Gas and Diesel Fuel treatment

[levittownnick]

Recently I was sold on a gas treatment product "because of the high % of alcohol" in gasoline. "StarTron" is said to keep the alcohol from seperating out of the gasoline formula.

The big question in my mind is- What it the real need?

Thanks,
Nick

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Gas and Diesel Fuel treatment

Probably snake oil (snakes like to hitch a ride on bandwagons.....). Keep the water out of the gas, and you won't have a problem, as alcohol absorbs water, and I doubt this snake oil will prevent it. Also depends if you are even USING Gasohol

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Gas and Diesel Fuel treatment

OK, went and checked it out. I don't care for anything StarBrite makes. I use MDR WaterZorb in my boats (10 buck bottle treats 90 gallons), and if I had a Diesel, I would purpose made Anti-Microbial stuff

nullhttp://www.starbrite.com/whatsnew/2004 BoatUS Ad (Startron).PDF

 

[levittownnick]

Re: Gas and Diesel Fuel treatment

Gas in the NY area is 10% alcohol.

Thanks for the response.
Nick

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Gas and Diesel Fuel treatment

SeaFoam or Stabil will work just fine. Go one step farther and run SeaFoam in every tank of fuel to reduce fuel system problems.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Gas and Diesel Fuel treatment

SeaFoam or Stabil will work just fine. Go one step farther and run SeaFoam in every tank of fuel to reduce fuel system problems.

Or you can go to Home Depot and buy some naptha and go to a medical supply house and buy isopropyl alcohol because that is what SeaFoam is.

http://www.seafoamsales.com/pdf/MSDS_SFTT_US.pdf

Startron is 95% naptha.

if I was to put in a fuel treatment, I would use the Chevron Techron. Techron is Chevron's name for polyether amine which is a better solvent.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Gas and Diesel Fuel treatment

Yeah Bruce I thought about that too but I found half dozen types of naptha on the web and didn't know which they use, nor what difference it would make.

And I assume you are referring to the 90% medical grade of alcohol.....course what's the other 10%, water? :|

Don't know what oil is used in their Formula.

Mark

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Gas and Diesel Fuel treatment

The purest IPA that you can find is 99%. You can't find 100%. They label it 99% because it could have 0.001% water and they would have to label it 99%.

The oil that comprises the rest is not really needed since it is the solvents that are doing all the dirty work

 

[levittownnick]

Re: Gas and Diesel Fuel treatment

It seems to me that because gasoline is 10% alcohol, there is no need for any additional alcohol and that alcohol is the root of the issue. Is there a fault with that thinking?

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Gas and Diesel Fuel treatment

That's a good question Levit.

Mark

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Gas and Diesel Fuel treatment

Isopropyl Alcohol is not the same as Ethanol.

 

[levittownnick]

Re: Gas and Diesel Fuel treatment

What is the implication of the difference between Isopropyl and Ethanol? (I have little or no understanding of chemistry.)

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Gas and Diesel Fuel treatment

Major problem of the ethanol with water is phase seperation. Isopropyl alcohol does not have the same behavior.

 

[levittownnick]

Re: Gas and Diesel Fuel treatment

I'm confused. Does adding isopropyl stop the phase seperation?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Gas and Diesel Fuel treatment

Not sure if it can help it if it has already happened or not.

Although I was a chem major in college when I started out many years ago, I switched to electrical engineering. I receive most of my info from my chem engineer friend who works for an oil company.

I will ask him about the phase seperation.

 

[levittownnick]

Re: Gas and Diesel Fuel treatment

I see 2 parts to this question based on your last comment:
1) Does Isopropyl inhibit the seperation?
2) Once seperated, can it be recombined?

Thanks,
Nick

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Gas and Diesel Fuel treatment

I just sent him an email. We will see what he says. I have a feeling he may not know much about this aspect.

 

[levittownnick]

Re: Gas and Diesel Fuel treatment

It will be interesting to see his comments. Thanks for taking the time to respond and to ask your friend.

Nick

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Gas and Diesel Fuel treatment

Well...he answered the second part...Extremely difficult to get rid of the emulsion layer.

 

[levittownnick]

Re: Gas and Diesel Fuel treatment

First I want to say Thank You for your time and willingness to share your knowledge and even involve your friends.

I plan on doing what I feel is practical to reduce or prevent this condition from happening by taking the following steps:
1) Refuel at the end of each use that consummed several gallons of gas, thereby reducing the airspace that can bring water vapor into my tank.
2) Use one of the enzime products to prevent phase seperation.

If there is new information on this subject, I am all ears.

Thank you,
Nick