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T-Bird Auto Q&A
Gotta question?
Need some advice about a car? Just ask, and I will try to help you out.
Email me at taylor [at] mountainpridemedia [dot] org.
What is dry gas?
Dry gas is an additive to absorb and burn the water that might get into
your gas tank. Water and gas do not mix, yet water does get into the gas
tank.
Here are some ways this happens:
1. The gas you get at the gas station contains small amounts of water.
2. The fluctuation of temperature, especially here in the mountains, will
cause condensation to build up on the inside of any part of the tank that
does not have gas in it.
To help prevent this from happening, you should always try to keep your
gas tank as full as possible, especially in the winter. Water will freeze
in gas, so an empty tank in cold weather can easily cause problems.
Another way to prevent the water from causing trouble is to put a container
of dry gas in your tank, at the rate of one bottle for every 10 gallons,
but no more than two bottles per tank. Add a bottle to your gas tank every
few fill-ups.
There are two kinds of dry gas. One has methanol and other additives.
Methanol sinks to the bottom of the gas tank and mixes with water. Then
the combination liquid is burned through the combustion chamber in the
engine.
The other type of dry gas has isopropanol and other additives. The isopropanol
absorbs five times more water than the methanol. It also helps to melt
any ice that may have formed through the absorption of water. How to tell
the difference? The one with the isopropanol will say ISO-and then the
brand name. The kind with methanol is usually called just the brand name
or will say "dry gas."
The methanol dry gas is a good maintenance, all year round additive. In
the winter, use the ISO-based gas. In a diesel or two-cycle engine, use
only the ISO-based product.
If your gas line freezes, first try some ISObrand gas. Wait 15-20 minutes
for it to work before trying to start the car. If it still does not work,
a heated garage or a very sunny spot is what is needed next.
Please do not use a torch or a hair dryer. Doing this is only asking for
trouble, and may cause serious injury even with the best of intentions.