i am curious.. i read on a web site that the owner used a bottle or two of cheap vodka or gin to winterize his boats water system instead of the pink antifreeze (propylene glycol) what do you think about using ethanol for the potable water system only??? i would still want to use pink or permanent in the engine heat exchanger for its non-corrosive qualities and use pink in the head to avoid damaging seals but in the potable water supply is drinking alcohol (ethanol-NOT denatured) all right??? what are your thoughts???
is alcohol a substitute for pink antifreeze ???
- Thread starter keystroker
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Gin or Vodka!
Drink the gin or vodka. Ethanol is a poison!! It will boil off even at low temperature. Use the pink stuff!
Drink the gin or vodka. Ethanol is a poison!! It will boil off even at low temperature. Use the pink stuff!
Alcohol
The problem with the pink stuff is that it takes forever to get it out. I like the idea of using vodka because 1 lines won't freeze and 2 it can be removed by deluting with water - the first time. At the very worst all that is required is a glass and an olive, or ice and coke. Be sure to get as much water out of the lines as possible at layup. The vodka costs more but the real savings is in time during the spring. Mike
The problem with the pink stuff is that it takes forever to get it out. I like the idea of using vodka because 1 lines won't freeze and 2 it can be removed by deluting with water - the first time. At the very worst all that is required is a glass and an olive, or ice and coke. Be sure to get as much water out of the lines as possible at layup. The vodka costs more but the real savings is in time during the spring. Mike
clarification of question
thanks to those who have responded so far... yes i know that it is more expensive but the dilution factor can probably be pretty good..i am checking some old organic chemistry tables to determine the different freesing points of alcohol/water mixtures; ethanol is NOT poisonous unless it has been denatured, by the way, METHANOL IS DEADLY!!! and the boiling off issue is only for the engine cooling...i am asking about the drinking water hot and cold system only...thanks keystroker
thanks to those who have responded so far... yes i know that it is more expensive but the dilution factor can probably be pretty good..i am checking some old organic chemistry tables to determine the different freesing points of alcohol/water mixtures; ethanol is NOT poisonous unless it has been denatured, by the way, METHANOL IS DEADLY!!! and the boiling off issue is only for the engine cooling...i am asking about the drinking water hot and cold system only...thanks keystroker
Actually all of these are alcohols
and as I recall none are highly toxic themselves. Some of their acidic metabolites are. IE: formic and glycolic acid. Since the metabolic process involves biomolecular competition and ethanol is preferred by the process and the acetic acid byproduct (of ethanol) is far less toxic, you should have some ethanol handy just in case. You can chase it with antacid. Actually, none are particularly destructive to seals or corrosive to metals AT ROOM TEMPERATURE. If you rinse and drain the systems as much as possible, it should not matter which you use. For propylene glycol info (pink stuff) see: http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/p6928.htm It says that it is incompatible with strong oxidizers so - NO BLEACH! Actually, it probably will not matter in its diluted state - I just had to say it.
and as I recall none are highly toxic themselves. Some of their acidic metabolites are. IE: formic and glycolic acid. Since the metabolic process involves biomolecular competition and ethanol is preferred by the process and the acetic acid byproduct (of ethanol) is far less toxic, you should have some ethanol handy just in case. You can chase it with antacid. Actually, none are particularly destructive to seals or corrosive to metals AT ROOM TEMPERATURE. If you rinse and drain the systems as much as possible, it should not matter which you use. For propylene glycol info (pink stuff) see: http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/p6928.htm It says that it is incompatible with strong oxidizers so - NO BLEACH! Actually, it probably will not matter in its diluted state - I just had to say it.
The Headmistress...
...Peggy Hall, told me when I asked the same question last month that gin/vodka will in fact freeze at very low dilution rates. That means you have to get ALL of the water out of the system before you pour in the booze, and if you've got it ALL out you don't need anti-freeze to begin with. So use the pink stuff! Drew
...Peggy Hall, told me when I asked the same question last month that gin/vodka will in fact freeze at very low dilution rates. That means you have to get ALL of the water out of the system before you pour in the booze, and if you've got it ALL out you don't need anti-freeze to begin with. So use the pink stuff! Drew
You got it 100% right, Drew...you get an A 
Straight uncut vodka won't freeze, but even an 80-20 cut will at -0-F, which is the temp in most freezers. Recommissioning the fresh water system in the spring--which should be done annually whether you winterize or not, to keep your water from getting "funky"--will remove all the taste/smell of antifreeze. And btw...use ONLY non-toxic potable antifreeze in both the fresh water and sanitation systems...never automotive antifreeze.
Straight uncut vodka won't freeze, but even an 80-20 cut will at -0-F, which is the temp in most freezers. Recommissioning the fresh water system in the spring--which should be done annually whether you winterize or not, to keep your water from getting "funky"--will remove all the taste/smell of antifreeze. And btw...use ONLY non-toxic potable antifreeze in both the fresh water and sanitation systems...never automotive antifreeze.
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