How much alcohol can I safely put in my tank?

[SteveD2]

I need to go in for an emissions test before the month is over. Considering the fact that I'm getting 11MPG for some unexplained reason, I doubt I will pass. I've got some 99% isopropyl alcohol, how much of it can I safely put in my tank? You know, to clean out all of the water that might be in there before the test.

 

[eljefino]

check your manual, but 10% by volume is run daily in the midwest. Maybe 20% would be a good "overdo"?

 

[SteveD2]

Would denatured alcohol (ethanol) be better to use than isopropyl maybe?

 

[SteveD2]

Then again I can get some methanol too.

Which would be best?

 

[cryptokid]

i wouldnt use meth.

a friend of mine just passed emissions with FLYING colours in his saab. he used a gallon of 99% with 1/4 tank of gas, about 4 gallons of gas.

he said the emissions tester was really impressed with the results.

 

[XS650]

quote:

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Originally posted by ZmOz:
Then again I can get some methanol too.

Which would be best?

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Methonal has a history of damaging fuel systems. Even if it didn't do any short term damage it might cut a bunch of crud loose. It's also very toxic.

Ethanol is benerally OK at 10%, you could probably double that for a one shot event, but that's a guess. I don't know about isopropyl

 

[SteveD2]

I think I've decided on a quart of isopropyl in 10 gallons of gas. Any objections?

 

[SHOZ]

Don't think it is enough. Around the Midwest there is a gallon of ethanol in every 10 gallons of gas (still don't know why the sell Heet?). I would go two gallons of denatured ethanol to 10 gallons of gas. The exhaust smells good too.

 

[MNgopher]

It is amazing how much Heet still sells in the wintertime around here. Guess noone remembers we already run 10% ethanol year around by state law... Guess theres a sucker born every minute...

 

[TOMBUCK]

Try Toulene, it is a good cleaner plus it will raise your octane somewhat. for a 20 gallon tank, use 2-3 gallons, it will boost the octane about 3-4 points and help clean better than the other crap that you spend more $$$$ for.