Isopropyl alcohol- red bottle not yellow!

[ultra51684]

So, I have been adding the red bottle of heet (about 1/4 bottle per tank) to my 2011 and 2012 800 rmk's and had a conversation about it with my buddy. He said that it is worse for the engine to add it then to not have it at all. I wanted to get what other people think. Do you use it and if you do, how much to you put in per tank?

 

[Dam Dave]

Been using it for many years, try to add a little Isopropyl alcohol to every tank, red bottle is fine........yellow bottle is death to 2 smoke............

 

[Rixster]

What is the red bottle and why would you add it to your sled tank? also, 1/4 bottle every time you fill up? unless you burn close to a full tank every ride, that is a pretty "rich" ratio. I mean I normally burn 4-6 gallons per ride tank holds 11. I would guess 1/4 bottle would treat at least 11 gallons.

 

[Jack Pine Savage]

Do not add iso if the fuel has ethanol in it. I believe the red bottle is ok but it shouldn't be needed in every tank.

 

[ultra51684]

What is the red bottle and why would you add it to your sled tank? also, 1/4 bottle every time you fill up? unless you burn close to a full tank every ride, that is a pretty "rich" ratio. I mean I normally burn 4-6 gallons per ride tank holds 11. I would guess 1/4 bottle would treat at least 11 gallons.

I'm usually very close to empty when I fuel up. Red bottle (isopropyl takes water out of fuel). Never seems to fail, always snowing when I fuel up. We were talking and he said it can be bad for 2 stroke so I want to know what you think. I know you are not supposed to use it with ethanol mix. I never use ethanol in my sled and only put 91 octain or higher in.

 

[Blk88GT]

I have used the red bottle since 2005 in every tank. Won't go without it.

 

[AZ800]

I've used the red bottle iso "occasionally" over the years. Actually handed more of the stuff out to others on the trail with frozen fuel lines than I've ever used but I carry a bottle with me in the sled.
I understand it is proper for 2 smokes to use the red bottle isopropyl alchohol.

I used the yellow bottle once on a sled I had just bought for a friend. Had water in the lines somewhere as it froze the line to the fuel pump. About 20 mi later it squeaked a cylinder. Could have been a dirty jet leaned it out as I didn't clean the carbs or could have been the yellow HEET. I heard shortly thereafter that the yellow stuff was not good for 2 strokes, so never used it again after that experience.

 

[HOTRODREDNECK]

my alcohol comes in a brown bottle... but i wait till im done riding to add it to my tank!

 

[Coldfinger]

Why not add red bottle to ethanol blend fuel? Curious because I'm sure Ive done it before because one of the gas stations we frequented had ethanol and we didn't realize it.

Another question - if concerned about moisture in fuel tank, wouldn't running a tank of ethanol blend be doing the same basic thing? Thinking about it, if it's 10% ethanol, then for 10 gallons of fuel you already have 1 gallon of ethanol to keep ice out and carry water away.

Also, I typically will use 1 red bottle in tank for the first ride of season, then just use 1/2 bottle every now and then depending if I feel the sled has been ridden in or exposed to a lot of moist conditions.

 

[slash]

Why not add red bottle to ethanol blend fuel? Curious because I'm sure Ive done it before because one of the gas stations we frequented had ethanol and we didn't realize it.

Another question - if concerned about moisture in fuel tank, wouldn't running a tank of ethanol blend be doing the same basic thing? Thinking about it, if it's 10% ethanol, then for 10 gallons of fuel you already have 1 gallon of ethanol to keep ice out and carry water away.

Also, I typically will use 1 red bottle in tank for the first ride of season, then just use 1/2 bottle every now and then depending if I feel the sled has been ridden in or exposed to a lot of moist conditions.

LETS SEE ADD ADD MORE = LESS PERF FROM YOUR FUEL ETH HAS A MUCH LOWER BTU THAN PLAIN GAS AND IT WILL CAUSE A LEAN COND 10% TO 10 GAL WOULD BE TRIPLED WITH 1/2 A BOTTLE

 

[ultra51684]

How much have you been adding and how often?

 

[AC800MC]

While it may not unthaw your gas line, Seafoam is a much better fuel additive for removing some moisture and cleaning up your fuel system.

 

[MORSNO]

While it may not unthaw your gas line, Seafoam is a much better fuel additive for removing some moisture and cleaning up your fuel system.

Why do you want to freeze your gas line?

Thaw = Melt
Unthaw = Un-melt

I used to be a Midwesterner that used unthaw myself.....

 

[Rixster]

Why not add red bottle to ethanol blend fuel? Curious because I'm sure Ive done it before because one of the gas stations we frequented had ethanol and we didn't realize it.

