2006-10-17 00:42:55 · 8 answers · asked by motoboy 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Ok, first, your friend no doubt heard that burning alcohol with gasoline lowers emissions, which is true, and assumed that "rubbing". or isopropyl, alcohol would be a good source of it... not entirely true.
First off, if you are in the usa, your gas already contains 10% ethanol - read the pumps. ethanol is alcohol.
You car, unless it is specifically designed to run on a higher percentage of alcohol, will not run well, or at all, on over 10%.
Further, it is very difficult to find pure isopropyl alcohol. It is most commonly sold in 70% and 96% quart containers in your local pharmacy. What is the other 4-30%? Water. Engines don't burn water.
The "add alcohol to improve emissions" bus has left the station. It worked in the 80s and in some areas, the 90s, but since today's pump gas is already mixed with the max alcohol your engine can burn, you will not be helping yourself.
Feel free to try it with a pure form of alcohol though, alcohol has less energy that gasoline, so you won't hurt your
2006-10-17 10:12:00 · answer #1 · answered by aaeon 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We couldn't get our used car to pass emissions either, but the car had sat for awhile before we bought it. The only thing that was high was the hydrocarbons, so we just put new gas in it and drove it for about 3 hrs and took it back to the testing site and it passed. They also sell products that make it run hotter to get rid of all the ickys.
2006-10-17 08:50:39 · answer #2 · answered by jodym1000 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rubbing alcohol is as a rule water and could merely make the priority worse because of the fact the ability of the alcohol is so low. For some money you may purchase a methanol gas additive which will disburse the water on your gas device.
2016-12-13 09:48:23 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would not use rubbing alchol instead get a couple cans of fuel additive make for this purpose, they are cheap. I have heard a couple tanks of high octane fuel before the test helps and it does make sense to tune the car new plugs and air filter at least.
2006-10-17 01:35:00 · answer #4 · answered by bungee 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
not shure if it's the same as gas line anti freeze, but the gas line antifreeze/ injector cleaner does help, if you do it for a couple of tanks before the test, also fresh oil helps, better seal on the rings and guides i guess , a tune up wont hurt either
2006-10-17 00:59:13 · answer #5 · answered by sterling m 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No way, rubbing alcohol is about 30% water. DO NOT DO IT.
2006-10-17 01:13:17 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Go to AutoZone, they have cleaners to add into the tank that will lower your emmissions.
good luck
2006-10-17 01:13:28 · answer #7 · answered by mailbox1024 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Spend the money and do a tuneup.
2006-10-17 01:13:08 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