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Old 07-11-2010, 06:28 PM   #1
CL8
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Antifreeze in gas tank

Does anyone know what effect anti-freeze in the gas tank would have on a vehicle?

Thanks CL8
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Old 07-11-2010, 11:02 PM   #2
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Re: Antifreeze in gas tank

Uh... bad. Antifreeze is heavier than gasoline, so it would sink to the bottom and have the same effect as if you put water in your tank.
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Old 07-12-2010, 09:11 PM   #3
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Re: Antifreeze in gas tank

Quote:
Originally Posted by curtis73 View Post
Uh... bad. Antifreeze is heavier than gasoline, so it would sink to the bottom and have the same effect as if you put water in your tank.
Just to elaborate...... antifreeze would not mix with the gasoline. It would stay separate, at the bottom of the tank. Your fuel pump sucks fuel from the bottom of the tank.
Therefore, it is quite likely the fuel pump would eventually suck-up some anifreeze and would travel through the fuel lines until it got to the injectors (or carburetor, in older cars). Then the engine would run extremely poorly, (if its just a bit of antifreeze) or stop dead. Then the injectors (or carb) and fuel line would need flushing and cleaning along with the gas tank.

FWIW I think antifreeze is worse than water. Modest amounts of water can be dispersed by the alcohol found in many regular gasolines (or by adding alcohol additive), so it will pass through the engine harmlessly. Antifreeze would be more difficult to disperse, I believe.
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Old 07-12-2010, 11:13 PM   #4
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Re: Antifreeze in gas tank

Thanks MR and Curtis!
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Old 07-13-2010, 08:21 AM   #5
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Re: Antifreeze in gas tank

The gas tank antifreeze additives are for small amounts of water, but being that its main ingredients (ethanol and isopropanol) is similar to antifreeze (ethylene glycol), there should be some dispersion action into the gasoline.

However, I'm guessing any more than a few (~4?) fl-oz of straight antifreeze in the tank would require the tank to be drained. I do not know the dispersion ratio of using an off-the-shelf gas dryer, and I do not recommend using more than one 12-oz bottle per tank since the stuff can affect rubber components and combine to form mild acids that can corrode metal tanks.

Others are welcome to give better info...hope this helps!
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Last edited by jdmccright; 07-14-2010 at 09:23 AM. Reason: typo
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Old 07-13-2010, 11:15 PM   #6
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Re: Antifreeze in gas tank

Thanks JD,

someone asked this on another site.
I don't plan on getting antifreeze in my gas tank!
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