[pct-l] Gas line antifreeze

[CHUCK CHELIN]

Good morning, Yogi,

Fuel line antifreeze is typically methanol or isopropanol, plus some
auto-related chems.  HEET is the most convenient but any product that is
substantially alcohol will work in a ‘can stove.  Hardware store alcohol
solvent is great, and even drugstore rubbing alcohol could be used.
Unfortunately,
rubbing alcohol has maybe 30% water which must be vaporized in the
combustion process so the net heat output of the stove suffers greatly.

There’s nothing magic about the HEET brand in the familiar yellow jug, it’s
just the most common, but it has some competitors. The ISO-HEET product in
the red jug is similar but has a higher percentage of fuel injector cleaner
stuff and is less desirable for a stove.

For future hikers, it’s possible HEET will become less common.  Current
gasoline may have about 10% ethanol which obviates the need for a separate
alcohol additive to trap and pass water from fuel lines.

Steel-Eye

-Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965

http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye

http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09/


On Thu, Apr 12, 2012 at 4:59 AM, Jackie McDonnell <yogihikes at gmail.com>wrote:

> If I can't find HEET, would any gas line antifreeze work for an alcohol
> stove?
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