Another question - if concerned about moisture in fuel tank, wouldn't running a tank of ethanol blend be doing the same basic thing? Thinking about it, if it's 10% ethanol, then for 10 gallons of fuel you already have 1 gallon of ethanol to keep ice out and carry water away.

Also, I typically will use 1 red bottle in tank for the first ride of season, then just use 1/2 bottle every now and then depending if I feel the sled has been ridden in or exposed to a lot of moist conditions.

I could be wrong but here is how I understand it. Ethanol and ISO-propyl alcohol are two completely different things. Ethanol that is in the fuel we buy actually attracts water, it is the reason you are getting water in your fuel system, ISO-propyl is used as an additive to remove water from your fuel system.
I have never thought of the 10% ethanol being a full gallon of alcohol in a tank of 10 gallons. That freaks me out ! Glad there are still gas stations around me that I can get clean fuel from!!!

 

[Bowfisher]

I could be wrong but here is how I understand it. Ethanol and ISO-propyl alcohol are two completely different things. Ethanol that is in the fuel we buy actually attracts water, it is the reason you are getting water in your fuel system, ISO-propyl is used as an additive to remove water from your fuel system.
I have never thought of the 10% ethanol being a full gallon of alcohol in a tank of 10 gallons. That freaks me out ! Glad there are still gas stations around me that I can get clean fuel from!!!

ISO doesn't remove water. It attracts water like ethanol. Here's what wiki has to say about it.

Isopropyl alcohol is a major ingredient in "gas dryer" fuel additives. In significant quantities, water is a problem in fuel tanks, as it separates from the gasoline, and can freeze in the supply lines at cold temperatures. It does not remove water from gasoline; rather, the alcohol solubilizes water in gasoline. Once soluble, water does not pose the same risk as insoluble water as it will no longer accumulate in the supply lines and freeze

 

[Dam Dave]

ISO doesn't remove water. It attracts water like ethanol. Here's what wiki has to say about it.

It does not attract water it solubilizes the water in gasoline so it can pass through the fuel syatem without freezeing

 

[Dam Dave]

I could be wrong but here is how I understand it. Ethanol and ISO-propyl alcohol are two completely different things. Ethanol that is in the fuel we buy actually attracts water, it is the reason you are getting water in your fuel system, ISO-propyl is used as an additive to remove water from your fuel system.
I have never thought of the 10% ethanol being a full gallon of alcohol in a tank of 10 gallons. That freaks me out ! Glad there are still gas stations around me that I can get clean fuel from!!!

Ding Ding We have a winner, Ethanol and ISO-propyl alcohol are two completely different things and do not perform the same at all

 

[Coldfinger]

Using ethanol 10% fuel would seem to negate the need for Iso additive in the tank, right?

Another thought I've considered is - if I go to fuel up (say after hours, everything is closed) and wish I had some Iso, then why not just choose the 10% selection and call it good?

Granted, ethanol does attract moisture, but winter air is less humid than summer air so is that really much of a concern anyhow? I suppose if you have sleds in an enclosed trailer with snowmelt, then the humidity may contribute to more moisture in the fuel but even if so, how much more moisture are we talking about and does it make a diff anyhow because there is ethanol in the fuel to keep it from freezing?

 

[AZ800]

Hold on, how many people DON'T put anything in their tank other than gasoline and run fine? Guessing it's an overwhelming majority.
Just liek fuel additives for our cars and trucks. Some people swear by adding a bottle of whatever to every tank when 95% (guessing) just gas n go with no problems.
Iso is the same thing. If you NEED it then you need it, if you DONT then you dont and 95% of the time you don't need it.
I now live in the wettest/humid climate for snowmobiling, coming from one of the driest. Like condensation dripping from the roof of the trailer 9 months out of the year. Haven't had to add any iso in the tanks.....yet. Of course it hardly gets cold enough to freeze a fuel line here too.

 

[Dam Dave]

Hold on, how many people DON'T put anything in their tank other than gasoline and run fine? Guessing it's an overwhelming majority.
Just liek fuel additives for our cars and trucks. Some people swear by adding a bottle of whatever to every tank when 95% (guessing) just gas n go with no problems.
Iso is the same thing. If you NEED it then you need it, if you DONT then you dont and 95% of the time you don't need it.
I now live in the wettest/humid climate for snowmobiling, coming from one of the driest. Like condensation dripping from the roof of the trailer 9 months out of the year. Haven't had to add any iso in the tanks.....yet. Of course it hardly gets cold enough to freeze a fuel line here too.

Do I NEED it every tank? No of course not.........BUT I have ruined to many rides because the sled started running like crap, I put a few ounces in every tank now and NEVER have a issue

Stayed at Tog a few times and EVERY rental sled gets some in every tank every day...........Its gets VERY VERY cold in west yellowstone and most use ISO