water gets into the gas  tank.  Since our Corvairs 
have vented tanks (vented through the gas cap)  every time the gas tank and the 
air over it cool down (at night) the air above  the gas shrinks and fresh air 
is sucked into the tank.  If the air is  highly humid, further cooling can 
cause moisture to condense from the air into  the gasoline.  The condensed water 
being heavier than the gasoline sinks to  the bottom of the tank and forms a 
layer in contact with the metal under the  gasoline.  Use of the isopropyl or 
methyl alcohols will prevent  this by dissolving and distributing the water 
evenly throughout the  tank.  It also helps to keep the tank as full as possible 
when the car is  left unused for long periods of time.  This minimizes the 
amount of air  moving in (and out) of the tank due to temp. variations.
    Frank "even non-drinkable alcohol is good"  Burkhard
 
In a message dated 1/3/2008 6:22:02 PM Eastern Standard Time,  
shortle556 at earthlink.net writes:

Frank, 
Is something you purchase at an auto parts store? What do you think about  
just using "rubbing alcohol" from a drug store? 
Tim



-----Original  Message----- 
From: FrankCB at aol.com 
Sent: Jan 3, 2008 3:41 PM 
To:  shortle556 at earthlink.net, virtualvairs at corvair.org 
Subject: Re: Subject: Re: <VV>New  problem-Rampside will not start after 
sittin


Timothy,
    Excellent idea!  I use gasoline antifreeze  additive in all my cars 
(Corvair included) especially in the cold  weather.  The best is isopropanol 
(isopropyl alcohol) sold under  various names such as "Iso-Dri"  If you can't find 
that, then use a  methanol (methyl alcohol) type like "Dry Gas".
    Frank Burkhard
    .
 
In a message dated 1/3/2008 1:21:57 PM Eastern Standard Time,  
shortle556 at earthlink.net writes:

Finally, how about a fuel additive antifreeze? I suspect some H2O  has found 
its way into my fuel tank and is the culprit in blocking flow.  How about it,  
group.